Palmer rallies to title game

Palmer's sorrowful 1-3 start to this football season could have led to an easy "there's-always-next-year" excuse.

But the way things shook out for these Valley boys, waving a white towel simply wasn't in the playbook.

Coach Rod Christiansen's team won three of its last four games and will take a 6-4 record into today's First National Bowl at Anchorage Stadium against undefeated and undaunted Juneau-Douglas.

"Starting the way we did, it's amazing we're still here," said Christiansen, one of four coaches in Alaska history with 100 or more career wins.

The odds of playing today were tilted against the Moose. Since 1983, the first year of the Alaska School Activities Association state tournament, only one other team large-schools team with four losses has played for a state championship.

Dimond won a state title in 2001 with a 7-4 record.

Also, no losing team in the title game has ever finished with more than three losses.

To get to today's game, the Moose shocked opponents with some amazing rallies in the Valley.

• Palmer trailed Colony 13-0 in Week 5. A loss would have sent the Moose to 1-4 and out of the playoff picture. But Palmer rallied in the second half to win 14-13.

• Four weeks later, in a rematch of the Potato Bowl, the Moose were down 19-7 to host Wasilla before rallying with 22 unanswered points to win their first-round playoff game.

Last week, though, the underdog Moose shot out with a stunning 21-0 lead against Service in the state semifinal and finished off the Cougars 28-14.

"We didn't expect to go up 21-0," Christiansen said. "This is an overachieving bunch."

SMART JOCKS

Some Moose players achieve off the field too.

Palmer will have five starters today who are National Honor Society members. The society recognizes high school students across the United States for their academic excellence.

Holding at least a 3.0 GPA is required for its membership, along with voluntary community service and demonstrating leadership and good-character qualities.

Starting quarterback Conrad Smith is Palmer's national honor society president. Other members include lineman Everest Moore, center Kevin Priestly, fullback/linebacker Shannon Sawyer and running back/defensive back Rick Lecheminant.

"They've worked their tails off for the last four years," Christiansen said. "These guys deserve to be where they're at with the work they've done on and off the field."

MEN AT WORK

Palmer's work starts at 1 p.m., when the Moose face the Crimson Bears for the second time this season.

And the Moose know all too well that the Crimson Bears' 10-0 record is no fluke -- Juneau pummeled Palmer 28-7 at home seven weeks ago.

Juneau's rushing defense has been nearly flawless this season, giving up a measly 40.6 yards per game. And only six of the 72 points the Crimson Bears have given up came on the ground.

The only running back to score on Juneau this season? Palmer's 210-pound senior fullback Sawyer, who ran two yards for a touchdown in Week 4 against Juneau.

Juneau defensive coordinator Eddie Brakes is the maestro behind the scenes.

"He does his homework," Juneau offensive coordinator Rich Sjoroos said. "He preaches a real hard-nose defense."

Sjoroos said Juneau's rushing defense overpowers its opponents because tacklers "hit low and hold on." Its linemen are small, averaging about 200 pounds. But they have speed.

"We're fast and fearless," Sjoroos said.

In Week 4, the Crimson Bears held the Moose to 95 yards rushing. For the season, the Moose averaged 268 yards a game.

Sjoroos said Juneau will focus on Devin Konkler, Alaska's second-leading rusher, and Sawyer.

DEJA VU

When Palmer and Juneau take the field today, it will be a rematch of sorts. The same two Railbelt Conference teams faced off in the 2005 state title game.

Only a handful of players made an impact on the game that ended in a 49-29 Juneau victory. Justin Draughon was a Palmer sophomore that year.

"I've waited for this game for so long," he said. "I had to watch all the older guys get to this game. But now that I'm actually here, it feels so good to be on this field."

And that sickly feeling of a 1-3 start seems like eons ago.