The Mustang fans packing out Tom Huffer Sr. Football Stadium on Fri., Sept. 9, were not disappointed in the performance of the Chugiak High School gridiron boys as the team picked up its first win in the Rainbelt Conference in front of the homecoming crowd.
CHS defeated West Valley High School of Fairbanks by a score of 33 to 8.
It was an important victory, CHS Coach Roger Spackman told reporters after the game.
This season, the Mustangs are 2-3 overall, with a 1-1 record in the Rainbelt Conference, which the CHS football team moved to starting this season. Previously, the Mustangs belonged to the Anchorage area-based Cook Inlet Conference.
For Derryk Snell, a junior wide receiver/running back, the homecoming game gave his high school career statistics a boost.
Snell put the Mustangs on the scoreboard with just a little more than 17 seconds left in the first half. He caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from CHS quarterback Hunter Harr that put CHS up by six points headed in to the half.
As fans and the rest of the student body enjoyed halftime homecoming festivities and class floats, the Mustangs used halftime to prepare for the second half that would feature even more action by Snell.
The 195-pound, 6-foot, one inch player showed off his running skills in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard run for a touchdown. Snell ended the game with 142 yard rushing and five catches for 51 yards.
The CHS defense pulled its weight too giving the crowd three turnovers to cheer for and sacking Zachary Lester, West Valley’s quarterback, six times. Credited with those sacks were CHS defenders Ty Carlos, Merrick Johnson, Terry Park, Jr. and Bryant White.
Spackman told reporters that CHS defenders “took care” of their assignments well – especially during the first half when the CHS defense held its ground against West Valley.
Despite its loss to CHS, West Valley delivered a play in the fourth quarter that had fans on both sides of the field holding their breath.
Under immense pressure, Lester thrust an impressive “Hail Mary” pass of his back foot to Xavier Simon, West Valley running back who was waiting in the back corner of the end zone. Despite a deflect by CHS defense, Simon grabbed the ball while in its ricochet and fell on his back in the end zone making West Valley’s only score.
The offensive stats from both teams tell the story of the night as CHS dominated West Valley with 424 total offensive yards to 126 yards. West Valley’s Lester completed five of 15 passes, one touchdown and one interception. Haar for CHS completed 16 of 23 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mustangs Varsity Football team hosts the Wasilla Warriors at Tom Huffer Sr. Football Stadium on Fri., Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The junior varsity game is at 4 p.m.
Learn more about Mustang football online at its booster website: www.chugiakmustangsfootball.org.
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