Top Honors

MAT-SU — Even though the All-Railbelt squads were released to teams and the media on Sunday, Colony head coach Brian McIntosh didn’t hear any talk of the conference awards at Colony High School Monday morning.

But even though it’s been quiet in the hallways, the Knights were the talk of the Railbelt’s all-conference selection meeting.

Colony swept the major awards and scored eight spots on the first-team lists. McIntosh said, while it’s nice to get the attention, he’s pleased to see players focused on the team concept.

“We’re really pleased with it. It’s good to be recognized by people in our conference,” said McIntosh, who was named the Railbelt Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Knights to a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play during his first season at the helm of the program. “But as a whole they’re a really good team. Individual awards are kind of nice, when you look at them, but (the players) are focused on the playoffs.”

Colony senior Skye Rench was named the offensive player of the year, conference coaches selected Dakota Wainwright as the top defensive player and senior Trey Farber was tabbed the lineman of the year.

McIntosh said Rench and Wainwright were selected from deep pools of talent in the conference.

Rench rushed for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns during eight regular season games and also led his squad with 18 catches.

“That’s a tough category to get offensive player of the year,” McIntosh said.

Rench averaged 25 carries per game, and carried the ball less than 21 times in a game only once. He also rushed for more than 100 yards six times.

“To carry the work load as much as he has and be his size, that’s a statement,” McIntosh said of the 5-foot-8 senior. “He’s not a speedster. He runs between the tackles.”

Wainwright helped lead a defense that allowed less than 17 points per game.

“Once again, pretty elite company,” McIntosh said of the candidates up for the player of the year honors. “He made some really big plays, some big hits this year.”

While the decisions for the offensive and defensive awards may have been tough calls, McIntosh said he felt it was easier to select the lineman of the year.

“To me, hands down, he’s the guy,” McIntosh said. “He’s a three-year starter for us and I thought he had a great opportunity last year.”

Former Colony standout Shane Duque was named the lineman of the year last season.

Wainwright and Farber were both named first-team All-Railbelt on both offense and defense. Wainwright was recognized at fullback and linebacker, while Farber was named to the team at offensive tackle and defense tackle. Rench was named first-team at running back.

Renn Wright (offensive guard), Rio Stewart (offensive tackle) and Caleb Monson (linebacker) were also named first-team for the Knights.

Palmer senior Jim McCall was named first-team All-Railbelt at three different positions. McCall was recognized at wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist.

“He’s a good athlete, real fast,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of McCall recently. “He’s highly motivated this year to do well and it shows.”

McCall enjoyed one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in program history, catching 33 passes for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. McCall also rushed for two touchdowns and returned an interception for a score.

Jackson Buresh (quarterback), Ben Self (offensive tackle), David Clement (linebacker) and AJ Corbin (defensive back) were also named first-team.

Wasilla senior David Green was also named first-team on offense and defense. On offense, Green led the Warriors with 23 catches for 349 yards and four touchdowns. He also captained the Wasilla defense from his middle linebacker spot.

Wasilla junior Devon Teeling was also named to the first team at running back. Teeling rushed for a team-high 665 yards and eight touchdowns.

Colony and Palmer each scored six spots on the second team, and the Warriors had five.

Ross Oleck (defensive back), Kenyon DePriest (linebacker), Greg Michaelson (linebacker), Josh Doan (guard), Anthony Bricker (quarterback) and Ty Farber (center) were named second-team for the Knights. Ian Ahrens (running back), Collin Christiansen (defensive end), Kyle Sheibe (linebacker), Kade Owens (guard), Cole Frohling (offensive tackle) and David Soresnson (linebacker) were named second-team for the Moose. Mark Griffiths (cornerback), Jeff Scott (tackle), Jake Johnson (guard), Alexander Solylev (kicker) and Jeremy White (defensive line) were named second-team for the Warriors.

