All the pieces come together in West Valley football’s first win of the season

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The first half of the 2021 high school football season has not gone in favor of the West Valley Wolfpack. Their season-opener was canceled after a positive COVID-19 case was discovered within the program. In week two (but their first game), the Palmer Moose came to town to roll over the Wolfpack 51-20, before they traveled to Wasilla with a banged-up roster, losing 42-0 in week three. West Valley experienced their second bout with COVID in week four, when close contacts and quarantines left the Wolfpack with short numbers - ultimately canceling their contest with Chugiak.

Finally, week five at home against the Eielson Ravens, things went in West Valley’s favor. And it did so early, as by the end of the second quarter, the Red & Gold had a stranglehold on the game at 39-0. Will Lowry-Sims punched in the first two scores, followed by Devin Brandon, Nick Caron, Koty Helms and Kobe Amio, as everyone was getting in on the action. Everyone.

On West Valley’s last possession, 4-foot-10 freshman Jacob Carlson took a handoff from 10-yards out, saw an opening, and dashed his way into the end zone, trailed by ecstatic teammates who lifted him in the air following the score.

“All I have to say is don’t give up,” Carlson said after the moment.

“It was exciting seeing little man run out there, he’s going to be good, he’s got it,” Lowry-Sims said of his teammate.

“He came up to us after school started and he wanted to play, but his mom thought, ‘maybe we should wait until he gets bigger’,” West Valley head coach David Devaughn said of Carlson. “I said, ‘hey if he wants to play let him play, it is our job to get him ready and we are not going to put him in until he is ready.’

“There was an opportunity tonight and I figured just give him a nice carry to get those jitters out and next thing you know he is in the end zone. He shows up to practice and works every day, just a good kid.”

Eielson got on the scoreboard in the second half when Landen Salley took an extended hand-off 90-yards down the sideline after shedding some tacklers on his way to six points. Brandon Polesky gave the Ravens their second touchdown, catching a wheel route that he took to the house in the 52-14 Wolfpack win.

West Valley will host North Pole at 7 p.m. Friday for a Railbelt Conference matchup, while Eielson is scheduled to have a bye week.