Warriors primed to pluck Eagles

WASILLA — Kent Rilatos likes to have wrestlers in his defensive backfield.

The first-year Wasilla head coach knows wrestlers are typically quick, aggressive and apt to keep a grip and make the tackle. Fortunately for Rilatos, the Warriors have a few wrestlers in their defensive backfield, including starting cornerbacks Abe Fox and Cole Miller.

Rilatos also knows those defensive backs will be key as the Warriors face the state’s top-ranked passing attack as Wasilla hosts defending state champion West Anchorage Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wasilla High’s Veterans Memorial Field.

“The advantages they get from being in the wrestling room is huge on the football field,” Rilatos said. “They’re sure-tacklers.”

As a unit the Wasilla defensive backfield has steadily improved throughout the season. The Warriors have allowed 250 yards or more passing only twice this season and less than 80 yards passing in four games.

“That group has been involved a ton,” Rilatos said.

Along with Fox and Miller, senior safety Tyler Anderson has stood out, and sophomore Cash McGregor has also emerged. Rilatos said seniors James and Jason Moriarty have also played major roles on pass defense.

Senior Dillon Ferro, a late addition to the squad, has also helped, Rilatos said.

Saturday, that defensive backfield will be tasked with facing West Anchorage junior quarterback Connor Feckley and the pass-happy Eagles offense. Feckley, who led the Eagles to a slim 6-0 win over Service in the 2010 large schools state title game, leads all Alaska quarterbacks with 2,098 yards passing and 22 touchdowns.

Feckley has two of the top targets in the state. Junior Marcel Dion leads West with 47 catches for 817 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior Lamarr Brown has 37 grabs for 805 yards and a team-high 10 scores.

Wasilla’s hopes to earn its first playoff victory since 2001 and just fourth in school history may hinge on stopping the Feckley-led air attack. Rilatos said the key is making the tackle and forcing West to put together long drives, rather than allowing the Eagles to fly with big plays.

“Being sure tacklers,” Rilatos said. “Making them drive the ball — 14, 15, 16-play drives.”

Rilatos said the Warrior front — led by the likes of Braydon Kuiper and Dillon Wiggins, will also be key.

“We’re really working on our pass rush,” Rilatos said.

Feckley was intercepted four times during a loss to Service last week.

Feckley will not be the only quarterback on the field sporting outrageous numbers Saturday. Wasilla junior Ben Fielder is also among the top quarterbacks in the state with 1,331 yards and 19 touchdowns. Fielder’s favorite target, Anderson, leads the state with 14 touchdown catches. Anderson also has a Railbelt conference-high 29 catches for 761 yards.

Senior Devon Teeling leads the state with 1,286 yards rushing.

Wasilla is in the playoffs for just the second time since 2007 and third since 2002. The Warriors have clinched a playoff berth six times since the Alaska Schools Activities Association sanctioned a postseason tournament in 1990. Since, the Warriors have won three playoff games.

Two of those wins came in 1999, when Wasilla used postseason wins over Eielson and Chugiak to advance to the state title game. Wasilla, in its lone state championship appearance, suffered a loss to Service.

Wasilla’s only other playoff win came in 2001, a 22-18 win over rival Colony in the quarterfinals.

Wasilla is also boasting its first conference title since 1999 this season. The Warriors clinched the championship and the top seed in the Railbelt with a 23-22 win over Palmer in the 33rd annual Potato Bowl last week. Placekicker Kyler Perry booted the game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired to lift Wasilla to the win.

The win placed Wasilla in a three-way tie for first at 5-1 in conference play, alongside Juneau-Douglas and West Valley. A new tiebreaker, point differential among the teams in question, was used to break the tie.

Only games that included the three teams were taken into consideration. Wasilla’s 53-33 win over Juneau and 20-17 loss to West Valley left the Warriors with a plus-17 differential. Juneau was at plus-1 and West Valley (a 29-8 loser at Juneau) was left at minus-18.

West finished 4-4 in Cook Inlet Conference play and is the CIC’s No. 4 seed.

Saturday’s winner will advance to the semifinal round next week, which will be held at Chugiak High’s Tom Huffer Sr. Field.

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