Just in time for the Potato Bowl, the Palmer Moose joined the top 5 in the state's high school football rankings.
The Moose, who trampled Colony last weekend, grabbed a share of the No. 4 spot in this week's Alaska Broadcasting Sports Network's large-schools poll.
The ranking turns Friday night's Potato Bowl in Wasilla -- the annual clash between Valley rivals Palmer (4-3) and Wasilla (5-2) -- into a battle of top-5 teams. Wasilla beat North Pole last week to move into the No. 2 spot, up a notch from last week.
The Potato Bowl is always important simply because it's a rivalry game, but this year it carries extra significance. Both teams claimed playoff spots last week, so Friday's outcome will help determine seedings.
Palmer, which shared the No. 4 ranking with West Valley, is the only newcomer in this week's large-schools poll. The Moose outpolled two Cook Inlet Conference teams that clinched playoffs spots last weekend -- East and South -- as well as defending state champion West, which dropped out of the poll with a loss to Chugiak.
The state's only undefeated teams -- Service (6-0-1) and Soldotna (7-0) -- maintained their grip on the No. 1 spots in the ASBN's two polls. Service sits atop the large-school poll and Soldotna is tops in the poll for smaller schools.
Anchorage Daily News