TOP HONORS

WASILLA — A number of players were in the running for the Railbelt Conference’s offensive player of the year award. But there were about 1,300 reasons why Wasilla senior Devon Teeling ran away with the honor.

Teeling, who rushed for a state-high 1,339 yards, has been named the conference’s top offensive player by Railbelt coaches.

“Some of the other ones combined passing and running. But with him it’s sheer running only,” Wasilla head coach Kent Rilatos said. “We don’t have a lot of deception with those running plays. A lot of the time he’s going to run right at you.”

And Teeling was the Wasilla running game. The senior rushed for 75 percent of his team’s 1,794 total rushing yard and finished with 236 of his team’s 349 carries.

Teeling also scored a dozen touchdowns during his senior season to help Wasilla advance to the postseason for the first time since 2007 and earn a conference title for the first time since 1999.

Rilatos said he also argued that Teeling did part of that while battling injuries.

“Devon did it with separated ribs for the final three games and a broken hand through almost all of the Palmer game and all of the West game,” Rilatos said.

Teeling was one of seven Wasilla players to earn first-team honors. Senior Braydon Kuiper was one of only two players in the conference to be named first-team on offense and defense.

Kuiper was named to the first team at tight end and defensive end, positions he didn’t even start the season at. Kuiper began his senior year as a quarterback and wide receiver on offense, and safety on defense.

“That’s the special thing. You look at all he did on offense. He was our backup quarterback, tight end, wide receiver and one of our best blockers,” Rilatos said. “Then on defense, to go from safety to defensive end, where he excelled.”

On offense, Kuiper finished second on the squad with 21 receptions, 408 receiving yards and four touchdowns. On defense, Kuiper recorded 16.5 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss.

Wasilla senior wide receiver Tyler Anderson also garnered first-team honors after leading the state with 15 touchdown catches. Anderson led his team with 31 catches for 795 yards.

Junior quarterback Ben Fielder landed on the first team after finishing as one of the top signal-callers in the state. Fielder threw for 1,691 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Senior offensive guard Ryan Pomrenke, senior defensive back Cole Miller and junior defensive lineman Dakota Hermans were also named to the first team. Junior Kyler Perry was named the conference’s top kicker. Perry hit 29 of 34 point after attempts and booted four field goals.

“We’re represented very well,” Rilatos said. “I’m very happy about that.”

Rilatos, Wasilla’s first-year mentor, was also named the Railbelt’s top head coach. Rilatos said the award is indicative of the team’s work, not just his own.

Palmer senior offensive tackle Ben Self was named the conference’s co-lineman of the year, sharing the honor with North Pole senior Garrett Longoria.

Self was also named first-team all-conference for the second straight year after helping the Moose march into the playoffs for the 16th time in 17 years. Self was also a key part of the Moose offense, helping pave the way for a running game that amassed 2,136 yards.

Senior quarterback Jackson Buresh was also named first-team all-conference for the second consecutive year. Buresh accounted for more than 1,200 yards of total offense and 19 total touchdowns.

Buresh threw for 808 yards and nine touchdowns. He also ran for 444 yards and 10 scores.

Palmer’s leading rusher, senior Ian Ahrens, also earned first-team honors. Ahrens rushed for 737 yards and 11 touchdowns. Ahrens scored two or more touchdowns in four of the final five games of the regular season. He also topped the 100-yard mark three times as a senior.

Senior defensive back Steven Lee and senior defensive lineman Jameson Corbin were also named to the first team. Palmer’s Tim Popowski was named the assistant coach of the year and senior Jared Straight was tabbed the conference’s top punter.

The Colony Knights placed a pair of seniors on the first team. Linebacker Ty Farber and left tackle Andrew McCallister were both named to the first team.

Valley players own a combined 50 spots on the first and second teams and list of honorable mentions.

2011 All-Railbelt Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Devon Teeling, Wasilla

Defensive Player of the Year: Lah Fifita, Juneau

Lineman of the Year: Ben Self, Palmer; Garrett Longoria, North Pole

Utility Player of the Year: Larenzo Graham, West Valley

Coach of the Year: Kent Rilatos, Wasilla

Assistant Coach of the Year: Tim Popowski, Palmer

First team offense:

Quarterback - Ben Fielder, Wasilla; Phillip Fenumiai, Juneau; Tucker Plass, West Valley; Jackson Buresh, Palmer; Moo Rogers, North Pole; Gabe Cunningham, Lathrop; Running back - Devon Teeling, Wasilla; Jerick Ibias, Juneau; Larenzo Graham, West Valley; Ian Ahrens, Palmer; Wide receiver - Tyler Anderson, Wasilla; Sean Niumataevalu, Juneau; Montae Tate, Lathrop; Tight end - Braydon Kuiper, Wasilla; Center - Warren Eckland, Juneau; Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley; Guard - Ryan Pomrenke, Wasilla; Tackle - Ben Self, Palmer; Garrett Longoria, North Pole; Andrew McCallister, Colony.

