Wolfpack in, Warriors out of race

FAIRBANKS — Senior Night and homecoming couldn’t have turned out any better for the West Valley Wolfpack football team.

Senior Will Vealy ripped off a pair of touchdown runs, while sophomore running back/quarterback Lorenzo Graham and quarterback Tucker Plass turned in gutsy performances to lead the Wolfpack to an 18-7 Railbelt Conference victory against Wasilla that propelled West Valley to the state playoffs for the first time since 2006.

“This is a huge thing for us,” first-year West Valley coach Daniel Esparza said. “We’ve accomplished a goal we set in January. Now we want to go into the playoffs and have an impact.”

Vealy scored on runs of 43 and 14 yards, while Graham ripped off a 59-yard touchdown scamper and filled in for Plass at quarterback after he was injured at the end of the first half.

After suffering a severely sprained ankle at the end of the first half on a body crushing by Wasilla’s 5-foot-4, 250-pound linebacker David Green, Plass returned to the game in the fourth quarter and led West Valley on its playoff-clinching drive.

“If that kid isn’t named homecoming king then the thing is rigged,” Esparza said jokingly as Plass stood nearby, waiting to be interviewed.

“In our last two games against Palmer and Kenai, we came out flat in the first half, but tonight we were fired up right from the start and it made a big difference,” Plass said. “We were able to keep the momentum going all night long.”

Plass said he was determined to get back in the game in the second half.

“Larenzo did a great job while he was in there, but I wanted to get back in there and help win it for our seniors,” Plass said. “It’s great for us to get to the playoffs.”

Getting to the playoffs was one of the first goals Esparza set for the Wolfpack when he took over as head coach.

“Our guys really came out ready to play tonight, and everyone wanted this for the senior class,” Esparza said. “Those two sophomores (Graham and Plass) really did a great job for us and showed a lot of character.”

The offense lost only one fumble, and West Valley’s defense created three Wasilla turnovers and stopped the Warriors on downs on two other occasions.

“Our defense was lights out tonight,” Esparza said. “They kind of got beat up the last couple of games, but tonight they stepped up and shut down a good offensive team.”

West Valley forced Wasilla to punt three plays after the opening kickoff and then went right to work to take a 6-0 lead with 8:14 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wolfpack went 56 yards in five plays with Vealy busting loose for a 43-yard run score. Vealy finished the night with 90 yards on six carries and caught a pair of Plass passes for 36 yards.

West Valley senior defensive back Evan Post recovered a fumble at the West Valley 41-yard line early in the second quarter, and the Wolfpack took immediate advantage as Graham took off on a 59-yard scoring jaunt with the next play.

Graham finished the night with 118 yards and 14 carries.

Wasilla’s lone score came in the second quarter when Tyler Polis busted into the end zone from five yards out in a fourth-and-2 situation.

“I’d like to congratulate coach Esparza on the fine job he’s done with the West Valley football team this season,” said Wasilla coach Glenn Nelson. “I thought our guys played well enough to win tonight.”

Polis finished with a team-high 77 yards on 16 carries.

Vealy capped the scoring midway through the fourth quarter by taking a handoff from Plass and rolling around the end and into the corner of the end zone.

Wasilla’s final attempt at the end zone ended when Brent Rodenberger intercepted a pass deep in Wolfpack territory.

Contact sports editor Bob Eley at 459-7581.

WEST VALLEY 18, WASILLA 7

FRIDAY, WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

First quarter

West Valley — Vealy 49 run (kick failed), 8:14.

Second Quarter

West Valley — Graham 59 run (run failed), 10:38

Wasilla — Polis 5 run (Sliwa kick), 2:26

Fourth Quarter

West Valley — Vealey 14 run (Kick blocked), 7:17.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING —Wasilla: Wild 6-15, Marshall 2 (-3), Teeling 20-72, Polis 16-77, Kupier 2-16. West Valley, Comeau 14-14, Graham 14-118; Vealey 6-90; Nuttall 1-(-2), Harrington 2-21, Plass 1-8,

PASSING —Wasilla: Marshall 1-3-8-9; Kupier 5-12-21—1, Teeling 1-0-0-1. West Valley: Plass 2-6-36-0, Graham 1-2-17-0.

RECEIVING — Wasilla: Green 2-13, Polis 1-6, Teeling 1-0, Anderson 2-10. West Valley: Vealey 2-36; Nuttall 1-17.