Hawks players, coaches earn Aurora Conference honors

WASILLA — The Houston Hawks made tremendous strides in 2016.

Houston entered the season as a 20-year-old prep football program without a playoff win. This year, Houston not only notched that elusive postseason victory, but advanced to a state football final for the first time. Throughout the year, Hawks head coach Glenn Nelson has credited veteran leadership as a chief reason why Houston had historic success.

Nelson continued to laud one player in particular.

“It all starts with Ben Pelesasa,” Nelson said recently.

During the Aurora Conference coaches meeting, Nelson’s peers also recognized Pelesasa’s impact. The Houston senior was named the Aurora Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Not only does Pelesasa possess the intangibles, such as the ability to lead, but the running back also consistently showed his talents on the field. Pelesasa rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 16 offensive touchdowns as a senior. He also capped his career with a game-high 234 yards rushing and two scores during the loss to Eielson in the small-schools state title game. Nelson listed a variety of reasons why Pelesasa makes an impact on offense.

“His ability to see the field. He’s really good at making the right decision. One tackler can’t bring him down,” Nelson said.

Nelson said Pelesasa has the combination of power and speed, and can break away just as well as he can break tackles.

“We feel like we get him one block, and any time he can get the ball and go,” Nelson said.

Pelesasa was one of seven Hawks to earn first-team honors, and three to be named on both sides of the ball. Senior Vanu Mose was named first-team at both fullback and outside linebacker. Junior Reed Graham scored a spot on the first team at both guard and defensive line. Tim Sasiu (offensive tackle), Wyatt Mulhaney (outside linebacker), Silas Ross (defensive back) and Kendell Ruta (return specialist were also named to the first team.

Houston also swept the coaching awards. Nelson earned Coach of the Year Honors. Longtime defensive coordinator Jared Barrett was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

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

All-Aurora Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Pelesasa, Houston

Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Benjamin, Eielson

Lineman of the Year: Chris Kilpatrick, Eielson

Coach of the Year: Glenn Nelson, Houston

Assistant Coach of the Year: Jared Barrett, Houston

First team offense:

Quarterback — Ryan Brantley, Monroe; Running back — Ben Pelesasa, Houston; Antonio Griffith, Eielson; Fullback — Vanu Mose, Houston; Wide receiver — Travis Adams, Barrow; Jordan Higgbee, Monroe; Tackle — Billy Makinen, Eielson; Tim Sasiu, Houston; Guard — Reed Graham, Houston; Chris Kilpatrick, Eielson; Center — Scott Fry, Eielson;

First team defense:

Outside linebacker — Vanu Mose, Houston; Wyatt Mulhaney, Houston; Inside linebacker — Ben Pelesasa, Houston; Billy Makinen, Eielson; Defensive back — Jeremiah Brown, Eielson; Travis Adams, Barrow; Silas Ross, Houston; Defensive line — Sione Tuifua, Barrow; Reed Graham, Houston; Chris Kilpatrick, Eielson; Taylor Benjamin, Eielson

First team special teams:

Return specialist — Kendell Ruta, Houston; Long snapper — Conner Verfallie, Valdez; Zach Paul, Eielson; Punter — Jordan Higgbee, Monroe; Utility player — Divon Davis, Monroe

Second team offense:

Quarterback — Jeremiah Brown, Eielson; Running back — Zack Howard, Valdez; Tobia Dobashi-Noa, Eielson; Fullback — Caleb Thomas, Monroe; Wide receiver — Matt Scarboro, Eielson; Sione Tuifua, Barrow; Tackle — Justin Johns, Valdez; Brian Fillipo, Barrow; Guard — Landon Stockton, Barrow; Taylor Benjamin, Eielson; Center — Malaki Barrett, Houston;

Second team defense:

Outside linebacker — Zach Howard, Valdez; John Banner, Valdez; Inside linebacker — Ben Heather, Barrow; Malaki Barrett, Houston; Defensive back — Mat Scarboro, Eielson; Jordan Higgbee, Monroe; Aidan Hinkle, Valdez; Defensive line — Scott Fry, Eielson; Brock Renson, Eielson; Vaka Tuifua, Barrow; Paul Mata’u, Houston

Second team special teams:

Long snapper — Dawson Bauman, Valdez; Jordan Higgbee, Monroe; Punter — Ben Pelesasa, Houston; Utility player — Dylan Kovaks, Eielson

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Logan Heckathorn, Valdez; Paul Sanderlin, Houston; Running back — Ben Heather, Barrow; Ramese Unatoa, Barrow; Wide receiver — Izak Lorkie, Monroe; Tackle — Sebastian Sias, Barrow; Guard — Oneshi Tallaiasi, Barrow; Paul Mata’u, Houston; Conner Verafallie, Valdez; Quentin Bujan, Valdez; Center — Albert Seibol, Monroe;

Honorable mention defense:

Outside linebacker — Issac Garcia, Monroe; Inside linebacker — Giovanni Depaul, Monroe; Josh Grey, Monroe; Landon Stockton, Barrow; Conner Verfallie, Valdez; Defensive back — Antonio Griffith, Eielson; Kendell Ruta, Houston; Defensive line — Oneahi Tallaiasi, Barrow; Jonah Coats- Rogers, Valdez; Quentin Bujan, Valdez; Giovanni Depaul, Monroe; Albert Seibol, Monroe

Honorable mention special teams:

Long snapper — Malaki Barrett, Houston; Kicker — Zach Howard, Valdez; Jasiah Mila, Barrow; Utility player — Jonah Coats-Rogers, Valdez; Tiai Saisiu, Houston.