Seniors earn top honors; 13 Valley players named first-team all-state

PALMER — Thirteen different players on the first team, a pair of major individual awards, and a coach honored.

The Valley is well represented on the all-state teams, released by the Alaska Football Coaches Association earlier this week.

A pair of seniors, Palmer’s Lucas Santana and Houston’s Reed Graham, both earned top honors. Longtime Palmer High head coach Rod Christiansen, who now owns Alaska’s all-time wins records with 153 victories, was named Alaska’s Division I Coach of the Year.

Santana, named first-team all-state at both offensive guard and defensive line, helped pave the way as the Moose ran into the Division II state title game for the second straight year. Santana was named the Division II Lineman of the Year.

“He’s an impact player, making big plays,” Christiansen said of Santana after the senior earned the Northern Lights Conference Lineman of the Year honors.

On offense, Santana helped the Moose rush for nearly 2,500 yards while averaging more than 6 yards per carry.

“A big guy like that, the best thing he does is down block, and get after it,” Christiansen said. “But he has also developed himself as a technician.”

Graham overcame multiple obstacles en route to earning Division III Defensive Player of the Year honors. The senior not only returned from a serious knee injured suffered during his junior season of basketball, but he also made the move from defensive line to linebacker to fill a team need.

Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said he was simply amazed to see Graham ready to play football eight months after suffering the ACL injury.

“Coming back from an ACL in eight months is a crazy timeline,” Nelson said earlier this week. “To switch positions on top of that and excel at that position is extraordinary. You hear about kids switching positions and doing OK, but not winning defensive player of the year. You never year someone being good eight months after coming back from an ACL at the high school level.”

Santana and Graham were among three Valley players to earn first-team all-state honors on both sides of the ball. Colony senior Jarrett Villastrigo was named to the first team at both offensive tackle and defensive end at the Division I level.

“He’s the anchor on both our offensive and defensive lines,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said after Villastrigo was named Railbelt Conference Lineman of the Year.

Colony led Valley programs with a half-dozen players on the first team. Quarterback Parker Kizer, running back Jon Pomrenke, linebacker Jake Hessinger, defensive back Julian McPhail and kicker Noah Krozel joined Villastrigo on the Division I first-team list. Offensive tackle Kaleb Reaves earned second-team honors for he Knights.

The Wasilla Warriors feature a pair of players on the first team. Center TJ Laumatia and defensive lineman Arron Martinez were both named to the first team. Quarterback Aeron Milliron, running back Sean McDermott and guard Michael Evans received second-team honors.

Santana was one of three Palmer players to earn Division II first-team honors, alongside running back Larry Cutsforth and defensive back Jeff Glynn. Offensive tackle Jacob White and linebacker Ben Kruzich were named to the second team. Cutsforth also earned second-team honors at kicker.

Graham and linebacker Noah Plumb received first-team honors at the Division III level. Plumb was also second-team at running back, along with defensive lineman Dylan Jackson.

Redington running back Kyler Rumfelt, tight end Brian Amirault, guard Isaac Acheryok, linebacker Eli Benson and defensive back Aiden Norris were named to the second team.

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

Alaska Football Coaches Association All-State teams

Division I

Offensive Player of the Year: Derryk Snell, Chugiak

Defensive Player of the Year: Javin Iliolo, West Anchorage

Lineman of the Year: Thomas Sio, Bartlett

Utility Player of the Year: Xavier Harris, Service

Coach of the Year: Roger Speckman, Chugiak

Assistant Coach of the Year: Don Powell, East Anchorage

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Hunter Harr, Chugiak; Parker Kizer, Colony; Running back — Derryk Snell, Chugiak; Jon Pomrenke, Colony; Hunter Cargill, Bartlett; Jontay Edwards, Bartlett; Wide receiver — Xavier Harris, Serivce; AJ Su’esu’e, West Anchorage; Tight end — Kristian Lauofo, Bartlett; Jared Harjehausen, West Anchorage; Center — Max Schuster, Bartlett; Kaden Caldarera, Service; TJ Laumatia, Wasilla; Guard — Thomas Sio, Bartlett; Dan Bradbury, West Anchorage; Tackle — Jarrett Villastrigo, Colony; Toni Makihele, Dimond; Aiden Williams, East Anchorage.

First-team defense:

Defensive end — Jarrett Villastrigo, Colony; Peter Giannulis, Chugiak; Defensive line — Arron Martinez, Wasilla; Mike Andres, South Anchorage; Outside linebacker — Tyler Borschnack, Bartlett; Kapono Medeiros, East Anchorage; Inside linebacker — Derryk Snell, Chugiak; Jake Hessinger, Colony; Hale Siulua, East Anchorage; Hunter Fanning, Service; Javin Iliolo, West Anchorage; Defensive back — Ramal Maad, Chugiak; Julian McPhail, Colony; Buddy Bockert, Lathrop Colton Herman, East Anchorage.

First-team special teams:

Kicker — Noah Krozel, Colony; Punter — Jared Harjehausen, West Anchorage; Return specialist — Colton Herman, East Anchorage; Long snapper — Stephen Blankenship, Service.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Aeron Milliron, Wasilla; Qyntyn Pilcher, West Anchorage; Running back — Sean McDermott, Wasilla; Preston Damario, West Valley; Armond Eppenger, East Anchorage; Wide receiver — Zach Kosa, Lathrop; Chateau Reed, Lathrop; Tight end — Tyler Carlos, Chugiak; Jiovanni Franklin, East Anchorage; Center — Taylory Dintzner, Dimond; Eddie Lada, South Anchorage; Guard — Ryan Stiles, Service; Michael Evans, Wasilla; Tackle — Kaleb Reaves, Colony; Noah Johnson, East Anchorage; Corbin Tomaszewski, Lathrop.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Allen Ala, East Anchorage; Bolee Hurricane Gridley, West Anchorage; Mark Fickes, South Anchorage; Outside linebacker — Deondric Henderson, Lathrop; Wyatt Story, Lathrop; Inside linebacker — Judah Kesler, Chugiak; Herman Grey, Bartlett; Nic Lozano, Dimond; Eli Lincoln, South Anchorage; Defensive back — Ace Chapple, Chugiak; Lance Joyner, West Valley; Enrique Agnew, West Valley; Jacob Wade, Service.

