Anchorage Daily News

Football is a sport with a short season, so each game matters -- a lot. Thus, conventional wisdom states that a team can lose all hope of making the playoffs with just a few early season losses.

Palmer last season disproved that. The Moose started 1-3, but they impressively improved as the season wore on and advanced to the large-schools state championship game.

Colony is trying to disprove that notion this season.

The Knights started 0-2, losing to Railbelt Conference opponent North Pole in the season opener, then falling hard to defending small-schools champion Soldotna.

But since then, Colony has clicked. On Friday, the Knights took care of Palmer 27-6 for their third win in a row.

Friday's game presented a picture of a team finding itself and on a roll. Quarterback Collin Murphy threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two more. The Knights' defense stopped Palmer on three fourth-down attempts and forced a key fumble with the Moose driving in the first quarter.

Since Colony's 40-16 loss at Soldotna on Aug. 15, it has outscored opponents 111-19.

Murphy said the turning point came after that loss.

"Skill-wise, we're every bit as good as Soldotna," he said. "We let that one get away from us. Towards the fourth quarter, for the first time, our team quit a little bit."

Murphy said the 0-2 start shattered pre-season goals. The Knights, he said, thought highly of their chances to go deep into the playoffs.

"We were hoping for an undefeated season, conference title and everything," he said. "Then we start the season 0-2. It was a real shocker for us."

Colony coach Jamie Mayo said some positives came out of those two losses.

"We learned that we are a good team, but more than anything, that we didn't play to our capabilities," he said. "The kids were committed before, but after that Soldotna loss, we had a pretty nasty practice that week. I think our kids were pretty angry. They were embarrassed. And I think they recommitted themselves."

Colony has won its last two with strong second-half performances. Last week against East, Colony scored four second-half touchdowns en route to a 28-7 win.

Colony led 7-0 at halftime Friday on Murphy's 1-yard run. But a recharged team emerged from the locker room for the second half.

The passing game got the Knights going. Colony built a 21-0 lead on two Murphy touchdown throws in the third quarter, a 15-yarder to Tim Jaronik and a 27-yarder to running back Chris Krieg.

Murphy admits he has a weak throwing arm. But he nevertheless completed 10 of 14 passes for 128 yards with no interceptions.

Palmer finally scored when Johnny Daly burst around the left end, beat a Colony defender, then sped down the sideline for a 60-yard score. That touchdown came early in the fourth quarter. Colony capped things with a long, 11-play drive, finished off by Murphy's second rushing score, a 26-yard romp down the right sideline.

Murphy said since the Soldotna loss, that "nothing has gotten us down.

"Everyone is laying it all out there on the field."

Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot or call 352-6712.

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