Warriors spoil Chugiak’s party

CHUGIAK — The Wasilla Warriors spoiled the party for Chugiak , but gave head coach Jim Shetter a happy homecoming with a 21-14 win over the Mustangs at Chugiak High School on Friday.

Wasilla senior Chris Crane scored twice to help the Warriors spoil the debut of Chugiak’s new artificial turf field.

“It was a good way to start the season,” Shetter said.

Although the Warriors did reign on Chugiak’s fancy new carpet that was unveiled to fans in a pre-game ceremony that included Gov. Sarah Palin, Shetter was much more thrilled about his team’s ability to score a win over a Cook Inlet Conference squad.

“It’s really positive for the kids to play a much bigger school like Chugiak,” said Shetter, whose Warrior squads have been relegated to play the likes of Skyview and Homer in nonconference action in recent years. “It’s a big win for the kids.”

Crane scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to lead the Warriors.

After Chugiak’s Ethan Hewitt gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter with a 30-yard touchdown catch, Crane rumbled for a 34-yard score to tie the score at 7-7.

Adrese LaVern’s 9-yard touchdown toss to Crane allowed the Warriors to head into halftime with a 13-7 advantage.

Crane led the Warriors with 99 yards on 15 carries in the win. LaVern completed 10-of-17 passes for 103 yards. Senior Tim Orr led the Warriors with six catches for 61 yards.

Shetter, a longtime Chugiak assistant, returned for the first time as head coach of the Warriors. Shetter, who coached at CHS from 1992-2000, once roamed the same sideline as Duncan Shackleford, the current head coach of the Mustangs.

“Shack and I started together as assistants in ‘92. I hate to see either of us lose, but at some points when you get on the field of battle, your friendship stops for 48 minutes,” Shetter joked.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 21, Chugiak 14

Friday, Chugiak

First quarter

Chugiak — Hewitt 30 pass from Wood (Williams kick), 5:40.

Second quarter

Wasilla — Crane 34 run (Kroon kick), 8:16.

Wasilla — Crane 9 pass from LaVern (kick failed), 0:16.

Third quarter

Wasilla — Mock 1 run (Crane pass from LaVern), 1:13.

Fourth quarter

Chugiak — Hewitt 20 pass from Wood (Williams kick), 2:56.

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Wasilla: Crane 15-99, Mock 9-42, Katchinska 4-28, Gross 4-18, LaVern 2-9, Orr 1-(-2); Chugiak: Gr. Ghramm 14-125, Schwartz 15-47, Wood 11-47, Lange 5-12, Ressiguie 1-(-4).

PASSING — Wasilla: LaVern 10-17-0—103; Chugiak: Wood 4-8-1—71, Gr. Ghramm 0-1-0-0.

RECEVING — Wasilla: Orr 6-61, Crane 2-24, Green 1-11, Schirack 1-7; Chugiak: Hewitt 3-67, Lange 1-4.