This is where the contrast becomes glaring:

• North Pole leans heavily on the air attack, putting up over 300 passing yards in their opener, led by quarterback Ean Checque.

• Palmer, meanwhile, thrives on the ground. With no passing yards recorded in Week 1, the Moose depend on running back Corbin Gerkin and a strong offensive line to move the chains.

This sets up a fascinating clash of styles: the Patriots’ spread-out aerial assault vs. the Moose’s bruising ground game.

Team Leaders

North Pole Patriots

• Rushing: #22 Patrick Melvin – 90.0 yards/game

• Passing: #2 Ean Checque – 314.0 yards/game

• Receiving: #7 Landon Ritter – 186.0 yards/game

• Total Yards: #2 Ean Checque – 327.0 yards/game

• Tackles: #8 Kyle Heineken – 13.0 tackles/game

Palmer Moose

• Rushing: #2 Corbin Gerkin – 131.0 yards/game (well above national average of 26.8)

• Passing: #12 Titus Lance – 0 yards/game

• Receiving: #14 Reed Craner – 15.0 yards/game

• Total Yards: #2 Corbin Gerkin – 134.0 yards/game

• Tackles: Team stats not available

For Palmer, Corbin Gerkin is the workhorse, carrying the offense with strength and consistency. For North Pole, the combination of quarterback Ean Checque and receiver Landon Ritter provides one of the most dangerous passing tandems in the state.

Common Opponents

• North Pole: Defeated Chugiak 36-23

• Palmer: Lost to Soldotna 77-41

While Palmer hasn’t yet played Chugiak, both teams will eventually share multiple opponents, including Wasilla, Lathrop, Eagle River, and West Valley. North Pole has the early advantage in common opponent comparisons after dispatching Chugiak with authority.

Keys to Victory

North Pole Patriots

1. Air it Out Early – Establishing rhythm through the passing game will stretch Palmer’s defense thin.

2. Defensive Pressure – Forcing Palmer to throw could tilt the matchup heavily in North Pole’s favor.

3. Finish Drives – Settling for field goals won’t be enough against a team capable of explosive scoring.

Palmer Moose

1. Control the Clock – A dominant run game led by Gerkin could keep Checque and Ritter on the sideline.

2. Limit Big Plays – Palmer cannot allow long passing strikes, or they’ll find themselves chasing the scoreboard.

3. Defensive Growth – After allowing 77 points in Week 1, improving on that side of the ball is critical.

Matchup Outlook

This game represents a test of philosophies:

• North Pole brings balance but leans heavily on their aerial assault, one of the most potent in Alaska.

• Palmer plays old-school, ground-heavy football, relying on bruising runs and time of possession.

Whichever team forces the other out of their comfort zone will likely prevail.

Prediction

Palmer’s ground game will provide resistance, and the Moose’s offense showed it can score even against elite defenses. However, North Pole’s passing attack and balanced production may prove too much. Expect Palmer to keep it competitive at home, but the Patriots’ second-half surge ability could be the deciding factor.

Projected Final Score: North Pole 35, Palmer 27

Final Thoughts

The North Pole vs. Palmer matchup offers fans a showcase of contrasting football identities. North Pole’s fast-paced passing and Palmer’s ground-and-pound style should make for a compelling chess match under the lights.

For the Patriots, it’s about validating their hot start and proving they can be a conference contender. For the Moose, it’s about resilience and proving that their opener against Soldotna doesn’t define them.

Either way, Friday night in Palmer promises to deliver hard hits, big plays, and the kind of intensity that makes Alaska high school football so unique.