Missing multiple starters, the Palmer Moose limped into the fifth weekend of the Alaska prep football season. And state power Soldotna, added insult to injury.
The Stars used more than 500 yards of total offense to plow past Palmer 42-14 Friday night at Machetanz Field in Palmer.
Senior Jaycob Kemp and junior Dax Walden each topped the 100-yard mark on the ground to help the defending Division II state champion Stars improve to 5-0 this season and 3-0 in the Railbelt Conference.
Kemp finished with a game-high 163 yards on 14 carries, and Walden hit 108 yards on 10 tries. Junior Andon Wolveton added 78 yards on 10 attempts. Junior quarterback Owen Buckbee kept the ball four times for 32 yards.
The combined effort was 411 yards on 41 carries, good enough for 10 yards a try each time the Stars ran the ball.
Walden scored twice. Kemp, Wolverton and Buckbee also rushed for touchdowns.
Kemp broke free up the middle for a 33-yard score on SoHi’s fourth play from scrimmage to give the Stars the early 7-0 lead.
Buckbee also threw for 108 yards in the victory, completing 4 of 7 passes. He hit Trevor Michael for a 60-yard score in the second half.
SoHi outgained the Moose 546-216 in the win, and didn’t punt. The Stars could have had another rushing touchdown in the first quarter, but fumbled the ball at the 1-line and through the end zone which resulted in a touchback. Soldotna also attempted a 40-yard field goal in the third.
Palmer junior quarterback Nolan Garner completed 15 of 34 passes for 143 yards in the loss, and found senior Logan Rolston on a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second half. Rolston led the Moose with five catches for 62 yards. Junior Reed Craner added five grabs for 53 yards.
Junior Jacob Maglona rushed for a 15-yard touchdown late in the game for Palmer. SoHi held the Moose to 73 yards on 20 carries.
Both teams were slowed by penalties. Soldotna (seven) and Palmer (four) combined for 11 holding calls in the game, nine in the first half.
Palmer dropped to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play with the loss.
Soldotna now stays in conference by traveling to Wasilla for a 7 p.m. game on Friday, Sept. 20.
Soldotna 42, Palmer 14
Friday, Palmer
First quarter:
Soldotna — Kemp 33 run (Hillyer kick) 9:13
Second quarter:
Soldotna — Walden 3 run (Hillyer kick) 10:51
Soldotna — Wolverton 4 run (Hillyer kick) 7:31
Soldotna — Walden 19 run (Hillyer kick) 3:10
Third quarter:
Soldotna — Buckbee 8 run (Hillyer kick) 9:58
Soldotna — Michael 60 pass from Buckbee (Hillyer kick) 8:29
Palmer — Rolston 2 pass from Garner (kick blocked) 2:45
Fourth quarter:
Palmer — Manglona 15 run (Garner run) 2:20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Soldotna: Kemp 14-163, Walden 10-108, Wolverton 10-78, Buckbee 4-32, Piscoya 1-20, Hall 1-5, Weed 1-5; Palmer: Asay 8-10, Garner 6-20, Manglona 4-26, Hartman 1-12, Craner 1-5.
PASSING — Soldotna: Buckbee 4-7-0–135; Palmer: Garner 15-34-1—143
RECEIVING — Soldotna: Walden 2-48, Michael 1-60, Wolverton 1-17; Palmer: Rolston 5-62, Dinwiddie 5-26, Craner 3-53, Hartman 2-2.
