VALLEY STATEMENT

MAT-SU — Wasilla High School’s Cinderella season didn’t go unnoticed by Alaska’s head football coaches. The Warriors placed four players on the Large Schools All-State team, while head coach Kent Rilatos was named co-coach of the year with East Anchorage’s Jeff Trotter.

The post-season honors were a culmination of a roller coaster season that saw the Warriors drop their first two games of the season, then rip of six straight wins, sparked by the program’s first ever win over a powerful Juneau-Douglas team. The Warriors would lose to West Anchorage in the first round of the playoffs.

When the Alaska Football Coaches Association met this past weekend to vote — all-state selections are chosen by coaches of the Railbelt and Cook Inlet conferences — they picked a trio of Warriors for the first team. Devon Teeling, who led the state in rushing, was first-team at running back, offensive lineman Ryan Pomerenke and Brayden Kuiper were also named to the top squad. Kuiper, a standout tight end and defensive end, was chosen for both positions.

Reacting to the choices, Rilatos was quick to credit the school and team for his honor.

“It’s a reflection of what our administration, our booster club, our school, our team,” he said about being named coach of the year. “It’s not anything great I did, it’s a culmination of everything they all did.”

What they did was make Wasilla a force to take seriously in large-school football.

“When we started 0-2 and a lot of the community members, you could tell they thought it was going to be the same old Wasilla,” Rilatos said. “But once we had the new system in place and once they had belief in it and they trusted me and the coaching staff, success was bound to happen.”

The lasting impact of Wasilla’s 2011 season may be felt for some years to come, Rilatos said.

“What’s great with this type of thing is the seniors who are leaving us have set the bar high for the next year of seniors,” he said. “When the expectations are high, it’s harder to reach that level — and you need to set expectations high. If your expectations are low, you’ll achieve that.”

While pleased with how Wasilla was recognized by the coaches, Rilatos said he was disappointed by another choice — wide receiver Tyler Anderson as a second-team player. After leading the state in scoring, Rilatos said Anderson deserved to be first-team.

“He led the state in scoring and it’s hard to challenge those numbers,” he said. “It’s hard to believe a young man like that doesn’t get in leading the state in scoring. I would turn in any award I had to get him on that list.”

While Anderson may have been snubbed, Teeling’s efforts running the ball were hard to ignore, Rilatos said. Making the first team is a reflection of the hard work Teeling put in.

“He had the season he worked for,” the coach said. “He worked in the weight room, he worked on being faster, he did all the things you need to do to have the season that he did.”

In the case of Anderson, he may have been a victim of the numbers when it comes to all-state voting, said Colony head coach Brian McIntosh. Each coach has a vote, and with the Cook Inlet Conference having eight schools to the Railbelt’s seven, that conference already has a one-vote advantage. This year, a Railbelt coach didn’t make the meeting, which gave the CIC a two-vote advantage.

“I was kind of surprised about that, too,” McIntosh said about Anderson not making the first team. “I voted for Tyler. To destroy Juneau like that, he got my vote right there.”

Although McIntosh’s Knights went through a rebuilding year, where they returned only one varsity starter, a pair of Colony players made the all-state team. Offensive tackle Andrew McAlister was named to the second team, as was linebacker Ty Farber.

“Nothing against the Cook Inlet, it’s just hard because we have one less team, which gives us one less vote, then we have one of our conference teams that doesn’t show,” he said.

Across town at Palmer High School, head coach Rod Christiansen said he was proud of a talented squad that was well represented on the all-state team.

Defensively lineman Jameson Corbin, defensive back Steven Lee and offensive tackle Ben Self were all voted first-time all-state, Christiansen said.

For Self, it is his second straight year on the first team. Senior quarterback Jackson Buresh was named to the second team, as were teammates Ian Ahrens (running back) and punter Jared Straight.

“We had a good senior class,” the coach said. “Overall, it was somewhat of a frustrating year, but a solid year. We were competitive.”