Division II

Offensive Player of the Year: Brenner Furlong, Soldotna

Defensive Player of the Year: Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna

Lineman of the Year: Lucas Santana, Palmer

Coach of the Year: Rod Christiansen, Palmer

Assistant Coach of the Year: Eric Pomerleau

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Brandon Crowder, Soldotna; Running back — Larry Cutsforth, Palmer; Aaron Faletoi, Soldonta; Fullback — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Jamie Johnson, North Pole; Zach Tuttle, Kenai; Tight end — Galen Brantley III, Soldotna; Tackle — Jacob Breazeale, North Pole; Jake Marcuson, Soldotna; Guard — Lucas Santana, Palmer; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna; Center — Derek Boord, Thunder Mountain.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Levi Benner, Soldotna; Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Puna Touteiolepo, Thunder Mountain; Outside linebacker — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna; Ryker Riddall, Kenai; Inside linebacker — CJ Fontana, North Pole; Seth Kruse, Kenai; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna; Defensive back — Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Jamie Johnson, North Pole; Jersey Truesdell, Soldotna; Zach Tuttle, Kenai.

First-team special teams:

Punter — Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Kicker — Jacob Babcock, Thunder Mountain; Return specialist — Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas; Long snapper — Ivan Williams, Thunder Mountain; Utility player — Cody Quelland, Soldotna.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Craig Borba, North Pole; Running back — Roy Tupou, Thunder Mountain; Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas; Fullback — CJ Fontana, North Pole; Wide receiver — Joel Francisco, Kodiak; Kody Malouf, Ketchikan; Tight end — Bobby Cox, Thunder Mountain; Kasey Watts, Juneau-Douglas; Tackle — John Elisoff, Juneau-Douglas, Jacob White, Palmer; Guard — Jacob Blanchard, North Pole; Alex Eldemar, Thunder Mountain; Seth Kruse, Kenai; Center — Josh Smith, Kodiak.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Stevie Byron, Ketchikan; John Grossl, Kenai; Josh Smith, Kodiak; Ivan Williams, Juneau-Douglas; Outside linebacker — Kirven Easton, North Pole; Steven Rosales, Thunder Mountain; Inside linebacker — Ben Kruzich, Palmer; Alofa Sua, Thunder Mountain; Defensive back — Isaiah Galindez, Kodiak; John Hamrick, Juneau-Dougals; Hansel Hinckle, Thunder Mountain; Jacob Tapia, Thunder Mountain.

Second-team special teams:

Punter — Elliot Gifford, Juneau-Douglas; Kicker — Larry Cutsfoth, Palmer; Return specialist — Luke Trammell, Soldotna; Long snapper — Logan Baker, Kenai; Utility player — Cody Galletes, Juneau-Douglas.

Division III

Offensive Player of the Year: Teddy Croft, Homer

Defensive Player of the Year: Reed Graham, Houston

Lineman of the Year: Scott Fry, Eielson

Coach of the Year: Chris Battle, Barrow

Assistant Coach of the Year: Don Fry, Eielson

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Teddy Croft, Homer; Running back — Noah Fisk, Homer; Jeramiah Brown, Eielson; Fullback — Ben Heather, Barrow; Wide receiver — Joe Ravin, Homer; Tight end — Sione Tuifua, Barrow; Tackle — Lau Takafua, Barrow; Kevin Baird, Eielson; Guard — Reed Graham, Houston; Ryan Armour, Eielson; Center — Scott Fry, Eielson; Utility — Travis Adams, Barrow.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Levi King, Homer; Brian Filipo, Barrow; Sebastian Sias, Barrow; Scott Fry, Eielson; Inside linebacker — Reed Graham, Houston; David Sanarov, Voznesenka; Outside linebacker — Noah Plum, Houston; Sione Tuifua, Barrow; Defensive back — Jeramiah Brown, Eielson; Joe Ravin, Homer; Isaac Minnema, Monroe.

First-team special teams:

Kicker — Zach Paul, Eielson; Punter — Kyle Sadergren, Valdez; Return specialist — Isaac Minnema, Monroe; Long snapper — Derek Berg, Valdez.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Trae Puryear, Monroe; Running back — Noah Plumb, Houston; Kyler Rumfelt, Redington; Fullback — Ian Johnson, Nikiski; Wide receiver — Justin Sumpton, Homer; Jordan Higbee, Monroe; Tight end — Brian Amirault, Redington; Tackle — Baker Hensley, Homer; Finn Heimbold, Homer; Guard — Justin Mullings, Nikiski; Isaac Acheryok, Redington; Center — Levi King, Homer; Utility — Dawson Felde, Homer.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Dylan Jackson, Houston; Baker Hensley, Nikiski; Nikit Anufriev, Voznesenka; Kyle Wells, Homer; Inside linebacker — Josh Grey, Monroe; Ian Johnson, Nikiski; Outside linebacker — Eli Benson, Redington; Noah Fisk, Homer; Defensive back — Christian Bolton, Eielson; Tyler Olsen, Nikiski; Aiden Norris, Redington;

Second-team special teams:

Kicker — Michael Mysing, Nikiski; Punter — Kyle Wells, Homer; Return specialist — David Sanarov, Voznesenka; Long snapper — Beau Freiberg, Seward.