Hawks, Moose football seniors named all-state

WASILLA — Tony Pule entered his senior year with only one season of high school football experience. Pule capped his prep career as one of the most decorated Hawks in the recent history of the Houston High School football program.

Pule, a standout defensive lineman, has been named Alaska Small Schools Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

“We saw some potential as a sophomore, thought (he) could be a player,” Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said of Pule, who missed his junior year of football. He surpassed every expectation.”

Pule, who was named first-team All-Aurora Conference on the defensive line and the Aurora Conference Defensive Player of the Year last month, also garnered first-team all-state honors.

“He was pretty devastating in the interior (of the defensive line) all year long,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Pule brought a unique skill set to the position. Nelson called Pule one of the faster players in the Houston program, and an athlete who put up staggering numbers in the weight room.

“He’s an ox in the weight room,” Nelson said.

Nelson said Pule’s skills allowed Houston to use the senior as both a one-gap and two-gap defensive lineman.

Pule was also one of three Valley players to draw first-team all-state honors and the small- and medium-schools levels.

Palmer placed a pair of seniors on the medium-schools first team. Chase Ferris earned a nod at running back, and Nick Daniels was named to the first team at wide receiver.

Ferris capped a stellar Palmer football career with a career-high 316 yards during a Potato Bowl win over Wasilla during the final game of the season. Ferris topped the 1,000-yard mark during the win over the Warriors, and finished his senior season with 1,147 yards on the ground. It’s the second straight year Ferris rushed for more than 1,000. As a junior, Ferris led the state with 1,311 yards rushing.

In two seasons as a varsity running back, Ferris rushed for 2,458 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Potato Bowl marked his first career 300-yard game. He’s rushed for 200 or more yards in six games.

Ferris also hit 1,147 this year despite missing significant portions of three games early this season. Ferris only played in one quarter during a win over Lathrop, left with an injury after Palmer’s second offensive play during a loss to Colony, and played only the first half during a win over Eagle River.

“He’s a playmaker,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of Ferris after the senior earned all-conference honors. “A dynamic player who does so many things for you. He’s just a real special player. He can run, he can catch, he can throw.”

Ferris did his damage against teams from the large- and medium-schools levels.

“I don’t think it matters who he is playing against, anyone in the entire state and any level,” Christiansen said.

Ferris was also a workhorse for the Moose, finishing with nearly 150 carries as a senior.

“We asked a lot of him too,” Christiansen said. “Thirty touches sometimes in a game. That’s a lot of work for anybody.”

Daniels, who was named first-team All-Northern Lights Conference at both outside linebacker and wide receiver, emerged as a top talent on both sides of the ball for the Moose.

“We looked at how we did during the season, and we were hoping he’d get a lot of recognition on the defensive side of the ball. But he ended up being an impact player on offense too,” Christiansen said of Daniels.

Daniels was a consistent defensive presence from his outside linebacker spot throughout the year, but also emerged as a playmaker on offense. Daniels finished with 13 receptions for 236 yards and five touchdowns, in an offense with a focus on the run. Daniels averaged 18 yards per catch, and finished with a touchdown reception against three of Palmer’s four NLC opponents.

“He really improved himself on offense in the offseason, working on catching passes, running routes,” Christiansen said.

Christiansen said the overall play of Daniels was key to Palmer’s success.

“He hardly left the field,” Christiansen said. “He (was also) an impact guy on special teams.”

Houston senior Ben Pelesasa earned second-team all-state honors for the Hawks, landing at running back on the small-schools squad. Pelesasa topped the 100-yard mark twice as a senior, and led Houston with 447 yards rushing.

Daniels was one of two Palmer players named to the second team. Daniels earned his nod at linebacker. Junior Vanu Mose was named second-team defensive back.

The large-schools all-state team was not available at press time.

For the complete small schools and medium schools all-state lists, see frontiersman.com/sports.

