Warriors, Moose ranked in latest poll

WASILLA — The latest Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network large schools football looks a little bit like kindergarten — everybody gets a prize.

Teams are tied in both fourth and fifth leaving seven squads in the latest “top 5” released by ASBN Monday afternoon. Wasilla and Palmer are now among four Railbelt teams ranked.

Wasilla, a 43-29 winner at North Pole last Friday, continues its ride up the ASBN elevator, and is now ranked second on the latest list. Palmer, which beat rival Colony 42-6, is ranked again and locked in a fourth-place tie with West Valley.

Service (6-0-1) is once again the top team in the poll, after a 66-36 win over Eagle River. Juneau-Douglas (6-1) is back among the top teams in the state after beating rival West Valley (5-2) 29-8 in Juneau. West Valley had been ranked No. 2 in the poll.

Cook Inlet Conference squads South Anchorage (5-2) and East Anchorage (4-3) are tied for fifth.

All four Railbelt teams ranked — Wasilla, Palmer, Juneau and West Valley — have clinched playoff berths. Heading into the final weekend of regular-season action, West Valley sits at the top of the Railbelt with a 5-1 mark. The Wolfpack end the regular season with a nonconference game against Skyview.

Wasilla and Juneau are tied for second in conference with identical 4-1 marks. The Warriors own the tiebreaker over Juneau. Palmer, 3-2 in conference, is currently in fourth.

The Moose and the Warriors meet Friday at Veterans Memorial Field in the annual Potato Bowl. Wasilla would be in the running for home field advantage during the first round with a win over Palmer.

Juneau travels to Fairbanks to face Lathrop. See the Friday edition of the Frontiersman for more on the playoff possibilities.

Soldotna (7-0) maintained its No. 1 spot in the small schools poll with a lopsided win over Skyview. The Stars are the only team in Alaska with seven wins this season.

Homer, which travels to Houston to face the Hawks Friday, is No. 2 with a 6-1 record. The Mariners beat fourth-ranked Kenai (4-3) 21-14 in double-overtime Saturday.

Nikiski (6-3) is third. Greatland Conference rivals Barrow (5-1) and Eielson (4-3) are tied for fifth.