Historically and with reason, plays in the passing game seldom make much of a memorable mark for the Bartlett High football program. Averaging nearly 7 yards per carry tends to negate most “airing it out” needs.
Still, let’s give Golden Bears senior Jordan Mua a few moments of glory. His sensational second-quarter grab early Friday evening only backed up the greatness of the Bartlett ground game in a declarative 46-7 win over visiting Colony.
The home team on homecoming won its fourth consecutive game, improving to 4-1 overall and in the Cook Inlet Conference.
Mua’s 38-yard reception assisted the Golden Bears’ continued domination and showcased his immense athleticism.
Bartlett’s Jordan Mua with the grab. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Fellow senior and quarterback Carl Colavecchio broke away from the hand-off heavy play usually seen in the tried-and-true wing-T offense and rolled to his left. A left-hander, Colavecchio set his feet and launched a pass down the left sideline. Mua managed to beat two Colony defenders all while looking over each shoulder and twirling his body as he fell to the turf, ball secured.
“I thought (the football) was a bird at first,” Mua said of what he believed was only his fifth reception in six games. “I saw this brown thing and it appeared to be going a little long, so I had to adjust. I knew I had to sacrifice my body.”
Senior Zuriel Guzman and Colavecchio piggybacked off Mua’s big play and scored second-quarter touchdowns.
Clearly, Bartlett was off and running.
Eight Golden Bears combined for 459 rushing yards on a defense-draining 66 carries. Niko Alailefaleula paced the performance with 135 yards on 18 touches. Sophomore Makisi Poleo ran for 93 yards on just four carries, tossing in a 46-yard touchdown rumble. Guzman added 89 yards to go with his scores, and James Siaosi scored twice while amassing 67 rushing yards. Manu Satele finished with 49 yards and a touchdown.
Bartlett’s Niko Alailefaleula rumbles up field. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“A lot of people want to question the wing-T, it’s obviously not a super-popular offense these days,” Colavecchio said. “This season, it’s crazy. We’re making a statement.
“These guys on our team. We’ve got a guy for every spot we need.”
Bartlett posted the evening’s first 20 points and smothered Colony from the jump. The Golden Bears totaled 514 total offensive yards and an astounding 25 first downs to the Knights’ 80 yards and five first downs.
So much for a matchup of the second- and third-ranked squads in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network’s weekly Division I poll.
By the way, the ASBN for years broadcast games on local Anchorage radio. While we’re at it, kids, radio is the transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves of radio frequency, especially those carrying sound messages. Close TikTok or finish your preferred podcast and ask your parents and grandparents for a better understanding.
“The bond we have is unbreakable right now,” Mua said of Bartlett. “I couldn’t ask for a better team right now. The chemistry is all there.”
Colony’s Trevor Jamison goes airborne. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Colony (4-2, 2-2) never got anything going. Jayce Underwood hauled in Jack Nash’s 14-yard touchdown pass with 5 minutes, 52 seconds left in the second. Nash led the offense with 24 rushing yards on nine carries.
“Obviously, there’s a lot to improve on,” said Colony senior Bryson Whitworth. “It’s alright. We’ll make some better adjustments for next time.”
The night featured a combined 29 penalties for 250 yards. A soccer “friendly” it was not, with several instances of unsportsmanlike conduct. Credit Whitworth who went out of his way to shake each official’s hand at game’s end.
“I want to show my respect even when things don’t go your way,” he said. “It’s important everyone keep their head up and realize it’s just a game.”
Bartlett committed 20 of the tilt’s infractions for 180 penalty yards. The way the Golden Bears are currently playing should make them a favorite when the First National Bowl postseason begins the second weekend of October.
Bartlett’s Carl Colavecchio on the move. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
But they better clean up those silly messes right away.
“Our job isn’t done, and we have a lot to prove,” Colavecchio said. “It’s time to celebrate (this win), but we have to keep our heads in the game.
“Discipline, it’s so much easier said than done; I can’t even put it into words. Sometimes human instinct just takes over.”