Colony sweeps major large-school football awards

Oct. 27, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Colony fell just short of the ultimate team honor, a state championship, but a number of Knights are still being rewarded for their efforts during the 2006 season.

The Colony football program scored the majority of the awards given to the top players in the state in the large-school class at the Alaska Coaches Association annual meeting in Anchorage on Sunday.

Colony swept the major individual awards, eight Knights were named to the first team and three of those players were recognized on both first-team offense and first-team defense.

Senior Chebon Jimenez was named the large-school offensive player of the year. The first-team running back led the state with 1,682 yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns.

Jimenez was also selected as a first-team linebacker.

Senior George Percak-Dennett was named the defensive player of the year. Percak-Dennett, one of six Knights named first-team defense, led a Colony unit that allowed just less than six points per game during the regular season.

Percak-Dennett was named to the first team at both defensive end and tight end.

Senior Justin Beauchamp was selected to the first team on both the offensive line and the defensive line.

He was also the lineman of the year.

Also representing that stingy Colony defense on the first team are senior linebacker Nathan Kowalczk, senior defensive back Ryan Coffman and senior lineman James Savage.

Senior quarterback Teddy Babcock and tackle Wade Bowen were named first-team offense for CHS.

Colony senior safety Robin Minzoa was named to the second team.

Palmer placed three players on the first team and three others on the second

team.

Senior running back Haakan Bohman, senior wide receiver Tanner Grover and senior offensive tackle Kelly Devon were named to the first team. Grover was also a second-team selection at defensive back.

Long snapper Ian Heindel and offensive tackle Everest Moore also earned second-team honors.

A pair of Wasilla Warriors also received first-team honors. Senior Vladimir Dahl was tabbed as the first-team kicker, and junior Zach Orr was selected to the first-team at

linebacker.

Senior Jeff Champion was honored as a second-team return specialist for Wasilla.

South Anchorage head coach John Lewis earned coach of the year honors. Lewis, a former Bartlett High School assistant, led the Wolverines to a state title in just their third season as a varsity program.

The all-state selections are made by coaches in the large-school class. Only players named first-team all-conference are considered.

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