Seven Knights, six Moose and five Warriors were given honorable mention.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

All-Railbelt Conference

Offensive Player of the Year — Skye Rench, Colony

Defensive Player of the Year — Dakota Wainwright, Colony

Lineman of the Year — Trey Farber, Colony

Utility Player of the Year — Will Vealy, West Valley

Coach of the Year — Brian McIntosh, Colony

Assistant Coach of the Year — Al Fenumiai, Juneau-Douglas

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Phillip Fenumiai, Juneau; Jackson Buresh, Palmer; Danny Grzesiuk, North Pole; Running back — Will Vealy, West Valley; Skye Rench, Colony; Fullback — Dakota Wainwright, Colony; Devon Teeling, Wasilla; Brandon Comeau, West Valley; Wide receiver — Jim McCall, Palmer; Colin Gozelski, Juneau; Chris Holloway, Juneau; Garrette Duncan, North Pole; Tight end — David Green, Wasilla; Vince Barnette, Lathrop; Center — Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley; Guard — Renn Wright, Colony; Brett Olsen, Lathrop; Tackle — Ben Self, Palmer; Trey Farber, Colony; Rio Stewart, Colony; Garrett Longoria, North Pole.

First-team defense:

Defensive tackle — Trey Farber, Colony; Defensive end — Justin Brooks, Juneau; Tyler Schuster, North Pole; Linebacker — David Green, Wasilla; David Clement, Palmer; Dakota Wainwright, Colony; Caleb Monson, Colony; La Fifita, Juneau; Marcus Cogley, West Valley; Defensive back — Jim McCall, Palmer; AJ Corbin, Palmer; Colin Grozelski, Juneau; Vinh Le, Juneau; Joseph Notti, West Valley.

First-team special teams:

Kicker — Peter Jorgensen, Juneau; Punter — Colin Grozelski, Juneau; Return specialist — Jim McCall, Palmer; Long snapper — Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Anthony Bricker, Colony; Running back — Ian Ahrens, Palmer; Frankie Anderson, North Pole; Larenzo Graham, West Valley; Ty Davis, West Valley; Justin Brooks, Juneau; Wide receiver — Matt McCoy, Lathrop; Tight end — Chris Nuttall, West Valley; Center — Ty Farber, Colony; Guard — Josh Doan, Colony; Kade Owens, Palmer; Jake Johnson, Wasilla; Ethan Trickey, Lathrop; Tackle — Cole Frohling, Palmer; Matt Smith, Juneau; Dakota Dawson, West Valley; Jeff Scott, Wasilla;

Second- team defense:

Defensive line — Collin Christiansen, Palmer; Jeremy White, Wasilla; Josh Seminario, Lathrop; Garrett Longoria, North Pole; Joseph Chavez-Jackson, North Pole; Trey Chiu, West Valley; Linebacker — Kenyon DePriest, Colony; Greg Michaelson, Colony; Kyle Scheibe, Palmer; David Sorenson, Palmer; Alex Matheson, Juneau; Jerick Ibias, Juneau; Jesse Isberg, West Valley; Defensive back — Ross Oleck, Colony; Mark Griffiths, Wasilla; Kaelen Lee, Lathrop; Chris Markie, North Pole; Ray Johnson, North Pole; Christian Parker, Juneau; Marshall Sargeant, Juneau.

Second-team special teams:

Punter — Kyle Carlson, Lathrop; Kicker — Alexander Solylev, Wasilla.

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Jonah Silva, Lathrop; Payton McCann, Colony; Tucker Plass, West Valley; Running back — Douglas Chadwick, Palmer; Leka Maka, Juneau; Wide receiver — Connor Weihs, Colony; Kenyon DePriest, Colony; Kris Merritt, Palmer; Izaak Probasco, Wasilla; Sean Collum, Juneau; Ryan Graham-Taylor, Lathrop; Andy Jefferson, North Pole; Eric Fagerstrom, Juneau; Center — Jameson Corbin, Palmer; Anthony Stefan, North Pole; Guard — Aaron Donn, Palmer; Tackle — Isaac Masters, North Pole;

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Ty Farber, Colony; Renn Wright, Colony; Jake Johnson, Wasilla; Jeff Scott, Wasilla; Joe Bradford, Lathrop; Hezekiah Benjamin, Lathrop; Devin Drones, Juneau; Jackson Curry, West Valley; Brent Rodenberger, West Valley; Alex Billesbach; Linebacker — Cache Summers, Colony; Louis Hoffman, Wasilla; Mark Barrie, Chris Cooney, Palmer; North Pole; Dylan Skrzynski, Juneau; Defensive back — Chris Seminario, Lathrop; Nate Wolfe, Colony; Steven Lee, Palmer; Evan Post, West Valley; Bryce Billesbach.

Honorable mention special teams:

Kicker — Paul Sliwa, Wasilla.