Juneau prep football’s special teams received high marks this season from around the state.
Three out of the five first-team all-state specialists named to the 2017 Alaska Football Coaches Association Division II team came out of Juneau.
In addition, 11 Falcons made the All-Southeast Conference first team.
The coaching body named Puna Touteiolepo as one of the four best interior linemen in Division II football and Derek Boord as the best center. Touteiolepo was also the Southeast Conference defensive player.
“He just played lights out all year this year,” Thunder Mountain High School head coach Randy Quinto said of Touteiolepo.
The first-team all-state specialists included TMHS’ Ivan Williams (long snapper), Jacob Babcock (kicker), Juneau-Douglas High School’s Liam Van Sickle (return specialist), Kodiak’s Shaun Walton (punter) and Soldotna’s Cody Quelland (utility player).
Williams, as an interior lineman, and Van Sickle, as a running back, also popped up on the second-team all-state roster. Williams was accompanied by seven other teammates: Roy Tupou (running back), Bobby Cox (tight end), Alex Eldemar (guard), Steven Rosales (outside linebacker), Alofa Sua (inside linebacker), Hansel Hinckle and Jacob Tapia (defensive back).
Besides Van Sickle, Kasey Watts (tight end), John Elisoff (tackle), John Hamrick (defensive back), Elliot Gifford (punter) and Cody Galletes (utility player) made second team for the Crimson Bears.
JDHS coach Kevin Hamrick was happy to see Van Sickle, one of his hardest workers and dedicated players, be recognized.
“He was just constantly working to improve himself and inviting other kids to come along with him,” Hamrick said.
Soldotna and Palmer, the state champion and state runner-up respectively, monopolized the player and coach of the year honors in Division II ranks.
Soldotna’s Brenner Furlong and Wendell Tuisaula were honored with offensive and defensive player of the year, respectively.
Rod Christiansen, newly-enshrined as the all-time winningest coach in Alaska prep football history, won coach of the year.
Quinto and TMHS assistant coach Derek Lofstrom were awarded Southeast Conference head and assistant coaches of the year.
2017 Southeast Conference All-State First-Team
Offensive player of the year: Jaime Johnson, North Pole
Defensive player of the year: Puna Touteiolepo, Thunder Mountain
Lineman of the year: Jacob Breazeale, North Pole
Utility Player of the year: Cody Galletes, Juneau-Douglas
Coach of the year: Randy Quinto, Thunder Mountain
Assistant coach of the year: Derek Lofstrom, Thunder Mountain
First-team offense
Quarterback: Craig Borba, North Pole
Running back: Roy Tupou, Thunder Mountain; Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas
Fullback: CJ Fontana, North Pole
Wide receiver: Jaime Johnson, North Pole; Kody Malouf, Ketchikan
Tight end: Bobby Cox, Thunder Mountain; Kasey Watts, Juneau-Douglas
Tackle: John Elisoff, Juneau-Douglas; Jacob Breazeale, North Pole
Guard: Jacob Blanchard, North Pole; Zach Harrison, North Pole
Center: Alex Eldemar, Thunder Mountain
First-team defense
Outside linebacker: Kirven Easton, North Pole; Steven Rosales, Thunder Mountain
Inside linebacker: Alofa Sua, Thunder Mountain; CJ Fontana, North Pole
Defensive back: Jacob Tapia, Thunder Mountain; Jaime Johnson, North Pole; John Hamrick, Juneau-Douglas; Hansel Hinckle, Thunder Mountain
Interior lineman: Stevie Byron, Ketchikan Interior; Ben Butkewicz, North Pole; Puna Touteiolepo, Thunder Mountain; Ivan Williams, Thunder Mountain
First-team specialist
Punter: Elliot Gifford, Juneau-Douglas
Return specialist: Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas
Long snapper: Ivan Williams, Thunder Mountain
Kicker: Jacob Babcock, Thunder Mountain
2017 Alaska Football Coaches Association Division II All-State Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Brenner Furlong, Soldotna
Defensive Player of the Year: Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna
Lineman of the Year: Lucas Santana, Palmer
Coach of the Year: Rod Christiansen, Palmer
Assistant Coach of the Year: Eric Pomerleau, Soldotna
First-team offense
Quarterback: Brandon Crowder, Soldotna
Running Back: Larry Cutsforth, Palmer; Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna
Full Back: Brenner Furlong, Soldotna
Receiver: Jamie Johnson, North Pole; Zach Tuttle, Kenai
Tight End: Galen Brantley III, Soldotna
Tackle: Jacob Breazeale, North Pole; Jake Marcuson, Soldotna
Guard: Lucas Santana, Palmer; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna
Center: Derek Boord, Thunder Mountain
First-team defense
Outside Linebacker: Brenner Furlong, Soldotna; Ryker Riddall, Kenai
Inside Linebacker: CJ Fontana, North Pole; Seth Kruse, Kenai; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna
Defensive Back: Jeff Glynn, Palmer; Jamie Johnson, North Pole; Jersey Truesdell, Soldotna; Zach Tuttle, Kenai
Interior Lineman: Levi Benner, Soldotna; Aaron Faletoi, Soldotna; Lucas Santana, Palmer; Puna Touteiolepo, Thunder Mountain
First-team specialists
Punter: Shaun Walton, Kodiak
Return Specialist: Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas
Long Snapper: Ivan Williams, Thunder Mountain
Kicker: Jacob Babcock, Thunder Mountain
Utility Player: Cody Quelland, Soldotna
Second-team offense
Quarterback: Craig Borba, North Pole
Running Back: Toy Toupou, Thunder Mountain; Liam Van Sickle, Juneau-Douglas
Full Back: CJ Fontana, North Pole
Receiver: Joel Francisco, Kodiak; Kody Malouf, Ketchikan
Tight End: Bobby Cox, Thunder Mountain; Kasey Watts, Juneau-Douglas
Tackle: John Elisoff, Juneau-Douglas; Jacob White, Palmer
Guard: Jacob Blanchard, North Pole; Alex Eldemar, Thunder Mountain; Seth Kruse, Kenai
Center: Josh Smith, Kodiak
Second-team defense
Outside Linebacker: Kirven Easton, North Pole; Steven Rosales, Thunder Mountain
Inside Linebacker: Ben Kruzich, Palmer; Alofa Sua, Thunder Mountain
Defensive Back: Isaiah Galindez, Kodiak; John Hamrick, Juneau-Douglas; Hansel Hinckle, Thunder Mountain; Jacob Tapia, Thunder Mountain
Interior Lineman: Stevie Byron, Ketchikan; John Grossl, Kenai; Josh Smith, Kodiak; Ivan Williams, Juneau Douglas
Second-team specialists
Punter: Elliot Gifford, Juneau Douglas
Return Specialist: Luke Trammell, Soldotna
Long Snapper: Logan Baker, Kenai
Kicker: Jacob Babcock, Thunder Mountain
Utility Player: Cody Galletes, Juneau-Douglas
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Juneau-Douglas’ Liam Van Sickle runs the ball at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field in September. Van Sickle made the 2017 Alaska Football Coaches Association Division II All-State first team as a return specialist. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
