Let's stipulate that Derryk Snell is All-Everything. To supplement a football season's worth of evidence – make it a four-year varsity career at Chugiak, actually – we'll introduce the reigning Offensive Player of the Year's five touchdowns Friday night. Oh, he also delivered one forced fumble and recovery, and a 72-yard punt return.
But it's not as if the Mustang coaches are rolling out 10 bums alongside Snell on offense, defense and special teams.
Chugiak's 48-0 nonconference cruise over visiting Kenai made the point.
Sure, Snell turned Hunter Harr passes into first-half touchdowns of 58 yards, 24 yards and 12 yards on his four-catch, 103-yard turn at receiver. And, yeah, the senior furnished touchdown runs of 4 yards and 52 yards in exploiting six carries into 92 yards.
Yet the Mustangs defense limited the Kardinals to just 123 yards total offense and forced five turnovers. Ramal Maad copped two interceptions and Ace Chapple had one, and Steven Parsons and Snell bagged fumble recoveries.
Harr connected on 7 of 8 passes, all in the first half, for 147 yards and four touchdowns. Besides his deliveries to Snell, he hooked up with Ty Carlos for an 8-yard strike.
Chugiak (6-0), ranked No. 2 in Division I, also rushed for 298 yards and popped for 462 yards total offense on just 48 plays.
"We're better than we've been in past years,'' Harr said. "We're a complete team. Our line is phenomenal. We're deep in the skill positions, our defense got its first shutout, and obviously Derryk is amazing.''
Chugiak's Kenny Sisson rushed three times for 54 yards, Maad turned three carries into 51 yards, Tyler Huffer whipped 13 carries in 56 yards and Chase Wedel carried six times for 34 yards and a touchdown.
The Mustangs also rolled out three different extra–point kickers — Blake Dearborn, Thomas Sitz and Cameron Peck all contributed. Sitz also dropped a 41-yard punt that forced Kenai to start a first-quarter possession on its own 2-yard line.
Snell seemed most thrilled when Wedel scored his rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"We've been playing together forever and he doesn't get many touches – probably not as many as he should – so when he makes a play, I get excited,'' Snell said.
Kenai (3-3) began the game with just 23 players dressed. Titus Riddall led the Kardinals with eight carries for 51 yards.
The only significant shortcoming for Chugiak was its staggering 15 penalties worth 148 yards of backtracking – 12 of those penalties came in the first half.
Next up for Chugiak is a Railbelt Conference game at Wasilla ahead of a regular season-ending showdown at current No. 1 Colony that could decide the conference championship.
"We just have to keep focusing, keep executing, keep locked in,'' Snell said.
Kenai 0 0 0 0 0
Chugiak 20 14 7 7 48
First Quarter
Chugiak — Snell 58 pass from Harr (Dearborn kick), 9:05.
Chugiak — Snell 24 pass from Harr (kick failed), 1:24.
Chugiak — Snell 4 run (Sitz kick), :31.7.
Second Quarter
Chugiak — Carlos 8 pass from Harr (Dearborn kick), 6:02.
Chugiak — Snell 12 pass from Harr (Peck kick), 1:45.
Third Quarter
Chugiak — Snell 52 run (Sitz kick), 10:06.
Fourth Quarter
Chugiak — Wedel 9 run (Dearborn kick), 11:18
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Kenai: T. Riddall 8-51, R. Riddall 9-25, McEnerney 6-17, OBrien 2-9, Tuttle 1-2, Kruse 2-1, Felchle 3-(-9). Chugiak: Snell 6-92, Huffer 13-56, Sisson 3-54, Maad 3-51, Wedel 6-34, H. Harr 3-10, Park 1-5, A. Harr 1-(-1), Oshesky 1-(-3).
PASSING — Kenai: Felchle 3-12-3–27. Chugiak: H. Harr 7-8-0–147, Tomosoulo 1-3-0–23.
RECEIVING — Kenai: Baker 1-12, R. Riddall 1-8, O'Brien 1-7. Chugiak: Snell 4-103, Carlos 2-25, Maad 1-19, Park 1-17.