The West High football team outgained Colony by a nearly 3-to-1 margin and dominated on defense Friday night to kick off the Cook Inlet Conference season with a 33-0 road win.

Quarterback Jethro DeCastro threw for 236 years and two touchdowns while running back Zephaniah Sailele rushed for 167 yards and pair of scores.

As good as the offense was, however, the Eagles were even better on defense.

They forced six turnovers, including three on three straight possessions to start the second half. They also got two sacks from Leo Mata along with a 36-yard fumble return by Manny Maga. The defensive backs finished with four interceptions.

Colony managed only 34 rushing yards on 23 attempts, with a dozen runs resulting in zero or negative yards. West’s defensive line was stingy, savvy and strong, and allowed just two rushes of 10 yards.

The defending state champions wasted no time jumping ahead, needing just three plays to find the end zone after Sailele broke off a 60-yard run.

But penalties bogged down both teams and slowed the game to a crawl for much of the first half before West exploded four three TDs in the third quarter.

CIC Football
Week 1
Friday
West 33, Colony 0
Dimond 35, Bartlett 30
Saturday
Juneau at East 2:00pm
Service at South 6:00pm

DeCastro, making his first varsity start, tossed two TDs in a 44-second span. He first found Ariel Sanchez on a 23-yard score before hooking up with David Sanders for a 49-yard score on the wheel route.

West’s lead swelled to 27-0 three minutes later after Christian Faletoi forced a fumble and Maga picked up the loose ball for the scoop-and-score. Later, Mata forced a fumble on a sack and was recovered by Tristan Taamu.

In the fourth quarter, Sailele busted off a 24-yard run and three plays later walked in from 7 yards out to complete the scoring.

West outgained Colony 443 to 150.

Colony used different quarterbacks and generated more offense through the air (116 yards) than on the ground. The Knights’ best chance to score came on two missed field goals. West also missed a pair of FGs.

Colony forced its lone turnover after Nick Bailey interception DeCastro and returned in 30 yards late in the third quarter. But the Knights turned it right back over on their first play of the next drive.

West 7 0 20 6 – 33
Colony 0 0 0 0 – 0
FIRST QUARTER
West – Sailele 60 run (Crowley kick) 11:25
THIRD QUARTER
West – Sanchez 23 pass from DeCastro (Crowley kick) 8:15
West – Sanders 39 pass from DeCastro (kick missed) 7:31
West – Maga 36 fumble return (Crowley kick) 5:58
FOURTH QUARTER
West – Sailele 7 run (kick missed) 6:17