Warriors show improvement in loss to Golden Bears

WASILLA — Looking strictly at the final result, a victory or a defeat, Wasilla’s 2017 season stared the same way its 2016 campaign ended.

With a loss at Bartlett.

But Wasilla head coach Will Stout is looking deeper than that. And that’s why Stout said he believes the Warriors can build from their 42-20 loss to Bartlett Saturday at Bartlett High School.

“We worked hard in the offseason to get stronger, get faster, and it showed,” Stout said of the Warriors, who suffered a 62-12 loss to the Golden Bears in the first round of the playoffs last season. “Looking at the stats from October when we played them in the playoffs, we’ve improved. I’m pleased with the progression.”

Stout said the Warriors had more success moving the ball on offense, and pinpointed things that need work on the defensive side of the ball.

“I hate to see the loss, but it’s a great game to gauge where we are,” Stout said.

The Warriors were also able to build an first-quarter lead against the Bears. Jontay Edwards scored within the first two minutes of play, a 4-yard rushing touchdown, but Wasilla answered with two scores in about a two-minute stretch in the first. Wasilla’s Sean McDermott rushed for a 4-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 6. About two minutes later Warriors quarterback Aeron Milliron connected with Zach Shogren on a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Bartlett outscored Wasilla 22-0 in the second quarter to take the 28-13 lead, but Wasilla opened the second half with its best drive of the day. The Warriors drove 94 yards and chewed up nearly 11 minutes of the third-quarter clock. Wasilla capped the drive with Milliron’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Riley Fuller.

“We methodically moved the ball downfield and scored,” Stout said.

Stout said after seeing the Warriors offense perform against the Golden Bears, he knows Wasilla can continue to expand the offense.

“We’re able to do a few more things this year,” Stout said.

Wasilla (0-1) continues its season Friday, hosting Eagle River (1-0) in a nonconference game at Veterans Memorial Field. It will also mark Wasilla High’s military appreciation night.

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