The Division II Moose handed the Division III Mariners a loss on their homecoming.

Homer is now 3-2 overall but on a two-game losing streak, while the Moose are 2-3 overall.

Homer head coach Justin Zank said his squad had a tough time stopping the run for a second straight week. The Mariners lost 29-8 to Kenai in Week 4.

Zank speculated that the impact from Homer’s loss to Kenai may have carried over into Friday’s homecoming game.

“We did get a little better week to week, but we’re still not executing like we need to,” Zank said. “There’s still a lot that we can improve upon. We need to get back to basics, back to the fundamentals.”

On the flip side, Zank said the Moose were very technically sound and didn’t make many mistakes.

“I think Palmer didn’t have trouble moving the ball, that’s for sure,” he said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage much like Kenai did the week before.”

The Homer coach said his team was able to eliminate the turnovers that were a problem against Kenai, but the Mariners still put themselves in tough down-and-distance situations due to penalties.

“But again, that goes back to us being disciplined, which we were not for most of the game,” he said.

Zank did say running back Jake Tappan had his best game of the season, and also was solid at outside linebacker.

“He had a heck of a game, offensively and defensively,” he said.

Zank also commended Wyatt Counts for continuing to play well and getting in a number of tackles.

On the plus side, the homecoming game against Palmer was nonconference play, so while the loss is disappointing, it doesn’t affect Homer’s standing in the upcoming playoffs.

Homer returns to conference play with their next three games, according to Zank.

On Friday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m., Homer hosts Houston in a rematch of the 2022 Division III state title game that Homer won. Both teams are 1-1 in the Mid Alaska Conference.

“If I was watching film on us, I would ru n right at us,” Zank said. “I’d run off tackle, I’d run lead and power. I’m sure we’ll see a lot of that.

“On defense, I know they’ll definitely bring the heat on every down.”

Moose 48, Mariners 20

Palmer 21 0 20 7 —48

Homer 8 0 12 0 —20

1st Quarter

Pal — Gerkin 8 run (No. 15 kick)

Pal — Henry 3 run (No. 15 kick)

Hom — Tappan 48 run (Martin run)

Pal — Rolston 27 pass from Garner (No. 15 kick)

3rd Quarter

Pal — Henry 1 run (Lance kick)

Hom — Tappan 69 pass from Stanislaw

Pal — Craner 25 pass from Garner (Lance kick)

Pal — Henry 7 run

Hom — Martishev 56 pass from Stanislaw

4th Quarter

Pal — Gerkin 28 run (Lance kick)

First downs 28 9

Rushes-yards 54-316 17-67

Passing yards 182 246

Comp-att-int 9-16-0 13-23-0

Fumbles 0-0 1-1

Penalties 9-61 4-38

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Palmer: Henry 27-204, Gerkin 16-80, Garner 5-22, Gardino 1-8, Craner 1-6, Eichenlaub 1-2, Krukoff 3-(-6). Homer: Tappan 5-66, Martin 1-4, Stanislaw 11-(-3).

Passing — Palmer: Garner 9-16-0—182. Homer: Stanislaw 13-23-0-246.

Receiving — Palmer: Craner 4-94, Rolston 2-42, Bailey 1-21, Jorgensen 1-17, Gardino 1-8.

Jonah Martin (center) runs for a touchdown at the homecoming game versus Palmer on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Jake Tappan runs to score the first touchdown for Homer at the homecoming game against Palmer on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)