Pair of Hawks are all-state

For several reasons, 2011 was a good one for the Houston Hawks. The team played its first night game under the lights and finished a respectable 3-4. After a couple years of not having an all-state player, the Hawks have two this year.

“It’s a huge deal, it’s a big deal for us,” said head coach Norm Bouchard of Houston’s first-team selections fullback Tyler Barron and kicker Jake Wells. “Jake Wels is a first-year football player, so that shows his athletic ability. They’re two solid football players and other coaches saw that.

Barron is an aggressive player who had a knack for firing his team up, Bouchard said.

“He brings an intensity level to the offensive side,” he said. “He’s a hard-nosed runner, and if we needed something, he goes out and gets it.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

Alaska Football Coaches Association

Large schools All-state teams and awards

Offensive player of the year — Amu Aukusitino, Service.

Defensive player of the year — Lah Fifita, Juneau.

Linemen of the year — Kody Trombley, Chugiak; Ben Self, Palmer; Garrett Longoria, North Pole.

Utility players of the year — Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River; Larenzo Graham, West Valley.

Coaches of the year — Jeff Trotter, East; Kent Rilatos, Wasilla.

Assistant coaches of the year — Numi Ilalio, Sevice; Tim Popowski, Palmer.

First team offense

Quarterback — Amu Aukusitino, Service; Conor Feckley, West. Running back — Devon Teeling, Wasilla; Trent Anthony, Bartlett; Nathan Stephens, Dimond. Wide receiver — Jarred Laws, East; Alan Busey, Service; Marcel Dion, West; Lamarr Brown, West. Tight end — Braydon Kuiper, Wasilla. Tackle — Ben Self, Palmer; Kody Trombley, Chugiak; Jeff Overbaugh, Service. Center — Henry Loia, Bartlett; Garrett Longoria, North Pole. Guard — Ryan Pomrenke, Wasilla; Jaremie Augafa, South; Justin Moore, South.

First team defense

Defensive end — Braydon Kuiper, Wasilla; Jackson Curry, West Valley. Defensive line — Velepoto Enele, Juneau; Jameson Corbin, Palmer; Falema'o Tosi, East; Siaki Ameperosa, East. Inside linebacker — Lah Fifita, Juneau; Nathan Stephens, Dimond; Dalton Sauder, South. Outside linebacker — Tommy Hopp, South; Lincoln Tulimasealii; Brody DeLoria, East. Defensive back — Michael Wilson, South; Steven Lee, Palmer; Tyler Rowles, East; Matthew Ilalio, Service. Kicker — Tom Troxel, West. Long snapper — Jeff Overbaugh, Service. Punter — Griffin Toomey, South. Return specialist — Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River.

Second 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 — Jerick Ibias, Juneau; Larenzo Graham, West Valley; Ian Ahrens, Palmer. Wide Receiver — Tyler Anderson, Wasilla; Sean Niumataevalu, Juneau; MonTae Tate, Lathrop; Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River. Tight end — Louis Page, South. Tackle — Andrew McAllister, Colony; Jacob Crews, West. Center — Warren Eckland, Juneau; Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley. Guard — Caleb Green, Bartlett; Justin Wilson, Service; Garrett Longoria, North Pole.

Second team defense

Defensive end — Aaron Betts, North Pole. Defensive line — Dakota Hermans, Wasilla; Garrett Longoria, North Pole; Logan Dille, Lathrop; Erich Pili, Service. Inside linebacker — Jesse Isberg, West Valley; Stephen Ellis, Service. Outside linebacker — Alex Matheson, Juneau; Kendell Scott, Dimond; Hiapo McCandless, Service; Ty Farber, Colony; Wayde Snell, Chugiak; Damon Griffith, Dimond; Luke Schnellbaecher, East. Defensive backs — Dante Williams, South; Jerrico Turner, West Valley; Cole Miller, Wasilla. Kicker — Kyler Perry, Wasilla. Long snapper — Ray Garris-Shoemaker, West Valley. Punter — Jared Straight, Palmer. Return specialist — Demetrius Campos, Juneau.

