The Soldotna Stars once again filled the Northern Lights All-Conference list of accolades in 2017, picking up three of the top five awards and 13 of 32 first-team awards.
For a second straight year, SoHi senior Brenner Furlong received NLC Offensive Player of the Year and senior Wendell Tuisuala grabbed Defensive Player of the Year honors. Furlong led all peninsula athletes with 1,214 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, while Tuisuala terrorized opponents with a consistent defensive presence.
Soldotna defensive coordinator Eric Pomerleau received Assistant Coach of the Year, while Lineman of the Year went to Palmer’s Lucas Santana and Coach of the Year went to Rod Christiansen of Palmer.
Kenai Central featured seven names on the First-Team list, three on offense and four on defense.
2017 Northern Lights All-Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna.
Defensive Player of the Year — Wendell Tuisuala, Soldotna.
Lineman of the Year — Lucas Santana, Palmer.
Coach of the Year — Rod Christiansen, Palmer.
Assistant Coach of the Year — Eric Pomerleau, Soldotna.
2017 Northern Lights Conference First-Team Offense
Quarterback — Brandon Crowder, Soldotna.
Halfback — Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna; Larry Cutsforth, Palmer.
Fullback — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna.
Receiver — Zack Tuttle, Kenai; Joel Francisco, Kodiak.
Tight End — Galen Brantley III, Soldotna.
Tackle — Jake Marcuson, Soldotna; Jacob White, Palmer.
Guard — Wendell Tuisuala, Soldotna; Seth Kruse, Kenai; Lucas Santana, Palmer.
Center — Josh Smith, Kodiak.
Return specialist — Luke Trammell, Soldotna.
Long snapper — Logan Baker, Kenai.
Kicker — Larry Cutsforth, Palmer.
2017 Northern Lights Conference First-Team Defense
Outside linebacker — Rykker Riddall, Kenai; Brenner Furlong, Soldotna.
Inside linebacker — Tyrone McEnerney, Kenai; Wendell Tuisuala, Soldotna; Ben Kruzich, Palmer.
Defensive back — Jersey Truesdell, Soldotna; Zack Tuttle, Kenai; Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Isaiah Galindez, Kodiak.
Interior lineman — John Grossl, Kenai; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Levi Benner, Soldotna; Josh Smith, Kodiak; Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna.
Punter — Shaun Walton, Kodiak.
Utility player — Cody Quelland, Soldotna.
2017 Northern Lights Conference Second-Team Offense
Quarterback — Luke Guggenmos, Palmer.
Halfback — Kaleb Finley, Kodiak; Rykker Riddall, Kenai.
Fullback — Dustin Corbin, Palmer.
Receiver — Mason Piper, Eagle River; Matt Daniels, Palmer.
Tight End — Bryson Rollman, Eagle River.
Tackle — Micah Stafford, Eagle River; Riley Atwood, Kenai; Micah Bartel, Kodiak.
Guard — Arjay Fangonilo, Kodiak; Ben Hamilton, Eagle River.
Center — Eli Lovelace, Soldotna; Jacob Grant, Kenai.
Return specialist — Patric Dickens, Palmer.
Long snapper — Levi Farris, Palmer; Galen Brantley III, Soldotna.
Kicker — Jovani Peneda, Kodiak.
2017 Northern Lights Conference Second-Team Defense
Outside linebacker — Kaleb Finley, Kodiak; Dustin Corbin, Palmer.
Inside linebacker — Tyrone McEnerney, Kenai; Derrick Rastopsoff, Kodiak; Parker Smith, Palmer.
Defensive back — Brandon Crowder, Soldotna; Ryan Adkins, Eagle River; JT Adams, Eagle River; Titus Riddall, Kenai; Leif Mumma, Palmer; Shaun Walton, Kodiak.
Interior lineman — Jarrett Wilson, Kenai; Travis Tardiff, Palmer; Orazio Ramos, Eagle River.
Punter — Ryan Adkins, Eagle River.
Utility player — Dylan Meyers, Palmer.
2017 Northern Lights Conference Honorable Mention Offense
Quarterback — Connor Felchle, Kenai.
Halfback — Kameron Williams, Eagle River; Jeff Glynn, Palmer.
Fullback — Michael Cayood, Eagle River.
Tackle — Levi Benner, Soldotna.
Kicker — Eli Sheridan, Soldotna; Thad Heagy, Eagle River.
2017 Northern Lights Conference Honorable Mention Defense
Defensive Back — Cy Updike, Soldotna; Mason Piper, Eagle River; Nathan Reeves, Palmer.
Interior Lineman — Jake Marcuson, Soldotna; Micah Bartel, Kodiak; Micah Stafford, Eagle River.
Punter — Skyler Hale, Palmer.
