Knights enter new season as defending conference champs

PALMER — Much like basically every prep football program in the Valley, graduation took its toll on the Colony Knights.

The Knights lost two-dozen seniors from a 2013 squad that won three of its last four regular season games en route to capturing the Railbelt Conference title. But even though graduation left a lot of empty holes in the starting lineup, Colony head coach Brian McIntosh said the Knights do return key seniors who will lead the charge into the new season.

Senior running back Logan Conway, senior linebacker Zach Doan, senior wide receiver Tucker Looney, senior linebacker Kody Nash and senior left tackle Mike Haire are among the veterans poised to lead the Knights into the 2014 season. All have experience as starters, and all worked hard in the offseason, McIntosh said.

That coupled with an influx of new talent has the Knights excited.

“We have a lot of young guys coming up. The (junior varsity) was pretty good last year, and they really developed in the offseason,” McIntosh said.

Once again, Colony sports more than 100 total athletes on roster. There are also 40 freshmen.

“The numbers are good, but the talent’s also there,” McIntosh said of the younger players in his program.

Doan is entering his third year as a starter for Colony, and should lead the Knights defense from his linebacker position.

“He’s fired up,” McIntosh said of Doan.

Doan’s game has evolved from being used as a blitzing linebacker as a sophomore to an all-around player at the position. This year, McIntosh said, Doan will be calling the plays on the field on defense.

Nash is moving forward from his defensive back spot and will join Doan at linebacker. Jordan Nero is among a large group of athletes competing for time in the defensive secondary.

“We have a lot of depth at secondary. There are six or seven guys competing for starting jobs,” McIntosh said.

As McIntosh looks after the defense, assistant coach Nathan Dahl will work as offensive coordinator for the Knights.

“His philosophy is four yards,” McIntosh said of Dahl.

Conway is expected to play a major role in Colony’s desire to run the football. As a junior, Conway finished second on the team with 611 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He topped the 100-yard mark three times, including a career-high 159 during a win over West Valley that clinched the Railbelt title for the Knights.

Junior Steven Bilafer will start at quarterback, replacing Bryce Niver, a 2014 CHS graduate. Niver, a first-team all-state selection, had more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. He threw for 1,452 and added 710 on the ground. He also accounted for 25 of Colony’s 31 offensive touchdowns.

Bilafer saw limited action at quarterback last year, finishing the season with 25 yards passing and one rushing touchdown. As a sophomore, Bilafer was used primarily at receiver. He had 10 catches.

McIntosh compared Bilafer to Niver.

“He’s very similar to Bryce Niver and some of those other running quarterbacks we’ve had in the past,” McIntosh said.

Looney is Colony’s leading returner at receiver. He had 16 catches as a junior. McIntosh also noted newcomer Justin Callahan, who moved to the Valley with his family from Louisiana during the offseason.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” McIntosh said.

Haire will lead the Knights up front. Senior Asa Walling and junior Ryan Wharry could also play key roles on the line.

Colony opens its season tonight against East Anchorage at CHS, and jumps right into Railbelt play with a home game against West Valley during Week 2.

Editor’s note: This is the final piece of a four-part series previewing the seasons of the local prep football teams. For stories featuring the Houston Hawks, Palmer Moose and Wasilla Warriors, see frontiersman.com/sports.