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Juneau special teams receive all-state nods

Published 7:37 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017

By Nolin Ainsworth

Thunder Mountain’s Puna Touteiolepo sacks Juneau-Douglas’ Max Wheat in a game this September. Touteiolepo was named Division II First-Team All-State by the Alaska Football Coaches Association. Touteiolepo was also named the Southeast Conference defensive player of the year. Teammates Derek Boord, Ivan Williams and Jacob Babcock also made Division II first-team all-state. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Thunder Mountain’s Puna Touteiolepo sacks Juneau-Douglas’ Max Wheat in a game this September. Touteiolepo was named Division II First-Team All-State by the Alaska Football Coaches Association. Touteiolepo was also named the Southeast Conference defensive player of the year. Teammates Derek Boord, Ivan Williams and Jacob Babcock also made Division II first-team all-state. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Puna Touteiolepo sacks Juneau-Douglas’ Max Wheat in a game this September. Touteiolepo was named Division II First-Team All-State by the Alaska Football Coaches Association. Touteiolepo was also named the Southeast Conference defensive player of the year. Teammates Derek Boord, Ivan Williams and Jacob Babcock also made Division II first-team all-state. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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)

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.

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