Warriors fall in Fairbanks

WASILLA — The best seems to come out of Josh Hernandez when he faces the Wasilla Warriors.

Last season, the Lathrop quarterback threw for 479 yards during a victory over Wasilla. Saturday, Hernandez was up to it again. Hernandez accounted for four total touchdowns as he led Lathrop to a 49-7 victory over the Warriors at Lathrop High School.

Hernandez threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to help Lathrop improve to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Railbelt Conference. The Malemutes also struck twice on special teams, scoring on the opening kickoff of each half. Chateau Reed returned the game’s opening kickoff 76 yards for a score. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Wasilla fumbled and Michael Zadra scooped up the ball and ran in for a score.

Wasilla’s lone touchdown of the game came with just more than a minute to play. Wyland Wear used a short touchdown run to put the Warriors on the scoreboard.

With the loss, Wasilla dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Railbelt Conference. The Warriors are still alive in the hunt for one of the conference’s four playoff berths. Colony (2-0) and Chugiak (2-0) have clinched spots. Lathrop, Wasilla and West Valley (0-3) remain alive in the race for the final two. Wasilla hosts Chugiak Saturday at 7 p.m. at WHS. Lathrop is at Colony Friday at 7 p.m.

West Valley would be eliminated with a Lathrop win over Colony.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.