Wasilla head coach honored; 7 Valley players named all-state

WASILLA — After spending about a week in the Lower 48, Wasilla head coach Kent Rilatos was ready to head back to Alaska Sunday.

Rilatos had a seat on an early-morning flight scheduled to leave Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a flight that was supposed to place him in Anchorage in time for Sunday’s Alaska Football Coaches Association annual all-state selection meeting.

But as coaches through the 49th state gathered in Anchorage Sunday, Rilatos was stuck in the Seattle-area airport. Hours later, Rilatos received a flood of text messages.

He had been named the 2014 Alaska Coach of the Year.

“I was planning on getting to Anchorage, but there was a mechanical issue,” Rilatos said Monday afternoon. “I got on the plane at 5:30 a.m. There was a 45-minute way on the tarmac. They drove us back (to the airport) and said we’re not flying.”

Back at the airport, Rilatos said he was frantically trying to contact people in Alaska to let them know he’s stuck in Seattle. Frustrated, Rilatos finally was able to board a plane that landed in Anchorage shortly after the noon hour.

When he turned on his cellphone after the plane landed, the texts started to come in.

“All the sudden seven came in, then a whole bunch more,” Rilatos said. “For as stressed as I was about not making the meeting, there was some solace.”

It marked the second time Rilatos earned the state honor as head coach of the Warriors. He was also named coach of the year in 2011. In 2014, Rilatos, also the Railbelt Conference Coach of the Year, led the Warriors to a 6-3 overall record and a spot in the large-schools playoffs.

Wasilla senior Dahtlon Wasinkari and sophomore Mosiah Renk were among seven Valley players named first-team all-state. Wasinkari, an offensive tackle, helped pave the way for a Wasilla offense that finished with more than 2,200 yards rushing and 2,800 yards of total offense.

Renk became one of the most electrifying players in the state, as a sophomore. Renk finished with 603 yards rushing and 317 yards receiving. He was also among state leaders with 18 total touchdowns.

“That doesn’t happen often,” Rilatos said of a sophomore being named first-team all-state. “There are now two streets he can go down. He can take the hard road and work to get better all year, which I think is where he’s at. Or he can take the easy road and do just average. But that’s not what his family’s about. That’s not what he’s about.”

Rilatos did say he was very disappointed that senior Devin Otto was not a first-team selection. Otto finished fourth in the state with 1,095 yards rushing and second with 16 rushing touchdowns.

Palmer landed three players on the all-state list, including two who were named at multiple positions. Senior Ben Button, the Railbelt Conference Lineman of the Year, was named first-team at both offensive guard and defensive tackle.

“We felt like he had a great year on both sides of the ball,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of Button recently. “He’s an outstanding athlete. Blocking on the offensive side, he’s real quick. On defense, he’s quick and tough. He has a strong lower body, and a real good motor. He keeps going and going and going.”

Button and South standout Justice Augufa were the only players named first-team offense and defense.

Senior Adam Christiansen was named first-team at both linebacker and long snapper. He caps his career with three all-state nods. He was all-state at center as a junior.

Junior Chase Ferris was named first-team at running back. Despite missing the final six quarters of the season due to injury, Ferris led the state with 1,311 yards. Ferris was also among leaders with 16 total touchdowns. He averaged 7.7 yards per carry.

Colony placed a pair of players on the all-state list. Senior Logan Conway earned recognition at linebacker. Junior Steven Bilafer was named first-team punter.

2014 Alaska Coaches Association All-State Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Justice Augafa, South.

Defensive Player of the Year: Archie Lemana, Bartlett.

Lineman of the Year: Tarini Tosi, East.

Coach of the Year: Kent Rilatos, Wasilla.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Richard Tuck, Lathrop.

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Glenn Maiden, Lathrop; Zyrelle Jones, Service; Ben Stewart, Chugiak; Running back — Ethan Falaniko, Bartlett; Justice Augafa, South; Mosiah Renk, Wasilla; Chase Ferris, Palmer; Travis Phillips, Lathrop; Center — Matt Keogh, South; Guard — Ben Button, Palmer; Trea Samifua, West; Tackle — Tarini Toni, East; Hekill Fomai, Service; Dahlton Wasinkari, West; Tight end — Alain Devoe, South; Wide receiver — Derryck Snell, Chugiak; Trevon Allen, Service; Prince Cooks, West Valley.

First-team defense:

Defensive tackle — Isaiah Pili, Dimond; Ben Button, Palmer; Daniel Jeong, Lathrop; Defensive end — Jordan Moore, South; Archie Lemana, Bartlett; PJ Seui, West; Inside linebacker — Jay Tito, Bartlett; Chris Lega, Bartlett; JJ Tanuvasa, Dimond; Dave Tullimu, West; Marcus Brown, Lathrop; Outside linebacker — Sam Cook, South; Adam Christiansen, Palmer; Logan Conway, Colony; Defensive back — Delonta Love, Bartlett; Justice Augafa, South; Alani Collins, East; Nathan Barnett, Lathrop; Jordan Murchinson, West.

First-team special teams:

Long snapper — Adam Christiansen, Palmer; Punter — Steven Bilafer, Colony; Returner — Justice Augafa, South; Kicker — Oskar Segium, South.