Wolfpack use big first half to keep Warriors winless in Railbelt

FAIRBANKS — West Valley’s defense came up big in the first half of Friday night’s homecoming contest against the Wasilla Warriors, and that was all the Wolfpack needed to claim a 34-21 Railbelt Conference high school football victory Friday night.

The Wolfpack converted four interceptions, including an 84-yard return by sophomore defensive back Charles Sudduth into a 28-7 halftime lead and kept their playoff hopes alive by holding off a valiant Warrior comeback in the fourth quarter.

Lorenzo Graham scored three touchdowns and had one of West Valley’s interceptions, and Dominick Anderson opened the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown run to get the Wolfpack off to a fast start.

“Any win is a great win, especially in this conference,” West Valley coach John Patterson said after talking to his team after the game.

The win boosted West Valley to 2-2 in conference play and 2-3 on the season and kept the Wolfpack’s playoff hopes alive.

West Valley plays another key conference game at Colony next Friday, then closes out the season hosting Juneau-Douglas on Sept. 29.

“That’s as big as it gets,” Patterson said of the Colony game. “It’s going to be a great game.”

Patterson said West Valley’s defensive line was the key to shutting down Wasilla in Friday night’s homecoming contest.

“We rotate Michael Moore, Jackson Curry, Alex Orosco, James Clausen and Trusty Sigmon on the defensive line and those guys were phenomenal tonight,” Patterson said.

Suddeth was another key to the West Valley attack as he intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown.

His first interception came one play after Wolfpack quarterback Tucker Plass threw an interception in the interception in the end zone.

His second came when Wasilla was driving deep into West Valley territory in an attempt to close a 21-7 deficit. Sudduth stepped in front of a Wasilla receiver at the 15-yard line and headed the other direction untouched to put the Wolfpack ahead 28-7 at the break.

“That was a huge play,” Patterson said. “Maybe the play of the game.”

Plass, returning to the lineup after suffering an ankle sprain two weeks, completed nine of 18 passes for 141 yards. His one touchdown pass was a 14-yarder to Graham. Plass found six different receivers. Graham led the way with three receptions for 39 yards.

Graham also scored on runs of 3 and 39 yards. He finished the night with 103 yards on 11 carries. Anderson collected 101 yards on 13 carries and Jamal Cummings added 24 yards on 11 totes.

Wasilla quarterback Ben Fielder had a big night, completing 17 of 31 passes for 242 yards, but his four interceptions in the first half cost the Warriors dearly.

Cash McGregor was Fielder’s favorite target, with six receptions for 113 yards, including a 9-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.

Chance Morrison hauled in a 31-yard TD pass in the first quarter and Isaiah Dawkins had the other touchdown reception, an 18-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 34-21, Wasilla drove to inside the West Valley 1-yard line in the final minute, but the West Valley defense stiffened to keep the Warriors from getting any closer.