Valley players earn Railbelt Conference honors

WASILLA — Brian McIntosh and the Colony football coaching staff figured Bryce Niver would have success as a first-year starting quarterback during the 2013 season.

But McIntosh and his assistants probably did not plan on Niver accounting for more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 25 total touchdowns. Niver, who finished the season second in the state with 1,452 yards passing, was named the Railbelt Conference Offensive Player of the Year during the Railbelt coaches meeting last week.

“It was a pretty unanimous pick,” said McIntosh, who was named the conference’s head coach of the year. “He did a great job for us.”

Niver’s 1,452 yards passing is the fourth-highest total by a Valley quarterback. The senior completed 130 of 246 passes, and threw 16 touchdowns.

“He surprised us in his ability to throw. We always knew he was a runner. We kind of went into the offseason planning on him running a lot,” McIntosh said.

But Niver ran the ball too. The quarterback led the Knights with 710 yards rushing and nine scores on the ground.

Two of the players who helped Niver amass 2,162 yards of total offense also earned major awards during the conference meeting. Senior D.J. Mutini was named the conference’s lineman of the year.

“He was the heart and soul of this group,” McIntosh said. “He gets everybody motivated.”

Senior Daniel Bilafer was named the Railbelt Utility Player of the Year. Bilafer ended his senior-season with a state-high 55 catches. He also leads the conference with 713 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

Bilafer was also the team’s kicker, finishing the season 26 for 27 on extra-point attempts. He kicked seven field goals as a senior.

“Daniel did everything we asked him to do. It was nice to get him that utility award,” McIntosh said.

Wasilla senior Cash McGregor was named the Railbelt Defensive Player of the Year.

“It’s like having another coach out on the field,” Wasilla head coach Kent Rilatos said recently of McGregor.

McGregor started his senior season by intercepting five passes during a win over West Anchorage.

Colony, the Railbelt Conference champion, earned nine spots on the first-team list. Niver (quarterback), Bilafer (wide receiver) and Mutini (defensive line) were all named first team in addition to garnering the major awards.

Fullback Fischer Summers, center Ian MacKenzie, left guard Tobbie Zook, defensive end Noah Spencer, outside linebacker Riley Frederickson and outside linebacker Myles Cullenberg also received first-team honors.

Bilafer was also named first-team kicking specialist and Summers was named first-team punter.

Palmer finished second in the conference and landed eight players on the first-team list. Defensive back Vincent Aumavae, linebacker Cody Wells, running back James Nisbett, linebacker Ben Aumavae, center Adam Christiansen, offensive tackle Nick Benshetler, defensive lineman Brian Thompson and offensive guard Caleb Deemer were all named first-team

Nisbett rushed for 695 yards, despite only playing in three full games. The senior missed part of or all of six games this season for the 7-2 Moose.

Christiansen, Benshetler and Deemer paved the way for a rushing game that is averaging more than 280 yards per game this season.

The Moose are the lone Valley team still alive and face West Anchorage Friday at 7 p.m. at Anchorage Football Stadium in the large-schools semifinals.

McGregor was one of four Wasilla Warriors to earn first-team honors. McGregor was named first-team at both safety and wide receiver. He was the only player in the conference to earn first-team honors on both offense and defense this season.

Defensive lineman Quace Wright, running back Devin Otto and wide receiver Isaiah Dawkins were also named first-team. Otto led the Warriors with 654 yards and 10 touchdowns. McGregor finished with 25 catches for 404 yards and four touchdowns. Dawkins had 20 catches for a team-high 502 yards and three scores.

Tanner Hongslo was named first-team long snapper for Wasilla.

All-Railbelt Conference

Offensive Player of Year: Bryce Niver, Colony

Defensive Player of Year: Cash McGregor, Wasilla

Lineman of Year: D.J. Mutini, Colony

Assistant Coach of Year: Luke Balash, Lathrop

Head Coach of Year: Brian McIntosh, Colony

Utility Player of Year: Daniel Bilafer, Colony

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Bryce Niver, Colony; Charles Suddoth, West Valley; Running back — James Nisbett, Palmer; Chris Seminario, Lathrop; Devin Otto, Wasilla; Fullback — Fischer Summers, Colony; Wide receiver — Daniel Bilafer, Colony; Derrick O’Neal, Lathrop; Dv’nn Cooks, West Valley; Cash McGregor, Wasilla; Isaiah Dawkins, Wasilla; Tight end — Terrell Ford, Lathrop; Center — Ian MacKenzie, Colony; Adam Christiansen, Rhoddie West, West Valley; Guard — Tobbie Zook, Colony; Caleb Deemer, Palmer; Logan Dille, Lathrop; Tackle — Nick Benshetler, Palmer; Zachary Wall, West Valley;

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Noah Spencer, Colony; D.J. Mutini, Colony; Brian Thompson, Palmer; Jeremiah Webb, Lathrop; Jacob Vinton, West Valley; Trusty Sigmon, West Valley; Quace Wright, Wasilla; Inside linebacker — Ben Aumavae, Palmer; Marcus Brown, Lathrop; Outside linebacker — Riley Frederickson, Colony; Myles Cullenberg, Colony; Cody Wells, Palmer; Defensive back — Vincent Aumavae, Palmer; Nathan Barnett, Lathrop; Cash McGregor, Wasilla

First-team special teams:

Kicking specialist — Daniel Bilafer, Colony; Punter — Fischer Summers, Colony; Kick returner — Chris Seminario, Lathrop; Long snapper — Tanner Hongslo, Wasilla.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Josiah Williams, Wasilla; Running back — Logan Conway, Colony; Vincent Aumavae, Maurice McCrae, West Valley; Palmer; Wide receiver — Antonio Bush, Colony; Tight end — Cody Dedrick, Wasilla; Center — Brandon Webb, Lathrop; Travis Phillips, Lathrop; Guard — Ben Button, Palmer; Tackle — D.J. Mutini, Colony; Mike Haire, Colony; Jose Rodriguez, Lathrop; William Wright, West Valley; Billy Schultz, Wasilla; Trevor Taylor, Wasilla;

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — David Schneider, Palmer; Devin Millington, Lathrop; Inside linebacker — Zach Doan, Colony; Adam Christiansen, Palmer; Outside linebacker — Lars Evanger, West Valley; Jacob Larandeau, West Valley; Brendon Williams, West Valley; Defensive back — Chase Ferris, Palmer; Braeden Hoppough, Lathrop;

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Zeth Merritt, Palmer; Robert Tanner, Lathrop; Running back — Joceice Cannon, Lathrop; Deacon Damario, West Valley; Fullback — Ben Aumavae, Palmer; Wide receiver — Tuckey Looney, Colony; Darion Angol, Palmer; Cody Wells, Palmer; Forrest Clark, West Valley; Guard — Derrin Gilland, Lathrop; Conner Nolan, Lathrop; Tackle — Justin Booth, Colony; Brian Thompson, Palmer;

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Justin Miner, Colony; Mikeal Anderson, Colony; Nick Benshetler, Palmer; Teia Patane, Lathrop; Jaquin Martinez, West Valley; Theron Bingelli, Wasilla; Linebacker — Scotty McKinstry, Lathrop; Bryon Cogley, West Valley; Hunter Hermans, Wasilla; Zack Garnett, Wasilla; Defensive back — Tyler Harvey, Colony; Ryan Ertz, Colony; Jacob Hall, Colony; Nathan Aumavae, Palmer; Ryan Perdue, Lathrop; Jordan Kelley, West Valley; Layne Morrison, Wasilla; Kevin O’Laughlin, Wasilla.