Hale and Chenault combined for 380 yards rushing and five touchdowns as the Golden Bears ran away with an impressive 39-0 win in the season opener for both teams.
"These two are as good as any duo we've ever had here," said Bartlett coach John Jessen.
Hale scored three touchdowns and racked up 182 yards on 21 carries, while Chenault found the end zone twice -- including a 63-yarder -- and gained 198 yards on 15 carries.
"We've been building up together since we met each other when we were sophomores," Chenault said.
Defensive back Jordan Blount-O'Connor also found the end zone with a 38-yard interception return for the Golden Bears, Alaska's No. 2-ranked football team according to the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network's preseason poll.
"We've got the makings of a great football team, we just have to practice and get better," Jessen said.
Before the season started, the buzz around town was that Hale and Chenault were primed to torch defenders with their speed and elusiveness. Wasilla must have heard the rumors, as the grass on the field resembled the shaggy rough at a U.S. Open. But despite the attempt at slowing things down, nothing could be done once the game started.
After Bartlett forced a punt on Wasilla's opening drive, Hale opened the scoring with a 10-yard scamper set up by a 42-yard carry by his running mate on a crucial third down play. Chenault picked up 66 yards on the Golden Bears' opening drive, setting the tone for what proved to be a long evening for the Warriors.
Bartlett was forced to punt on its next possession, but got the ball right back when Jacob Yates stepped in front of a Cody Pfeifer pass deep inside Wasilla territory. Hale wasted little time cashing in, scoring four plays later to put Bartlett up 13-0.
Bartlett gained 441 yards of total offense -- including 411 on the ground -- while holding Wasilla to just 127 yards from scrimmage.
Chenault got into the scoring act late in the second quarter, slicing through the Wasilla defense for a 12-yard touchdown that made things 19-0 at the half.
Wasilla's lone highlight came just before the second quarter ended, when Pat Chafin blocked Blount-O'Connor's punt to set up a field goal attempt. But Paul Sliwa's ensuing 38-yard try went wide left as time ran out in the half.
Things got even worse for Wasilla in the second half. The Golden Bears marched 56 yards on six plays to open the second half, stretching the lead to 25-0 on Hale's third touchdown.
"We knew they'd break by halftime," Chenault said.
Following a fumble recovery by Bartlett senior linebacker Junior Tufuga, Chenault electrified the sizable Bartlett crowd with a 63-yard sprint that left Wasilla's defensive backs grasping at air. Bartlett capped its third-period onslaught when Blount-O'Connor nabbed a deep pass by Pfeifer, found the sideline and hit the gas, going untouched into the end zone to make it 37-0 heading into the fourth.
A bad snap on a Wasilla punt out of its own end zone gave Bartlett a fourth-quarter safety.
Next up for the Golden Bears is South, a team Jessen said his squad has had trouble with in the past.
"They've had our number," he said.
But if Bartlett can continue to light things up on both sides of the ball, he said that could change.
"We've just got to out work them," he said.
Daily News reporter Matt Tunseth can be reached at mtunseth@adn.com or 257-4309.
Bartlett 7 12 18 2 -- 39
Wasilla 0 0 0 0 -- 0
First Quarter
Bartlett -- Hale 10 run (Dunn kick), 5:11.
Second Quarter
Bartlett -- Hale 13 run (kick failed), 10:16.
Bartlett -- Chenault 12 run (run failed) 4:46
Third Quarter
Bartlett -- Hale 13 run (run failed), 9:57
Bartlett -- Chenault 63 run (run failed), 6:24
Bartlett -- Blount-O'Connor 38 interception return (run failed), :04
Fourth Quarter
Bartlett -- safety, 10:28.
Bartlett Wasilla
First downs 20 7
Rushes-yards 54-411 33-55
Passing yards 30 72
Return yards 56 20
Passes 3-8-0 5-12-2
Punts 1-25 5-32.6
Fumbles-lost 3-0 3-1
Penalties-yards 7-50 3-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Bartlett: Chenault 15-198, Hale 21-182, Anthony 4-17, Lisenby 4-10, Levao 1-4, Highlander 7-1, Tufuga 1-0, Crowell 1-(-1). Wasilla: Welton 14-21, Lapiz 7-19, Bydlon 9-3, Langendorf 1-7, Marshall 2-5.
PASSING -- Bartlett: Highlander 3-7-0--30; Crowell 0-1-0--0. Wasilla: Pfeifer 5-12-2.
RECEIVING -- Bartlett: Lisenby 1-14, Anthony 1-14, Gunn 1-2. Wasilla: Green 3-46, Bydlon 2-26.
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