First-team defense:

Defensive end - Braydon Kuiper, Wasilla; Jackson Curry, West Valley; Aaron Betts, North Pole; Defensive line - Dakota Hermans, Wasilla; Velepoto Enele, Juneau; Jameson Corbin, Palmer; Garrett Longoria, North Pole; Logan Dille, Lathrop; Inside linebacker - Lah Fifita, Juneau; Jesse Isberg, West Valley; Ty Farber, Colony; Outside linebacker - Alex Matheson, Juneau; Defensive back - Cole Miller, Wasilla; Jerrico Turner, West Valley; Steven Lee, Palmer;

First-team special teams:

Kicker - Kyler Perry, Wasilla; Punter - Jared Straight, Palmer; Long snapper - Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley; Return specialist - Demetrius Campos, Juneau.

Second-team offense:

Running back - Dominick Anderson, West Valley; Wide receiver - Demetrius Campos, Juneau; Bryan Vinton, West Valley; Anthony Gibson, North Pole; Garrette Duncan, North Pole; Simon Root, Colony; Antonio Bush, Colony; Fullback - JC Cummings, West Valley; Tight end - Nick Parks, Wasilla; Center - Austin Ring, Wasilla; Guard - Kade Owens, Palmer; Cole Foster, Lathrop; Tackle - Allen Bosch, Wasilla; Matt Vandor, Juneau; Cole Frohling, Palmer; Aaron Betts, North Pole; Jeremiah Webb, Lathrop;

Second-team defense:

Defensive end - Devin Cooper, West Valley; Kevelle Quinn, Lathrop; Defensive line - Lenord McMullen, West Valley; Isaac Masters, North Pole; Linebacker - Tyler Larimer, Wasilla; Raheem Hines, Wasilla; Gustav Nauer, Juneau; Dylan Skrzynski, Juneau; Hyland Story, West Valley; Jared Straight, Palmer; Robert Pritchett, Colony; Defensive back - Abe Fox, Wasilla; Samson Nauer, Juneau; Brian Brassfield, Juneau; Douglas Chadwick, Palmer; Luke Heun, Palmer; James Nisbett, Palmer; Ray Johnson, North Pole; Kyle Kendrick, Colony; Brennan Zimmin, Colony.

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback - Robert Lorentz, Colony; Running back - Kaelen Lee, Lathrop; Wyatt Peltier, Colony; Fullback - Lah Fifita, Juneau; Ben Davis, North Pole; Fischer Summers, Colony; Wide receiver - Alec Calloway, Juneau; Jake Fox, Lathrop; Tight end - Gary Speck, Juneau; Robbie Casagranda, Palmer; Center - Lance Casagranda, Palmer; Guard - Jake Robinson, Juneau; Travis Duvernay, Juneau; Nick Fisher, Wst Valley; Mitch Chausse, West Valley; Tackle - Tyler Larimer, Wasilla; Keenan Alexander, North Pole; Zach Swartz, North Pole; Garrett Tucker, North Pole; Jose Rodriquez, Lathrop.

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive end - Nick Parks, Wasilla; Hayden Niekamp, Palmer; Sam Tailai, Colony; Defensive line - Dillon Wiggins, Wasilla; Troy Holden, Juneau; Alex Orozco, West Valley; Linebacker - Jason Moriarty, Wasilla; James Moriarty, Wasilla; Ralph Wineland, West Valley; Chris Cooney, Palmer; Ben Aumavae, Palmer; Jack Tuttle, Palmer; DJ Elsenpeter, Lathrop; Defensive back - Tyler Anderson, Wasilla; Cash McGregor, Wasilla; Demetrius Campos, Juneau; Brent Rodenberger, West Valley; Mason Jeffries, West Valley; Jordan Copeland, North Pole; Cameron Bryan, Lathrop; Ken McCoy, Colony.