West's Kauffman is player of the year

In addition to being named all-conference on offense and defense, the senior was named the Cook Inlet Conference's Offensive Player of the Year Wednesday in a vote by CIC coaches.

Kauffman led West to an 8-0 record during the regular season, which included the team's first CIC championship since 2004. He threw for 1,276 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also rushed for 656 yards and nine scores.

West led all teams with eight first-team spots, South and Bartlett each placed seven players on the team, Chugiak had six, Service five, Eagle River three, and Dimond and East two each.

Kauffman's fellow West linebacker David Solomona was also honored by the CIC coaches, joining Bartlett's Junior Tufuga as co-Defensive Player of the Year. Solomona and Tufuga were judged to be the best of an outstanding crop of linebackers this season. Of the 17 players named to the first-team defense, 10 were linebackers.

Tufuga, who also punted and kicked for the Golden Bears, also shared the Utility Player of the Year award with Chugiak defensive back Erik Moore, whose blocked field goal in Week 7 against Service put the Mustangs in the playoffs that open this weekend.

The Eagles cleaned up the post-season awards, with first-year head coach Tim Davis picking up Coach of the Year honors. A former Service assistant, the 26-year old Davis helped turn around a West program that had endured three consecutive losing seasons.

Other major awards went to South center Dylon Short, who anchored a line that produced the CIC's top rushing attack, and Chugiak coach Leon Chatam, who was named the CIC's top assistant.

All Cook Inlet Conference

First Team Offense

Center -- Dylon Short, Sr., South. Guards -- Jacob Wert, Sr., Chugiak; Jared Kinney, Jr., Chugiak; Tyler Denman, Sr., South. Tackles -- Shawn George, Sr., Service; Jacob Eisses, Sr., West; Ben Kozak, Sr., Eagle River; Stephen Bezousek, Sr., South. Wide Receivers -- Michael Sharp, Sr., West; Darius Horton, Sr., Eagle River; Caleb Holley, Sr., East; Lucas Cosgriff, Sr., Service. Quarterbacks -- Jeff Debrill, Sr., East; Justin Kauffman, Sr., West. Halfback -- Cyrus Chenault, Sr., Bartlett. Fullbacks -- Matt Higgins, Sr., South; Jamal Hale, Sr., Bartlett. Running backs -- Greg Ghramm, Jr., Chugiak; Elliott Bauer, Jr., South.

Second Team Offense

Center -- Colby Ganus, Sr., West. Guards -- Jake Hernandez, Sr., West; Tyler Rickard, Sr., Service. Tackle -- Tyler Null, Sr., Bartlett. Tight End -- Spencer McLean, Sr., South. Wide Receiver -- J'Vonte Buster, Jr., West. Quarterbacks -- Chris Wood, Sr., Chugiak; Ahmad Nasir, Sr., Dimond. Running Backs -- Jordan Daniels, Sr., East; Vincent Valencia, Sr., Chugiak; David Sollars, Sr., South; Brandon Metzel, Sr., Eagle River.

First Team Defense

Defensive End -- Lyndon Tulimaselii, Jr., West. Defensive Tackles -- P. J. Tito, Sr., West; Andy Enz, Sr., Service; Troy Masalosalo, Sr., Bartlett. Linebackers -- Trever Romo, Sr., Dimond; Wes Rabung, Sr., Chugiak; Justin Kauffman, Sr., West; David Solomona, Sr., West; Kasen Lehman, Sr., Eagle River; Joe Sokimi, Sr., Service; Junior Tufuga, Sr., Bartlett; Jacob Yates, Sr., Bartlett; Matt Higgins, Sr., South; Siaosi Sila, Jr., West. Defensive Backs -- Jordan Blount-O'Connor, Sr., Bartlett; Erik Moore, Sr., Chugiak; Mark Moeola, Jr., South.

Second Team Defense

Interior Lineman -- Dylon Short, Sr., South. Linebackers -- Matt Presser, Sr., Chugiak; Camden MacDowell, Jr., South; Travis Ahlgren, Sr., Eagle River. Defensive Backs -- Eric Cothran, Sr., Eagle River; Jake Orr, Sr., West; Wilber Everett, Sr., Bartlett; John Daly, Sr., Bartlett.

Special Teams

Kicker -- Bryan Maley, Jr., Chugiak. Punter -- Kyle Dodson, Sr., Dimond. Kick Returner -- Lucas Cosgriff, Sr., Service. Long Snapper -- Matt Culp, Jr., Bartlett.

Offensive Player of the Year -- Justin Kauffman, Sr., QB, West. Defensive Players of the Year -- David Solomona, Sr., LB, West and Junior Tufuga, Sr., LB, Bartlett. Lineman of the Year -- Dylon Short, Sr., C, South. Utility Players of the Year -- Junior Tufuga, Sr., Bartlett and Erik Moore, Sr., Chugiak. Coach of the Year -- Tim Davis, West. Assistant Coach of the Year -- Leon Chatam, Chugiak.