The All-Northern Lights Conference team was announced Saturday.
Kenai Central, which finished second in the league, took three of the five major awards, while Soldotna, which won the league, had two of the five major awards.
For the Stars, Trevor Walden was Defensive Player of the Year, while Eric Pomerleau was Assistant Coach of the Year. For the Kardinals, Andrew Welborn was Offensive Player of the Year, while Zach Koziczkowski was Lineman of the Year and John Marquez was Coach of the Year.
Soldotna got first-team offensive performances from running back Kristian Palaniuk, fullback Mason Prior, tight end Walden, tackle Kyle Marcuson, guard Austin Crowder and center Dalton Best. The Stars received first-team defensive performances from linemen Marcuson, Walden and Sage Hill, inside linebackers Palaniuk and Wendell Tuisaula, outside linebacker Crowder and defensive back Dylan Simons.
First-team offensive performances from Kenai came from Welborn at running back and Koziczkowski at guard. First-team defenders for Kenai are Koziczkowski at defensive line, Welborn at inside linebacker and Chase Gillies at defensive back.
The area squads also filled up the first team on special teams. For Soldotna, Adrian Gomez was long snapper, Johnny Smithwick was kicker and Jesse Littrell was return specialist. For Kenai, Zack Tuttle was utility player.
All-Northern Lights Conference
Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Welborn, Kenai
Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Walden, Soldotna
Lineman of the Year: Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai
Coach of the Year: John Marquez, Kenai
Assistant Coach of the Year: Eric Pomerleau, Soldotna
First-team offense
Quarterback — Andreas Carros, Kodiak; Running back — Chase Ferris, Palmer; Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna; Fullback — Mason Prior, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Nick Daniels, Palmer; Tyler Wietfeld, Kodiak; Tight end — Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Tackle — Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna; Kordell Pillans, Kodiak; Guard — Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Austin Crowder, Soldotna; Center — Dalton Best, Soldotna.
First-team defense
Defensive line — Zach Koziczkowski, Kenai; Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna; Trevor Walden, Soldotna; Sage Hill, Soldotna; Kordell Pillans, Kodiak; Inside linebacker — Kristian Palaniuk, Soldotna; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna; Andrew Welborn, Kenai; Outside linebacker — Nick Daniels, Palmer; Austin Crowder, Soldotna; Defensive back — Vanu Mose, Palmer; Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Chase Gillies, Kenai; Dylan Simons, Soldotna.
First-team special teams
Long snapper — Adrian Gomez, Soldotna; Kicker — Johnny Smithwick, Soldotna; Return specialist — Jesse Littrell, Soldotna; Punter — Giovani Martinez, Kodiak; Utility player — Zack Tuttle, Kenai.
Second-team offense
Quarterback — Clayton Southwick, Palmer; Running back — Jay Miranda, Kodiak; Fullback — Draiden McMinn, Kenai; Wide receiver — Cam Smith, Eagle River; Giovani Martinez, Kodiak; Tight end — Connor Johnson, Kenai; Tackle — Sage Hill, Soldotna; Jonathan Delgado, Kenai; Guard — Bryce Martin, Soldotna; Travis Wheeler, Palmer; Center — Tobias Randall, Kenai.
Second-team defense
Defensive line — Tobias Randell, Kenai; Connor Johnson, Kenai; Dalton Best, Soldotna; Inside linebacker — Jake Yavorsky, Kodiak; Nick Beeson, Kenai; Justin Roth, Palmer; Outside linebacker — Grant Barkhurst, Eagle River; Defensive back — Grant Burningham, Eagle River; Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Wes Walker, Kodiak; Avery Hieber, Kenai.
Second-team special teams
Long snapper — Johnnie Burton, Palmer; Punter — Tommy Flores, Soldotna; Utility player — Jace Urban, Soldotna.
Honorable mention offense
Quarterback — Thad Heagy, Eagle River; Fullback — Justin Roth, Palmer; Tackle — AJ Kollander, Palmer; David Beck, Kenai; Guard — Ryker Carrington, Palmer; Jake Yavorsky, Kodiak; Center — Kris Don, Palmer; Dayton Denter, Eagle River; Hunter Bigley, Kodiak.
Honorable mention defense
Defensive line — Jack Mosely, Eagle River; Hunter Bigley, Kodiak; Austin Farris, Palmer; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Travis Wheeler, Palmer; Inside linebacker — Wayne Hershman, Palmer; Hunter George, Eagle River.
Honorable mention special teams.
Utility player — Trey Witz, Palmer; Mike Thompson, Eagle River.
