Teams playing for playoffs

Last season Palmer had a share of first place of the Northern Railbelt Conference in the final standings.

This season the Moose are hoping to be the lone team at the top of the six-team conference.

With a win over North Pole tonight, the Moose would improve to 4-0 in conference play and clinch the NRC title.

North Pole, Lathrop and Colony each are tied at 2-1.

Even if Palmer were to lose at Wasilla next week, a win tonight would give the Moose the tiebreaker over North Pole, Colony and Lathrop.

In order for Colony to have a shot at the title, Palmer must lose its last two games and the Knights must score wins over Lathrop today and North Pole next week.

Lathrop needs a pair of Palmer losses and wins over the Knights and West Valley to ensure themselves the crown.

North Pole can win the title with wins over Palmer and Colony.

Wasilla was eliminated from the playoff race after there loss to Lathrop next week.

West Valley would need a win over Wasilla tonight and a win over Lathrop next week, plus a Malemute loss at Colony tonight to be in position for a playoff berth.

North Pole @ Palmer

North Pole and Palmer, each fresh off of big NRC victories, meet at Machetanz Field tonight at 7 in a game that could decide the conference title.

The Patriots (5-1 overall, 2-1 in conference) are led by running back Perry Monzulla.

Monzulla topped the 1,000 yard mark for the season, with 166 yards in a 37-6 win over West Valley last week. Monzulla scored on runs of 14 and 39 yards.

Monzulla has a state-high 1,098 yards rushing in six games this season.

North Pole's only loss this season came in a 42-41 shootout against Lathrop.

Palmer is fresh off a 20-13 win over the Colony Knights.

The Moose continued to run over opponents, rushing for 328 yards in the contest. Allen Franklin led the squad with 151 yards and two touchdowns. Palmer held on for the win despite turning the ball over three times.

Franklin is sixth in the state with 764 yards rushing. If he averages 118 yards per game in Palmer's final two contests, Franklin will break the 1,000 -yard mark during the regular season.

Mike Weber, Franklin's partner in the Moose backfield, has 614 yards.

Palmer will be celebrating homecoming tonight.

Lathrop @ Colony

The Malemutes and Knights are each looking to improve to 3-1 in the NRC and keep hold of at least a share of second place. With a Palmer loss, the winner of the Lathrop-Colony battle could move into a first-place tie with North Pole.

Lathrop defeated Wasilla 40-13 in Fairbanks last week. Senior quarterback Brock Graziadi completed 12 of 16 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Graziadi eclipsed the 1,000-yard passing mark for the second straight season. Malemute running back Jomal Coffey rushed for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Nick Varner had a pair of touchdown catches and Chuck Quint and Shawn Fletcher each caught touchdown passes for the Dogs.

Rhett Magner led the Knights with a touchdown run and a touchdown pass in Colony's loss to Palmer. Magner plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out and found Justin Schwartzbauer on a 16-yard scoring strike to help Colony gain an early lead over the Moose.

Shawn Olivera ran for 67 yards in the contest.

Olivera leads the Colony running backs with 607 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.

Schwartzbauer leads the Knight receivers with 16 catches for 218 yards and three touchdowns.

Wasilla @ West Valley

The Warriors (1-5, 0-3) have the dubious task of making a trip to Fairbanks for the second consecutive week. Last week Wasilla suffered a 40-13 loss at Lathrop.

Jake Wade rushed for 157 yards to lead the Warriors.

Jake and brother Jed, each had touchdown runs.

West Valley (2-3, 0-3) suffered a 37-6 loss to North Pole last week.

The Wolfpack is led by Ward Dobbs. The senior running back topped 1,000 yards rushing for the season in the loss to North Pole.

Wide receiver Ronnie Moody scored WVHS's lone touchdown, a 34-yard reception, in the loss to the Patriots.

Houston @ Nikiski

The Hawks (2-3, 2-2) are on the road for the second straight week. Last week, Houston suffered a 36-6 loss to Eielson in Fairbanks.

Taylor Richey scored the lone Hawk touchdown in the loss, a 1-yard run.

Richey ran for 95 yards and passed for 98 yards in the loss.

Nikiski is 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs handed Valdez a 54-7 loss last week.