NLC announces football all-conference team

PALMER — The Palmer coaching staff looked to senior Nick Daniels to be a factor during the 2015 season.

Daniels responded by becoming a leader on both sides of the ball, and the senior was recently recognized for his efforts.

Daniels was named first-team All-Northern Lights Conference at both outside linebacker and wide receiver.

“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,” Palmer head coach Rod 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.”

Daniels was one of three Palmer players to garner first-team honors, joining senior running back Chase Ferris and junior defensive back Vanu Mose.

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,” Christiansen said of Ferris. “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.”

Mose garned first-team honors in his first year with the program.

“He really helped us in coverage,” Christiansen said. “He’s aggressive too. He can make some tackles.”

The Moose also scored five spots on the second team. Quarterback Clayton Southwick, guard Travis Wheeler, linebacker Justin Roth, defensive back Jeff Glynn and kicker Johnnie Burton each earned second-team honors.

Roth (fullback) and Wheeler (defensive line) also were named honorable mention, along with Palmer’s Trey Witz (utility player), Lucas Santana (defensive line), Austin Farris (defensive line), Wayne Hershman (linebacker), Kris Don (center), Ryker Carrington (guard) and A.J. Kollander (tackle).

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

2015 ALL-Northern Lights Conference football team

Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Wellborn, Kenai

Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Walden, Soldotna

Lineman of the Year: Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai

Coach of the Year: John Marquez, Kenai

Assistant Coach of the Year: Eric Pomerleau, Soldotna

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Andreas Carros, Kodiak; Running back — Chase Ferris, Palmer; Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna; Fullback — Mason Prior, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Nick Daniels, Palmer; Tyler Wietfeld, Kodiak; Tight end — Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Tackle — Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna; Kordell Pillans, Kodiak; Guard — Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Austin Crowder, Soldotna; Center — Dalton Best, Soldotna.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Kyle Marcuson, Soldonta; Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Sage Hill, Soldotna; Kordell Pillans, Kodiak; Inside linebacker — Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna; Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Outside linebacker — Nick Daniels, Palmer; Austin Crowder, Soldotna; Defensive back — Vanu Mose, Palmer; Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Chase Gillies, Kenai; Dylan Simons, Soldotna;

First-team special teams:

Long snapper — Adrian Gomez, Soldotna; Kicker — Johnny Smithwick, Soldotna; Return specialist — Jesse Littrell, Soldotna; Punter — Giovani Martinez, Kodiak; Utility player — Zack Tuttle, Kenai.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Clayton Southwick, Palmer; Running back — Jay Miranda, Kodiak; Fullback — Draiden McMinn, Kenai; Wide receiver — Cam Smith, Eagle River; Giovani Martinez, Kodiak; Tight end — Connor Johnson, Kenai; Tackle — Sage Hill, Soldotna; Jonathan Delgado, Kenai; Guard — Bryce Martin, Soldotna; Travis Wheeler, Palmer; Center — Tobias Randall, Kenai.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Tobias Randall, Kenai; Connor Johnson, Kenai; Dalton Best, Soldotna; Inside linebacker — Jake Yavorsky, Kodiak; Nick Beeson, Kenai; Justin Roth, Palmer; Outside linebacker — Grant Barkhurst, Eagle River; Defensive back — Grant Burningham, Eagle River; Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Wes Walker, Kodiak; Avery Hieber, Kenai.

Second-team special teams:

Long snapper — Johnnie Burton, Palmer; Punter — Tommy Flores, Soldotna; Utility player — Jace Urban, Soldotna.

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Thad Heagy, Eagle River; Fullback — Justin Roth, Palmer; Tackle — AJ Kollander, Palmer; David Beck, Kenai; Guard — Ryker Carrington, Palmer; Jake Yavorsky, Kodiak; Center — Kris Don, Palmer; Dayton Denter, Eagle River; Hunter Bigley, Kodiak.

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Jack Mosely, Eagle River; Hunter Bigley, Kodiak; Austin Farris, Palmer; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Travis Wheeler, Palmer; Inside linebacker — Wayne Hershman, Palmer; Hunter George, Eagle River.

Honorable mention special teams:

Utility player — Trey Witz, Palmer; Mike Thompson, Eagle River.