‘Heart and soul:’ Colony senior earns Railbelt honor

PALMER — When some look back at Cade Havel’s senior season in the Colony football program, they might think of the 17 touchdowns he scored on the offensive side of the ball. But those familiar with the team know of Havel’s impact on both sides of the ball.

Railblet Conference coaches are well aware of his presence on defense in particular.

Havel was named the Railbelt Conference Defensive Player of the Year during the league’s annual all-conference selection meeting earlier this week.

“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said of the linebacker. “Cade is an unbelievable defensive player.”

Havel is the second straight Colony senior to be named the Railbelt’s top defensive player. Former Knight standout Jordan Nero earned the honor last year. This year, not only did Havel step up to fill the void left by Nero, but he also helped fill a leadership role after defensive captain Nolan Martin, another Knights standout at linebacker, suffered a major elbow injury against East Anchorage during the second week of the season.

“When Nolan went down, Cade filled his shoes on defense,” Magner said. “He made sure people were in the right spots, made sure people knew what to do, how to do it. That leadership is something that does not come along very often. The respect kids have for him doesn’t come around very often. It’s going to be really tough to replace that kid.”

Manger, a former Colony standout himself, said Havel joins a tradition of a program known for producing great prep linebackers.

“Some of the hits I’ve seen that kid deliver. Very much like early Colony football,” Magner said. “No regard for his own body, just hit as hard as he can. It was so fun to watch for so many years.”

Magner also lauded Havel’s athletic ability.

“Five-foot-nothing and 200 pounds of solid muscle, and he’s the second fastest kid on our team,” Magner said. “He’s an explosive player on offense, and just brings the wood on defense. He doesn’t come off the field.”

Havel was also named first-team All-Railbelt Conference at both running back and linebacker.

Havel was one of a half-dozen Knights to garner first team honors. Cooper Sant (offensive line), Dawson Nash (outside linebacker), Jon Pomrenke (defensive back), Caleb Bailey (defensive back) and Parker Kizer (quarterback) were each named to the first team.

Havel, Sant, Pomrenke and Nash earned first-team honors for the second straight year.

Wasilla placed five players on the first team. Caleb Drumm (linebacker), Chase Minnick (offensive line), Troy Michael-Brooks (offensive line), Nick Alexander (running back) and Aeron Milliron (running back) all earned first-team honors.

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

All-Railbelt Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Derryk Snell, Chugiak

Defensive Player of the Year: Cade Havel, Colony

Lineman of the Year: Cody Bailey, Chugiak

Utility Player of the Year: Josh Cummings, West Valley

Coach of the Year: Roger Spackman, Chugiak

Assistant Coach of the Year: Nathan Damario, West Valley

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Hunter Harr, Chugiak; Parker Kizer; Running back — Derryk Snell, Chugiak; Karletty Faamatuainu, Chugiak; Cade Havel, Colony; Nick Alexander, Wasilla; Aeron Milliron, Wasilla; Josh Cummings, West Valley; Wide receiver — Ricardo Henry, Lathrop; Zach Kosa, Lathrop; Offensive tackle — Cody Bailey, Chugiak; Jordy Smith, Lathrop; Offensive line — Cooper Sant, Colony; Chase Minnick, Wasilla; Troy Michael-Brooks, Wasilla; Gideon Cole, West Valley.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Cody Bailey, Chugiak; Peter Mrugala, Chugiak; Ji Danile Jeong, Lathrop; Linebacker — Derryk Snell, Chugiak; Merrick Johnson, Chugiak; Cade Havel, Colony; Dawson Nash, Colony; Caleb Drumm, Wasilla; Jonas Post, West Valley; Enrique Agnew, West Valley; Defensive back — Jon Pomrenke, Colony; Caleb Bailey, Colony; Ashonte Williams, Lathrop; Wyatt Story, Lathrop.

First-team special teams:

Kicking specialist — Zach Kosa, Lathrop; Punting specialist — Parker Kizer, Colony; Kick returner — Ricardo Henry, Lathrop; Long snapper — Dontae Brown, Lathrop.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Hunter Hongslo, Wasilla; Zach Lester, West Valley; Running back — Dawson Nash, Colony; Marshea Kent, Lathrop; Sean McDermott, Wasilla; Wide receiver — Jon Pomrenke, Colony; Merrick Stacey, West Valley; Chance Fields-Colbert, West Valley; Tight end — Tyler Carlos, Chugiak; Mitchell Evans, Wasilla; Offensive tackle — Ian Stover, Chugiak; Jake Stover, Lathrop; Offensive guard — Ji Daniel Jeong, Lathrop; Offensive line — Isaiah Christy, Colony;

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Camden Lerch, Chugiak; Jamal Ballot, Lathrop; Aaron Martinez, Wasilla; Thomas Allen, West Valley; Linebacker — Bryant White, Chugiak; Terry Park, Chugiak; Jake Hessinger, Colony; Dontae Brown, Lathrop; David Shepetko, Lathrop; Joe Kimbrogh, West Valley; Defensive back — Ace Chapple, Chugiak; Nick Pead, Colony; Parker Kizer, Colony; Beau Cork, Wasilla; Ethan Patnode, Wasilla;

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Josh Hernandez, Lathrop; Running back — Cameron Pead, Colony; Isaiah Warner, West Valley; Wide receiver — Caleb Bailey, Colony; Tight end — Jaden Walkenmeyer, Wasilla; Center — Daniel Fujimoto, Chugiak; Tristan Dawe, Lathrop; Offensive guard — Alex Rumfelt, Chugiak; Tyshawn Candley, Chugiak; Offensive tackle — Trevor Hicks, Chugiak; Offensive line — Kaleb Reeves, Colony; Bradley Amato, Colony; Benjamin Boyer, Wasilla; Preston Kulik, West Valley; Jake Foshee, West Valley.

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Braydon Bowker, Colony; David Fitch, Colony; Quinn Hill, Wasilla; Jacob Norton, Wasilla; Gabe Hoorn, West Valley; Linebacker — Deondric Henderson, Lathrop; Latrellus Colbert, Wasilla; Tyler Farris, Lathrop; Jacob Evanger, West Valley; Defensive back — Ramal Maad, Chugiak; Anthony Jones, Chugiak; Garrett Wackerman, Chugiak; Marcus Lorentz, Colony; Wesley Bockert, Lathrop; Zach Kosa, Lathrop; Sam Wolfe, Wasilla;