Following a five-touchdown performance in the medium-schools state championship game against Palmer, Soldotna junior fullback Brenner Furlong was announced as the Northern Lights Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Furlong led the way in 2016 with 1,116 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and also had 104 receiving yards on five catches with two touchdowns.
Also for Soldotna, junior linebacker Wendell Tuisaula received NLC Defensive Player of the Year, senior Kyle Marcuson grabbed Lineman of the Year, and head coach Galen Brantley Jr. took co-honors in Coach of the Year, sharing the award with Palmer coach Rod Christiansen.
Among the NLC All-Conference first team offense members from the Kenai Peninsula were Soldotna junior quarterback Brandon Crowder, SoHi senior halfback Austin Schrader, Kenai Central junior receiver Zack Tuttle, SoHi senior tight end Andy West, Kenai senior tackle Jon Delgado, SoHi senior tackle Kyle Marcuson, SoHi senior tackle Aseli Finau, SoHi senior guard Bryce Martin, SoHi senior long snapper Alex Goodermote, Kenai junior kicker Zack Tuttle and SoHi senior return specialist Chase Gillies.
For the NLC All-Conference first team defense, peninsula players included Andy West at outside linebacker, Kenai senior Nick Beeson at inside linebacker, SoHi junior Wendell Tuisaula at inside linebacker, Kenai junior Rykker Riddall at defensive back, SoHi senior Jace Urban at defensive back, Jon Delgado at interior lineman, SoHi senior Aseli Finau at interior lineman, Marcuson at interior lineman, and Kenai senior Avery Heiber at utility player.
2016 Northern Lights Conference football postseason awards
Offensive Player of Year — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna
Defensive Player of Year — Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna
Lineman of Year — Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna
Coach of Year — Rod Christiansen, Palmer; Galen Brantley Jr., Soldotna
Assistant Coach of Year — Tim Popowski, Palmer
All-Conference
1st Team offense — Brandon Crowder, Soldotna, QB; Austin Schrader, Soldotna, HB; Nick DeBach, Palmer, HB; Brenner Furlong, Soldotna, FB; Zack Tuttle, Kenai, WR; Trey Witz, Palmer, WR; Andy West, Soldotna, TE; Jon Delgado, Kenai, OT; Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna, OT; Aseli Finau, Soldotna, OT; Bryce Martin, Soldotna, OG; Travis Wheeler, Palmer, OG; Dayton Denter, Eagle River, C; Alex Goodermote, Soldotna, LS; Zack Tuttle, Kenai, K; Chase Gillies, Kenai, RS.
1st Team defense — Andy West, Soldotna, OLB; Aaron Christiansen, Palmer, OLB; Nick Beeson, Kenai, ILB; Wendell Tuisaula, Soldotna, ILB; Rykker Riddall, Kenai, DB; Shaun Walton, Kodiak, DB; Jace Urban, Soldotna, DB; Jared Oviok, Palmer, DB; Jon Delgado, Kenai, DL; Aseli Finau, Soldotna, DL; Kyle Marcuson, Soldotna, DL; Austin Farris, Palmer, DL; Jordan Bueza, Eagle River, DL; Shaun Walton, Palmer, P; Avery Heiber, Kenai, UP.
2nd Team offense — Andreas Carros, Kodiak, QB; Rykker Riddall, Kenai, HB; Jace Urban, Soldotna, HB; Nick Beeson, Kenai, FB; Shaun Walton, Kodiak, WR; Cam Smith, Eagle River, WR; Aaron Christiansen, Palmer, TE; Braxton Bolen, Kodiak, OT; Seth Kruse, Kenai, OG; Lucas Santana, Palmer, OG; Liam Kirven, Kodiak, C; Hunter Bleakney, Palmer, C; Blake Jones, Soldotna, K.
2nd Team defense — Brenner Furlong, Soldotna, OLB; Grant Barkhurst, Eagle River, OLB; Derrick Rastopsoff, ILB, Kodiak; Nick DeBach, Palmer, ILB; Hunter George, Eagle River, ILB; Zack Tuttle, Kenai, DB; Wesley Walker, Kodiak, DB; Levi Hensley, Soldotna, DB; Trey Witz, Palmer, DB; Braxton Bolen, Kodiak, DL; Jeremiah Lefao, Soldotna, DL; Travis Wheeler, Palmer, DL; Dayton Denter, Eagle River, DL; Thad Heagy, Eagle River, P; Isaiah Galindez, Kodiak, UP.
Defense Honorable Mentions — Chase Gillies, Kenai, QB; Clayton Southwick, Palmer, QB; Thad Heagy, Eagle River, QB; Jordan Porter, Eagle River, HB; Hunter George, Eagle River, FB; Matt Daniels, Palmer, WR; Jack Moseley, Eagle River, TE; Jordan Baeza, Eagle River, OT; Larry Cutsforth, Palmer, K.
Offense Honorable Mentions — Grant Barkhurst, Eagle River, OLB; Chase Gillies, Kenai, DB; Jeff Glynn, Palmer, DB; Larry Cutsforth, Palmer, DB; Rykker Riddall, Kenai, P; Luke Trammell, Soldotna, UP; Jason Watkins, Palmer, UP.
