West Valley football drops season-opener to Palmer

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The West Valley Wolfpack had to wait a week later than most of the Alaska high school football landscape to play their season-opener, as their week one contest with the Soldotna Stars was canceled due to a COVID-19 positive test result within the program.

It was evident that the Wolfpack still had some early-season kinks to work out, as unforced turnovers and big plays by the Palmer Moose tormented the Red and Gold for four quarters in a 59-20 loss Saturday.

By the end of the first quarter, West Valley found themselves in a 19-0 hole that they could not dig themselves out of. 19 points turned into 25 in the second quarter, before Wolfpack running back Kobe Amio broke the drought with a seven-yard run that put the West Valley on the scoreboard (that happened to be out of commission for the game).

Responding to another Palmer touchdown, Harley Casas broke loose for a 87-yard rushing touchdown to make it 31-14, which was as close as the game ever got from that point on. The Moose would score three unanswered touchdowns before Koty Helms’ 1-yard plunge gave West Valley their third touchdown - only to allow Palmer to score once more before the clock struck zeroes.

The schedule does not get much easier for the Wolfpack (0-1), as they will head on the road to face #5 Wasilla Warriors at 7 p.m. Friday in the Mat-Su Valley.

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