Wasilla wins Potato Bowl, playoff spot

WASILLA — For the first time since 2002, the Wasilla Warriors are headed to the playoffs. And that's thanks to the Warriors' first win over Palmer since 2001.

In thrilling fashion, the Warriors edged the Moose 36-35 in front of a crowd of more than 2,000 at Veterans Memorial Field on Friday.

Wasilla junior wide receiver Tim Orr set up the go-ahead touchdown by snagging a one-handed grab and running 67 yards to the 7-yard line. Two plays later, junior running back Chris Crane scored his fifth touchdown of the night to tie the score at 35-35. Then Wasilla senior kicker Derek Bosch snapped Wasilla's five-game Potato Bowl losing streak with a perfect PAT.

"I just thought, I gotta make it," Bosch said after he was carried across the field after the win. "It's just like practice."

Palmer nearly silenced the raucous crowd in the final seconds. Junior Mitch Swetzof caught a quick Conrad Smith pass and took it 57 yards. Orr recorded the game-saving tackle within the 10-yard line, and Palmer ultimately ran out of time.

The Moose took a 35-29 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, with Swetzof's 8-yard touchdown reception. But an intense Warrior rush foiled the Palmer extra-point attempt.

The Valley rivals traded the lead several times in the contest before Palmer took a 29-15 lead in the second half. But Crane scored two of his touchdowns within a 20-second span to tie the score for WHS.

With the win, Wasilla (4-2 in conference play) clinches second place in the Railbelt Conference. Palmer (4-2) finishes the regular season in third. The contest sets up a rematch next weeked in the first round of the ASAA large-schools state playoffs. Wasilla will host the game.

See www.frontiersman.com for continued updates, and the Sunday edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for full coverage of the game.