Anchor of Houston line among Hawks honored by Peninsula Conference

WASILLA — The Houston Hawks entered the 2018 season with just one returning starter.

Senior Shawn Graham.

Despite the inexperience across the board, Houston is enjoying a historic season. The Hawks have set a school record for consecutive wins and victories in season. Houston earned its first outright conference title and will host its first playoff game since 2002.

Houston head coach Glenn Nelson attributes a lot of that success to the play and leadership of Graham. And coaches from throughout the conference agree. Graham has been named first-team All-Peninsula Conference on both offense and defense.

“He has really become a leader,” Nelson said of Graham. “Where he goes, the rest of team follows.”

Graham, who has played both guard and tackle, moved to center as a senior. Now he is the anchor of the offensive line, and the leader of Houston’s wishbone attack.

“It feels like we have a college lineman playing center,” Nelson said. “He’s a smart kid. He’s a leader. He really makes us go.”

Nelson said Graham, with his experience and knowledge of the game, has allowed the Hawks to be able to use younger talent in other positions across the offensive front, and continue to have success.

“We would not be successful without him,” Nelson said.

On defense, Nelson said Graham may not pile up statistics, but he controls the line of scrimmage and help makes his teammates better.

Graham is one of three players to earn first-team accolades on both sides of the ball. Kennedy Fono (fullback, inside linebacker) and Apete Sasiu (running back, defensive back) also garnered honors on both sides of the ball. Sasiu was named the Peninsula Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

“He’s got a rare combo of speed and football intelligence,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the Ketchikan coaching staff was quick to compliment Sasiu. Nelson saw that as high praise, considering Ketchikan sports a pass-happy offense. But much like the other teams in the conference, Nelson said, the Kings had trouble throwing against Sasiu.

Offensive tackle Jack Sasiu, offensive lineman Wakefield Kremer, and linebackers Gavin Mulhaney and Owen Mulhaney also earned first-team honors.

Nelson was named the Peninsula Conference Coach of the Year. The Peninsula Conference does not name an assistant coach of the year, but Nelson was quick to call for recognition of his defensive coordinator, longtime Houston assistant Jared Barrett.

“In the last six years, four defensive players of the year have gone to Houston,” Nelson said. “This year we were so young, so raw. The kids had talent, but were so unbelievably raw. Without coach Barrett coaching guys up, putting them in the right spot, we wouldn’t be where we are. I don’t get coach of the year if it wasn’t for coach Barrett on that side of the ball.”

Houston hosts Barrow Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Division III semifinals.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

All-Peninsula Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Brendan Wong, Ketchikan.

Defensive Player of the Year: Apete Sasiu, Houston.

Lineman of the Year: Stevie Byron, Ketchikan.

Coach of the Year: Glenn Nelson, Houston.

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Brendon Wong, Ketchikan; Running back — Apete Sasiu, Houston; Beau Freiberg, Seward; Fullback — Kennedy Fono, Houston; Wide receiver — Christopher Carlson, Ketchikan; CJ Jasper, Ketchikan; Tight end — Brandon Wieber, Ketchikan; Tackle — Jack Sasiu, Houston; Jadin Mann, Homer; Center — Shawn Graham, Houston; Wakefield Kremer, Houston; Dustin Mullins, Nikiski.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Stevie Byron, Ketchikan; Shawn Graham, Houston; Joe McLeod, Nikiski; Steve Harsman, Seward; Inside linebacker — Kennedy Fono, Houston; Josh Manwiller, Homer; Outside linebacker — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Defensive back — CJ Jasper, Ketchikan; Apete Sasiu, Houston; Chris Kingslund, Seward.

First-team special teams:

Kicker — Collin Mullaly, Seward; Punter — Collin Mullaly, Seward; Return specialist — CJ Jasper, Ketchikan; Long snapper — Beau Frieberg, Seward; Utility player — AJ Malouf, Ketchikan.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Running back— Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Fullback — Sam Berry, Nikiski; Gabe Schrock, Seward; Wide receiver — Prokhopy Konev, Homer; Tight end — Chris Kingsland, Seward; Center — Jordan Sewell, Seward; Guard — Joshua Manwiller, Homer; Steve Harshman, Seward; Tackle — Stevie Byron, Ketchikan.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Renzie Lorenzo, Ketchikan; Wakefield Kremer, Houston; Zack Condon, Homer; Hamilton Cox, Nikiski; Jordan Sewell, Seward; Inside linebacker — Chris Brown, Ketchikan; Beau Freiberg, Seward; Outside linebacker — Brock Sarks, Nikiski; Gabe Shrock, Seward; Defensive back — Talupo Falaniko, Houston; Prokhopy Konev, Homer; Sam Berry, Nikiski; Collin Mullaly, Seward.

Second-team special teams:

Kicker — AJ Malouf, Ketchikan; Punter — Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Return specialist — Apete Sasiu, Houston; Long snapper — Dustin Mullins, Nikiski; Utility player — Koleman McCaughey, Nikisk.,

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Noah Litke, Nikiski; Tommy Cronin, Seward; Tight end — Laineil Guim, Houston; Mason Payne, Nikiski; Tackle — Finn Heimbold, Homer.

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Jeremiah Barrett, Houston; Defensive back— Sylvester Gaona, Homer; Noah Litke, Nikiski; Tommy Cronin, Seward .

Honorable mention special teams:

Kicker — Denali Whitted, Houston; Sylvester Gaona, Homer; Punter — Brandon Weiber, Ketchikan; Return specialist — Prokhopy Konev, Homer; Long snapper — Jadin Mann, Homer; Utility player — Thomas Oaka, Seward.