Valley football players recognized by USA Today

WASILLA — A handful of Valley football players earned some recognition from a national publication recently. Ten local athletes were named to the 2017 American Family Insurance All-USA Alaska Football Team, released by USA Today High School Sports.

Colony boasted five of the 10 Valley players on the list. The group includes senior quarterback Parker Kizer, who committed to Division III Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, earlier this year. Senior defensive lineman Jarret Villastrigo, junior defensive back Julian McPhail and junior kicker Noah Krozel were also named first-team.

Palmer, Wasilla and Houston also placed players on the first team. Palmer senior offensive lineman Lucas Santana, Wasilla defensive lineman Arron Martinez and Houston linebacker Reed Graham are part of Alaska’s first-team list.

Wasilla senior defensive lineman TJ Laumatia, Colony senior linebacker Jake Hessinger and Palmer defensive back Jeff Glynn were named to the second team.

Three of the players earned top honors from their respective conferences. Villastrigo was the Divison I Railbelt Conference Lineman of the Year, Santana was named the Division II Northern Lights Conference Lineman of the Year and Graham was named the Division III Aurora Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Contact sports@frontiersman.com.

All-USA Alaska Football Team

Coach of the Year: Galen Brantley Jr, Soldotna

Offensive Player of the Year: Derryk Snell, Chugiak

Defensive Player of the Year: Javin Iloilo, West

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Parker Kizer, Colony; Running back — Derryk Snell, Chugiak; Brenner Furlong, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Jamie Johnson, North Pole; Xavier Harris, Service; Tight end — Kristian Lauofo, Bartlett; Offensive line — Toni Makihele, Dimond; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Thomas Sio, Bartlett; Aiden Williams, East; Kicker — Noah Krozel, Colony.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Mike Andres, South; Peter Giannulis, Chugiak; Arron Martinez, Wasilla; Jarrett Villastrigo, Colony; Linebacker — Reed Graham, Houston; Javin Iloilo, West; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna; Defensive back — Buddy Bockert, Lathrop; Colton Herman, East; Ramal Maad, Chugiak Julian McPhail, Colony.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Teddy Croft, Homer; Running back — Jontay Edwards, Bartlett; Hunter Cargill, Bartlett; Wide receiver — AJ Su’esu’e, West; Zach Tuttle, Kenai; Tight end — Jared Harjehausen, West; Offensive line — Dan Bradbury, West; Jacob Breazeale, North Pole; Kaden Caldarera, Service; TJ Laumatia, Wasilla; Max Schuster, Bartlett.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Levi Benner, Soldotna; Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna; Mark Fickes, South; Puna Toutaiolepo, Thunder Mountain; Linebacker — Tyler Borschnack, Bartlett; Jake Hessinger, Colony; Kapono Medeiros, East; Ace Chapple, Chugiak; Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Jersey Truesdell, Soldotna; Zach Tuttle, Kenai.