Warriors cash in with win over West Eagles

ANCHORAGE ¬— Upcoming opponents may think twice about trying to throw the ball against the Wasilla Warriors, or at least anywhere in the vicinity of Cash McGregor.

The Wasilla senior safety picked off five West Anchorage passes, and the Warriors cashed in to grab a 24-14 nonconference win over the Eagles at Anchorage Football Stadium.

McGregor hauled in a pair of interceptions in the end zone in the first half and picked off three more passes in the fourth quarter to help Wasilla earn the victory and snap a seven-game losing streak that haunted the Warriors in 2012.

If that wasn’t enough, McGregor also rushed for 60 yards and a score, caught an 18-yard pass and averaged just about 30 yards on four punts.

McGregor thought he had the game of his life in middle school. But that was before Saturday.

“In eighth grade I had six touchdowns in a game. But it doesn’t add up to this,” McGregor said. “This is huge. My senior year.”

And it’s a good start to his senior year, and among the most impressive individual performances Wasilla head coach Kent Rilatos has seen.

“It’s been a long, long time. Back when I was in Oregon, I had a young man that went on to play safety for the (Oregon State) Beavers. He had a game like that. But it was 1994,” Rilatos said. “This couldn’t happen to a better man. He prepares himself, watches the film, understands tendencies and can make adjustments in game.”

Those adjustments in the defensive backfield helped McGregor kill five West Anchorage drives.

With less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter, McGregor reached in front of a West receiver in the corner of the end zone and pulled down the ball. That stopped a 17-play West drive.

The Eagles chewed up the final minutes of the first half with a 14-play drive. And with West facing 3rd-and-goal from the 6, McGregor snagged another West pass in the end zone.

The first of his three fourth-quarter picks came on the first play of the quarter. With less than five minutes remaining, McGregor followed a West Anchorage interception with his fourth pick on the very next play. His final interception came late in the game.

McGregor was quick to credit his defensive teammates.

“Our defensive line did incredible. They made the quarterback uncomfortable. He had to move around a lot. He had to throw a lot on the run. That gave me an opportunity,” McGregor said.

McGregor was not the only Warrior to stand out Saturday.

Mitchell Rilatos rushed for a game-high 167 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Josiah Williams, making his first varsity start, threw for 85 yards. McGregor praised the offensive line, particularly the unit’s work in the second half.

“Our line really took it upon themselves to put us on their back. It was easy to run for me and Mitchell,” McGregor said.

Elijah Hall booted a 40-yard field goal midway through the first quarter to give the Warriors the early advantage, and Wasilla took a 3-0 lead into halftime. Kent Rilatos said having that halftime lead was key to building confidence.

“That’s probably only the second lead we’ve had in the last year. The ability to kick the field goal was big and have confidence knowing we’re moving the ball, doing things right and making adjustments,” Rilatos said. “We had the lead. We knew we had to protect the lead, and we never gave it up.”

Wasilla pushed its lead to 10-0 with a Mitchell Rilatos 16-yard touchdown run midway through the third. West jumped on the board on the ensuing kickoff, thanks to Leroy Elliott’s 91-yard return for a score.

“They did bring that kickoff back and that brought us back down to earth,” McGregor said. “Once we got that next drive in put another one in, it felt great.”

McGregor had that honor. With the Warriors facing 4th-and-goal at the 6, McGregor sprinted into the corner of the end zone.

Mitchell Rilatos helped break the game open with a 27-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

McGregor said the Warriors (1-7 last year) certainly felt like the underdogs facing a West team that has advanced to the postseason in four straight years. He said the Warriors are ready to prove themselves.

“We watch the news. We see the top 5. You see Palmer and Colony, and you don’t see Wasilla anywhere,” McGregor said. “We put the chip on our shoulder. We really felt like we needed to send a message. Not just today, but all year.”

Wasilla 24,

West Anchorage 14

Saturday, Anchorage

First quarter:

Wasilla — Hall 40 field goal, 7:57.

Second quarter:

No scoring.

Third quarter:

Wasilla — Rilatos 16 run (O’Laughlin kick) 7:11.

West — Elliott 91 kickoff return (Troxel kick) 6:54.

Wasilla — McGregor 6 run (O’Laughlin kick) 0:35.

Fourth quarter:

Wasilla — Rilatos 27 run (O’Laughlin kick) 9:44.

West — Davis 2 pass from Wedin (Troxel kick) 6:55.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Wasilla: Rilatos 24-167, Thomas 9-(-9), Williams 7-(-10), McGregor 6-60, Klein 1-0; West: Faualo 11-54, Faamasino 6-19, Wedin 3-(-7), Davis 2-2, Seui 1-7.

PASSING — Wasilla: Williams 5-12-1—85; West: Wedin 15-34-5—162.

RECEIVING — Wasilla: Dedrick 2-39, McGregor 1-18, Rilatos 1-17, Thomas 1-11; West: Elliott 6-95, Davis 4-11, Rayford 3-39, Cordero 2-17.