Displaying a calm team demeanor in a hard-fought defensive contest through three quarters, Wasilla eventually uncorked its potent rushing attack in the final 12 minutes Monday, securing a 22-0 flag football victory over West at the Eagles’ Nest.

The Warriors (3-1) got clutch plays from Makena Sonnentag and Kam Petitio on both sides of the ball, while junior Almaz Johnson racked up a monster day statistically with 185 total yards, two touchdowns and two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Despite playing most of the opening half on its own end of the field, West (2-3) managed to keep it a 2-0 deficit at the break. The Eagles gave up a safety midway through the first quarter when Sonnentag busted into the backfield and pulled Ruby Kross’s flag for a 4-yard loss in the end zone.

The hosts had a golden opportunity to take the lead on their initial second-half possession, with Kross carrying three straight times for 26 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 16. Petitio ruined the party, however, stepping in front of an Eagles’ receiver and snagging an interception on the next play.

West’s defense continued to stand tall until the end of the third, before Wasilla quarterback Ashelyn Kramp was able to strike gold on her team’s first offensive play in the fourth. Sitting at West’s 33 after a turnover on downs, Kramp found a wide-open Sonnentag down the middle for a 33-yard score, giving their team an 8-0 lead after a failed conversion.

Looking for a spark, the Eagles turned to Grace Howes behind center, and the veteran playmaker got her team to midfield at the 5-minute mark. Sonnentag stepped up again, though, as the senior intercepted a long pass and returned it into 25 yards into Eagles’ territory.

This time, Johnson took just two plays to find the end zone, eluding multiple defenders as she zoomed straight down the middle for a 36-yard touchdown run. Johnson added her second interception on the ensuing drive, sprinting 32 yards to the corner of the end zone to cap the scoring on the next play.

Johnson finished with 163 yards on 15 carries, while Skogstad picked up 39 of her 47 rushing yards in the second half. Kramp was 5-of-16 passing for 60 yards.

Kross was the biggest offensive bright spot for the Eagles with 96 total yards, while Zeninah Tufue hauled in a game-high five catches for 59 yards. Howes and Georgia Rexford-Brown had three catches apiece.

Wasilla 2 0 0 20 – 22
West Anchorage 0 0 0 0 – 0
FIRST QUARTER
Wasilla – Safety, Skogstad pull in end zone, 5:19
SECOND QUARTER
No scoring
THIRD QUARTER
No scoring
FOURTH QUARTER
Wasilla – Sonnentag 33 pass from Kramp (pass failed), 11:46
Wasilla – Johnson 36 run (Petitio 1-pt run), 3:41
Wasilla – Johnson 32 run (Guzman 1-pt pass from Kramp), 1:42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Wasilla: Johnson 15-163, Skogstad 7-47, Petitio 3-12, Kramp 5-9, Fletcher 1-2. West: Kross 10-78, Bradford-Williams 3-53, Howes 4-10, Melovidov 2-(-3).
PASSING
Wasilla: Kramp 5-16-60. West: Melovidov 8-22-70, Howes 7-17-73.
RECEIVING
Wasilla: Johnson 3-22, Sonnentag 1-33, Richardson 1-6. West: Tufue 5-59, Rexford-Brown 3-25, Howes 3-22, Kross 2-18, Bradford-Williams 1-19, Geist 1-9.