A football team’s first offensive possession in any season is customarily held sacred. The idea is to present the very best of an offseason’s tireless effort and preparation, so the world knows you’re ready to impress.
Friday, the East Thunderbirds showcased quite the questionable opening salvo. The defending Anchorage School District champions and winners of seven straight entering the night ran three plays for naught with only 10 players on the field. This was followed by a punt from inside its own end zone with just nine players lined up.
“Oh, that was (the) plan, we practiced it all week,” East coach Jeff Trotter deadpanned. “It was a real rope-a-dope.”
Trotter and the Thunderbirds allowed themselves room to mock shortcomings in what was otherwise an easy-breezy 45-22 victory over the home-standing Service Cougars.
Despite the shaky start, East opened up a 38-point lead early in the third quarter and defeated its Cook Inlet Conference rival for the seventh consecutive time dating back to October 2014.
A rather lively crowd of about 1,800 watched from the sun-splashed grandstands at Service High.
In the first half the East defense recorded four sacks and two interceptions while holding the Cougars to 84 offensive yards. Offensively, the first of what promises to be many outstanding performances belonged to the senior quartet of receivers Deuce Zimmerman and Damarion Delaney, running back Elijah Reed and quarterback Kyler Johnson.
The foursome made it seem like East won’t miss a beat after graduating 31 seniors from last season’s undefeated squad.
Zimmerman hauled in five balls for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Delaney caught touchdown passes on each of his two receptions. Reed, after spending much of his junior season as the team’s blocking H-back, opened his last high school campaign with 116 rushing yards and two scores. Johnson completed seven of 11 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns.
But, hey, Trotter, the first series? What was up with that mess?
“Honestly, it’s my fault because you would think I’d notice (the lack of players),” he said. “But no, no. I continued to call plays like an (idiot).
“It wasn’t just the first series. It was the whole thing. There was a lot we have got to fix.”
It’s fair to say both East and Service have some work to do. The teams combined for 31 penalties and 285 penalty yards.
The Thunderbirds leaned on their size and talent advantage to get by victoriously. While showing some promising moments, Service and its spread offense, with only five linemen blocking for quarterback Coen Niclai, need time to improve and grow.
East’s four first-half sacks resulted in negative 58 rushing yards being hung on Niclai’s tab.
“We were all working on our technique and our speed out there,” said East junior defensive end Peter Mataia, who sacked Niclai twice. “But I didn’t do that great.
“The message was received late in the game and after it. We have to be motivated to improve ourselves in the future and the next couple games.”
East is scheduled to put its winning streak of eight games on the line next Saturday at home against South, which beat Dimond in a scrimmage game Friday.
Niclai completed 22 of a hefty 50 attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns for Service. Sebastian O’Farrell rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown, and Ethan Hopper caught seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
“As a team, I think we came in a little slow, maybe a little content from practice,” said Cougars senior linebacker Kaimen Cutway. “Our second-half adjustments and motivation were really good.
“We have to concentrate a little less on the special things and a little more on the simple things. We didn’t always catch the ball or defensively have our eyes in the right spots. If we focused there, the score would’ve been a lot different.”
Service plays at West on Friday night. The Eagles open the season Saturday with a CIC matchup at Bartlett.
Matt Nevala co-hosts “The Sports Guys” radio show on KHAR AM 590 and FM 96.7 (@cbssports590). Find him on social media at @MNevala9.