Small and Medium Schools All-State Team

Offensive player of the year — AJ Hull, Kenai.

Defensive player of the year — Auston Tennis, Soldotna.

Lineman of the year — Drew Raymond, Homer.

Coach of the year — Cam Wyatt, Homer.

Assistant coach of the year — Jim Dawson, Kenai.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Return specialist — AJ Hull, Kenai; long snapper — Tyler Marcuson, Soldotna; kicker — Jake Wells, Houston; center — Cody Clendenen, Skyview; guard — Daniel Carlson, Kenai, Drew Raymond, Homer; tackle — Tyler Marcuson, Soldotna, Alex Nason, Kenai; wide receiver — Albert White, Skyview, Ben Jahn, Thunder Mountain; tight end — Scott DeLauder, Eielson; fullback — Tyler Barron, Houston; quarterback — AJ Hull, Kenai; running back — Dyllan Day, Homer, Auston Tennis, Soldotna.

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

Return specialist — Scooter Bynum, Monroe; long snapper — Lincoln Johnson, Nikiski; kicker — Eddie Benson, Barrow; center — Allen Oskolkoff, Nikiski; guard — Nathaniel Samuelu, Barrow, Henry Eide, Nikiski; tackle — Lincoln Johnson, Nikiski, LeDarius Milton, Monroe; wide receiver — Colton Young, Soldotna; Scooter Bynum, Monroe; tight end — Garrett Bosick, Soldotna; fullback — Josh Brown, Nikiski; quarterback — Camden Thomas, Thunder Mountain, Caleb McLaren, Delta; running back — Luke Purschwitz, Ketchikan; John Jolly, Thunder Mountain.

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

Center — Darius Samuelu, Barrow, Josh Tupou, Thunder Mountain; guard — Matt Crooks, Eielson, Taylor McLaren, Ketchikan; tackle — Emanuel Samuel, Barrow; wide receiver — Joe Ia, Thunder Mountain, Charlie Tappen, Delta; tight end — Nels Svenson, Sitka; quarterback — Colton Anderson, Nikiski; running back — Kaden Spurgeon, Nikiski, James Holmes, Monroe.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Utility player — Desmond Smith, Seward; punter — Caleb McLaren, Delta; outside linebacker — Scott DeLauder, Eielson, Garrett Bosick, Soldotna; interior lineman — Tyler Marcuson, Soldotna, Drew Raymond, Homer, Alex Rodriguez, Skyview, Alex Nason, Kenai; inside linebacker — Zane Miller, Soldotna, Kyle Dougherty, Kenai; defensive back — AJ Hull, Kenai, Robin Glosser, Homer, Auston Tennis, Soldotna.

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

Utility player — Cody Williams, Skyview; punter — AJ Hull, Kenai; outside linebacker — Stephen Hartley, Nikiski, Albert White, Skyview; interior lineman — Shawn Smith, Eielson, Ledarius Milton, Monroe, Lincoln Johnson, Nikiski, Villi Tupou, Thunder Mountain; inside linebacker — Kaden Spurgeon, Nikiski, Nathaniel Samuelu, Barrow; defensive back — Scooter Bynum, Monroe, Colin Long, Barrow, Eric Reyna, Thunder Mountain.

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

Utility player — Shiloh Mackey, Ketchikan; outside linebacker — Luke Purschwitz, Ketchikan; interior lineman — Seth Feldpausch, Sitka, Lisita Tuai, Barrow; inside linebacker — Jorge Vasquez, Thunder Mountain, Matt Tallman, Eielson; defensive back — Charlie Tappen, Delta, Jovante Kincade, Eielson, Mitchell Boord, Sitka.