Just three weeks into the football season, Eagle River High already has accomplished what it managed in the three previous seasons combined — two victories.
A 13-12 nonconference thriller over visiting Dimond on Saturday afternoon pushed the Wolves of the Division II Northern Lights Conference to 2-1 — that's after they went 2-22 in the previous three seasons, including 2-6 last season.
"It's a start, and that's what we're preaching to the team," said Eagle River first-year coach Bob Adkins. "We can't be satisfied with a good start. We have to concentrate on getting better."
The Wolves toppled the Lynx of the Division I Cook Inlet Conference by getting off to a quick start — Eagle River led 13-0 at halftime — and seizing five turnovers, including four in the first half.
They also prospered thanks to Dimond's self-inflicted wounds, namely 12 penalties for 120 yards and a mishandled shotgun snap on a potential go-ahead, two-point conversion with two minutes to go.
Dimond (1-2) trailed 13-6 when it took possession at its 22-yard line with 7:42 to go. The Lynx rolled 78 yards in 13 plays and used Paris Motuga's 8-yard touchdown pass on a slant pattern to the left side to trim Eagle River's lead to 13-12 with 2:01 left.
The Lynx went for two, but Motuga couldn't handle an accurate snap and Eagle River's Matthew Bellman pounced on the ball to maintain the Wolves' lead.
Dimond got one last possession with 35 seconds to go, but Eagle River's J.T. Adams picked off Motuga's pass deep down the middle to seal victory.
Eagle River beat Ketchikan 55-13 to open the season before falling 30-0 to Wasilla last week.
"I feel like we can play better," said Wolves quarterback Ryan Adkins, "but we've improved the last two weeks and we need to keep doing that."
Junior Quanard Cox's fingerprints were all over Eagle River's victory. The recent arrival from South Carolina caught a 13-yard swing pass from Adkins to open the scoring on the first play of the second half. He also recovered a fumble, snagged an interception and knocked down a Dimond pass.
Adkins hit Cox for the touchdown when Cox, stationed at running back, ran a looping route out to the left, blew past coverage and caught Adkins' perfectly lofted pass.
"Q's got speed and I knew he'd run under that pass," Adkins said. "He made me look good. He's a game-changer."
Eagle River pushed its lead to 13-0 when it parlayed a Dimond fumble — actually, two fumbles — into Justice Townsend's 18-yard return inside the final minute of the first half. Motuga initially fumbled and a Dimond lineman recovered it, but likewise fumbled before Townsend secured the ball and weaved his way to the end zone.
The Lynx ran the ball effectively — when they held onto it. Motuga proved dangerous on keepers and when scrambling and racked a game-high 112 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. His 1-yard run in the third quarter came shortly after Eagle River went for it on fourth-and-2 from its 28 and was thrown for a loss.
Dimond's Kekoa Tufaga rushed 20 times for 81 yards and caught two passes for 25 yards.
But Dimond's turnovers — three fumbles, two interceptions — proved costly, as did its penalties.
Eagle River also received fumble recoveries from Townsend and Grant Burningham. The Wolves believe they're on the right track as they prepare to open their conference campaign next week at Kenai.
"We did what we had to for us to win," Cox said. "We just have to focus on winning and, now, moving up in our conference."
Dimond 0 0 6 6 — 12
Eagle River 0 13 0 0 — 13
Second Quarter
Eagle River — Cox 13 pass from Adkins (kick blocked), 11:57.
Eagle River — Townsend 18 fumble return (Heagy kick), :56.
Third Quarter
Dimond — Motuga 1 run (pass failed), 6:40.
Fourth Quarter
Dimond — Kress 8 pass from Motuga (run failed), 2:01.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Dimond: Motuga 21-112, Tufaga 20-81, Caldejon 2-12, Team 1 (-21). Eagle River: Adkins 14-60, Tripp 8-27, Caywood 6-8, Williams 6-3, Cox 5-3.
PASSING — Dimond: Motuga 5-15-2–58. Eagle River: Adkins 6-12-1–72.
RECEIVING — Dimond: Cavazos 2-25, Tufaga 2-25, Kress 1-8. Eagle River: Rollman 3-22, Townsend 2-37, Cox 1-13.
Week 3 scores
Saturday
East 39, Lathrop 14
Eagle River 13, Dimond 12
Kenai 27, Juneau 0
Homer 66, Valdez 0
Monroe 26, Voznesenka 9
Friday
Chugiak 60, West Valley 12
Soldotna 52, South 7
Houston 34, Seward 0
Capital Christian 43, Service 14
Nikiski 24, Ketchikan 6
North Pole 50, Wasilla 34
Eielson 24, Kodiak 7
Barrow 40, Redington 8
Bartlett 34, West 26
Colony 39, Palmer 8