Colony senior, coach earn all-state football honors

WASILLA — The Colony Knights boasted the top scoring defense among large-schools programs in 2015, and two of the leaders of that unit earned major awards recently.

Colony senior Jordan Nero was named Alaska Large-Schools Defensive Player of the Year and defensive coordinator Norm Bouchard was named Alaska Large-Schools Assistant Coach of the Year.

“We took pride in not allowing opponents to score,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said following the 2015 season.

Colony, the Railbelt Conference champion, allowed a large-schools-class-low 13.4 points per game. The Knights shutout two opponents, and allowed only 28 total points combined during the final six games of the regular season.

Nero and Bouchard were both key parts to that success. After Nero was named the Railbelt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Magner said Nero was the most deserving of the hardware.

“To me it wasn’t a difficult sell, as well defensively as the team did all year long,” Magner said. “It was Jordan Nero who was responsible for everyone’s best player. We’d match Jordan Nero with everyone’s best player. If we stop (the best) player, we’re definitely going to have some success.”

Nero played multiple positions for the Knights, lining up at safety, cornerback and outside linebacker.

Nero was the leader of the defense on the field, and Bouchard was the mentor on the sideline.

“Norm has brought that kind of old school physicality back to the defensive side of the ball,” Magner said of Bouchard, a longtime Valley football coach and former head coach at Houston High. “That’s exactly what I wanted this year. He’s coached a lot of football. He knows what it takes, both physically and mentally, to win.”

Nero was also one of three defensive players to earn first-team all-state honors for the Knights. Linebackers Cade Havel and Nolan Martin were also named to the first team for a Colony squad that forced 23 turnovers in 2015.

Senior quarterback Steven Bilafer and sophomore wide receiver Jon Pomrenke also garnered first-team honors for the Knights.

Bilafer amassed more than 1,000 yards of total offense for the second straight year. Bilafer finished with 790 yards passing and 490 yards rushing, both team-highs. Bilafer also had 15 total touchdowns, 11 on the ground and four through the air.

Pomrenke led the Knights with 18 catches and 273 yards.

Nero also earned second-team honors at running back for Colony, and Cooper Sant was named second-team all-state at offensive tackle.

Wasilla placed five players on the second team. Defensive backs Beau Cork and Justin Lee, defensive linemen Kyle Savok and Austin Sodorff, and wide receiver Jaden Walkemeyer each earned second-team honors.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Alaska Large Schools All-State Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Ethan Falaniko, Bartlett

Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Nero, Colony

Lineman of the Year: Ji Daniel Jeong, Lathrop

Utility Player of the Year: Turek Taylor, West

Coach of the Year: Jeff Trotter, East

Assistant Coach of the Year: Norm Bouchard, Colony

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Sean Duffy, West; Steven Bilafer, Colony; Running back — Ethan Falaniko, Bartlett; Julo Tagalu, West; Kenny Lee, Chugiak; Johnny Aufuvai, East; Wide receiver — Shanai Leon, West; Derryck Snell, Chugiak; Jon Pomrenke, Colony; Offensive tackle — Austin Tua, West; Otto Ducasse, Bartlett; Donnell Page, East; Cody Bailey, Chugiak; Guard — Ji Daniel Jeong, Lathrop; Auomanu Manu, East; Nathan Lujan, South; Center — Danny Nuafahu, Bartlett, Toran Cheely, Chugiak.

First-team defense:

Defensive end — Ralph Tolefoa, East; Logan Murray, South; Detrate Hardney, Lathrop; Defensive tackle — Ozzie Seuteni, West; Ji Daniel Jeong, Lathrop; Peter Mrugala, Chugiak; Middle linebacker — PJ Seui, West; La Atanoa, East; Noah Harris, Chugiak; Nolan Martin, Colony; Scotty McKinstry, Lathrop; Outside linebacker — Cade Havel, Colony; Defensive back — Rafa Zavala, Dimond; Sam Logoleo, East; Jordan Nero, Colony; Canyan Linderman, East.

First-team special teams:

Return specialist — Rafa Zavala, Dimond; Kicking specialist — Sean Duffy, West; Long snapper — Lar Tinai, East.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Kyle Henrickson, Dimond; Ben Stewart, Chugiak; Running back — Jordan Pace, Bartlett; Garrius Maiden, Lathrop; JJ Tanvasa, Dimond; Jordan Nero, Colony; Wide receiver — Ricardo Henry, Lathrop; Jaden Walkemeyer, Wasilla; Brandon Joyner, West Valley; Offensive tackle — Cole Phelps, Service; Cooper Sant, Colony; Gideon Cole, West Valley; Guard — Michael Marques, East; Anthony Hattal, Lathrop; Center — Jake Foshee, West Valley.

Second-team defense:

Defensive end — Sale Fereti, Dimond; Austin Sodorff, Wasilla; Defensive tackle — Jordan Silva, West Valley; Kyle Savok, Wasilla; Middle linebacker — Cameron Kinnebrew, South; Nigel Pagofie, Bartlett; Elijah Blackweasel, West Valley; Jonas Post, West Valley; Outside linebacker — Austin Atos, Service; Defensive back — Jake Kindred, Chugiak; Justin Lee, Wasilla; Beau Cork, Wasilla.