Hawks named All-NLC

HOUSTON — The rewards of a record-breaking season continue for Waylon Soptick. The Houston senior has been named first-team All-Northern Lights Conference at both running back and defensive back.

Soptick shattered a 15-year-old school record with his 1,474 yards rushing. Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said, not only was Soptick a no-brainer for the first team, but also a legitimate candidate for the league’s offensive player of the year award.

“He out-rushed everybody, not only in our conference, but the Cook Inlet Conference, the Railbelt, everybody,” Nelson said Saturday afternoon.

Nelson said Soptick rushed for nearly 1,500 yards despite playing multiple positions on offense and the Hawks spending parts of the season without other key players on offense.

“He did it at quarterback. He did it at running back. He did it behind four separate fullbacks. We had nine different offensive linemen in there at times,” Nelson said.

Soptick rushed for more than 200 yards three times, and was held to less than 100 yards in only two of Houston’s nine games in 2013. As a junior, Soptick rushed for 706 yards in seven games. Going into the 2013 season, Nelson said the Houston coaches thought Soptick would improve on that number, but he certainly exceeded their expectations.

“We had a really good offensive line and a super fullback (last year) and we only played in seven games. I thought that with eight games, he might hit that 850-900 mark. We were impressed that he more than doubled the yards from last year,” Nelson said.

Soptick was also named first-team at defensive back and honorable mention at kick returner.

Offensive guard Zachary Tucheck, defensive lineman Tony Pulae and linebacker Lai Saechao were named second-team. Quarterback Nai Saechao, wide receiver Kruz Kleewein, center and long snapper Doug Hepler and utility player Tanner Barclay each earned an honorable mention.

The all-state teams will be released during the upcoming week.

All-Northern Lights Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Colton Young, Soldotna.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jake Kooly, Soldotna.

Lineman of the Year: Daniel Rosen, Soldotna.

Coach of the Year: Galen Brantley, Soldotna.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Phil Leck, Soldotna.

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Colton Young, Soldonta; Halfback — Jace Daniels, Kenai; Drew Gibbs, Soldotna; Waylon Soptick, Houston; Fullback — Jake Kooly, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Tyler Howell, Soldotna; Tight end — Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Tackle — Daniel Rosin, Soldotna; Leo Sega, Kodiak; Guard — Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Dylan Smith, Soldotna; Center — Reece Roberts, Soldotna; Long snapper — Jace Baker, Kenai; Kicker — Nolan Scarlett, Kenai; Return specialist — Colton Young, Soldotna.

First-team defense:

Outside linebacker — Drew Gibbs, Soldotna; Andrew Mandapat, Kodiak; Inside linebacker — Jake Kooly, Soldotna; Chase Logan, Kenai; Defensive back — Waylon Soptick, Houston; TJ Wagoner, Kenai; Colton Young, Soldotna; Interior linemen — Jace Baker, Kenai; Daniel Rosin, Soldotna; Leo Sega, Kodiak; Dylan Smith, Soldotna; Punter — Nolan Scarlett, Kenai; Utility player — Blake Riley, Soldotna.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Josh Yavarsky, Kodiak; Halfback — Melvin Javier, Kodiak; Fullback — Kerry Powers, Kodiak; Wide receiver — Joseph Cardoza, Homer; Tight end — Jace Baker, Kenai; Tackle — Hunter Harris, Homer; Christopher Lawson, Kenai; Guard — JR Guevara, Kodiak; Zachary Tucheck, Houston; Center — Hunter McKee, Kodiak; Long snapper — Brooks Furlong, Soldotna; Kicker — Bailey Jones, Skyview; Return specialist — Jace Daniels, Kenai.

Second-team defense:

Outside linebacker — Bailey Blumentritt, Skyview; Kyle Hunter, Kenai; Inside linebacker — Kerry Powers, Kodiak; Zack McKenna, Homer; Lai Saechao, Houston; Defensive backs — Joseph Cardoza, Homer; Max Conradi, Soldotna; Charles Gibson, Skyview; Melvin Javier, Kodiak; Michael Tilly, Kenai; Interior linemen — John Engen, Kenai; Chris Lawson, Kenai; Tony Pulae, Houston; Michael Swoboda, Homer; Punter — Sage Hill, Skyview; Utility player — Chris Van De Grift.

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Sheldon Hutt, Homer; Nai Saechao, Houston; Halfback — Joshua Fisk, Homer, Fred Llorente, Kodiak; Brandon Rice, Skyview; Fullback — Chase Logan, Kenai; Wide receiver — Kruz Klewein, Houston; Myles Wilson, Kodiak; David Woo, Homer; Tight end — Bailey Blumentritt, Skyview; Tackle — John Engen, Kenai; Patrick Rainwater, Homer; Guard — Ian McCormick, Homer; Michael Swoboda, Homer; Center — Gage Flyem, Homer; Doug Hepler, Houston; Nate Narlock, Kenai; Long snapper — Doug Hepler, Houston; Ian Lowe, Homer; Kicker — Drew Brown, Homer; Charalambos Asimakopoulos, Soldotna; Return specialist — Connor Seay, Homer; Waylon Soptick, Houston.

Honorable mention defense:

Outside linebacker — Tyler Fenton, Soldotna; Joshua Fisk, Homer; Sheldon Hutt, Homer; Inside linebacker — Drew Fowler, Soldotna; Defensive back — Drew Brown, Homer; Fred Llorente, Kodiak; Josh Yavorsky, Kodiak; Interior linemen — Patrick Rainwater, Homer; Elijah Swartsoff, Kodiak; Punter — Tyler Jester, Kodiak; Utility player — Tanner Barclay, Houston; Tim Duke, Skyview.