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

Small Schools All-State Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Kalib Dunlap, Eielson

Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Tony Pule, Houston, and Jon McCormick, Nikiski

Co-Lineman of the Year: Austin Edson, Eielson, and Luke Johnson, Nikiski

Utility Player of the Year: Michael Swoboda, Homer

Coach of the Year: David DeVaughn, Eielson

Assistant Coach of the Year: Don Fry, Eielson

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Denis Anderson, Nikiski; Halfback — Caleb Velez, Eielson; Josh Fisk, Homer; Fullback — Kalib Dunlap, Eielson; Tight end — Dillon Scarboro, Eielson; Tackle — Luke Johnson, Nikiski; Mat Gustafson, Eielson; Guard — Jon McCormick, Nikiski; Austin Edson, Eielson; Center — Chris Kilpatrick, Eielson; Wide receiver — Hunter Holloway, Nikiski.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Tony Pule, Houston; Chris Kilpatrick, Eielson; Austin Edson, Eielson; Dillon Scarboro, Eielson; Outside linebacker — Matthew Minium, Nikiski; Andrew North, Eielson; Inside linebacker — Kalib Dunlap, Eielson; Luke Johnson, Nikiski; Jon McCormick, Nikiski; Defensive back — Josh Fisk, Homer; Teddy Croft, Homer; Caleb Valdez, Eielson.

First-team special teams:

Long snapper — Peter Button, Monroe; Kicker — Luck Broussard, Nikiski; Aitkan Fa’Alologo, Barrow; Return specialist — Divon Davis, Monroe, Josh Fisk, Homer.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Travis Adams, Barrow; Halfback — Ryker Riddal, Nikiski; Ben Pelesasa, Houston; Fullback — C. Cooper, Nikiski; Tight end — Rhett Seiverts, Seward; Tackle — Jaden Mann, Homer; Quinten Bujan, Valdez; Guard — Ralph Mitchell, Homer; Ray Atos, Barrow; Wide receiver — Greg Smith;

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Trevor Fenex, Homer; Vincent Waddel, Homer; Ian Johnson, Nikiski; Rhett Severts, Seward; Outside linebacker — Ryker Riddal, Nikiski; Josh Grey, Monroe; Inside linebacker — Grant Olsen, Monroe; Defensive back — Broussard, Nikiski; Preston Fifarek, Valdez; Brandon Mannes, Monroe.

Second-team special teams:

Long snapper — Jon McCormick, Nikiski.

Alaska Medium Schools All State

Offensive Player of Year: Andrew Welborn, Kenai.

Defensive Player of year: Trevor Walden, Soldotna.

Lineman of Year: Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai.

Coach of Year: John Marquez, Kenai.

Assistant Coach of Year: Eric Pomerleau, Soldotna.

First-team offense:

Quarterback: Bubba Stults, Juneau; Running back: Chase Ferris, Palmer; Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna; Fullback: Mason Prior, Soldotna; Wide receiver: Marshal Chase, North Pole; Nick Daniels, Palmer; Tight end: Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Tackle: Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna, Kordell Pillans, Kodiak; Guard: Austin Crowder, Soldotna, Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Center: Dalton Best, Soldotna.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback: Andreas Carros, Kodiak; Running back: Q’on Bear-Clark, Thunder Mountain, Trevor Ortiz, Ketchikan; Fullback: Nate Fousel, Ketchikan; Wide receiver: Donovan McCurly, Juneau, Tyler Wietfeld, Kodiak; Tight end: Hunter Hickok, Juneau; Tackle: Wesley Aultman, North Pole, Kana Galetes, Juneau; Guard: Zach Hartrison, North Pole, Jas Lippert, Thunder Mountain; Center: Richard Jason, North Pole.

First-team defense:

Outside linebacker: Austin Crowder, Soldotna, Nate Fousel, Ketchikan; Inside linebacker: Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna, Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna, Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Defensive back: Chase Gillies, Kenai; Dylan Simons, Soldotna, Donavin McCurly, Juneau; John Robinson, North Pole; Interior linemen: Sage Hill, Soldotna, Hunter Hickok, Juneau, Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai, Trevor Walden, Soldotna.

Second-team defense:

Outside linebacker: Nick Daniels, Palmer, Lance Fenumiai, Juneau; Inside linebacker: Craig Light, North Pole, Garth Tupou, Thunder Mountain; Defensive back: Jakob Arnold, North Pole, Michael Cesar, Juneau, Vanu Mose, Palmer, Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Interior linemen: Jayce Carlson, Ketchikan, Mason Kullander, Thunder Mountain, Kordel Pillans, Kodiak, Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna, Joseph Stefan, North Pole.

Firs-team special teams:

Punter: Giovani Martinez, Kodiak; Return specialist: Donovan McCurley, Juneau; Long snapper: Adrian Dickson-Gomez, Soldotna; Kicker: Johnny Smithwick, Soldotna; Utility: Zack Tuttle, Kenai.

Second-team special teams: Punter: Marshal Chace, North Pole; Return specialist: Jesse Littrell, Soldotna; Long snapper: Kana Galletes, Juneau; Kicker: John Robinson, North Pole; Utility: Jesse Bennett, North Pole.