When the West High football team needed a touchdown last season, the state champions usually turned to Leroy Elliott.
He rarely disappointed, and that's a big reason why Elliott was named Alaska's Gatorade Football Player of the Year last week.
An all-around star who made Alaska's all-state team as a wide receiver and defensive back, Elliott was equally effective out of the backfield. He ran for seven touchdowns out of West's wildcat formation to go with 10 receiving touchdowns in 11 games, helping West to a 9-2 record and the state championship.
His biggest touchdown was the last one in West's 28-16 victory over Service in the large-school state title game. It was a classic Elliott run that included numerous broken tackles and a circuitous 37-yard route that ended with a dive for the left pylon.
Elliott, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior, averaged 18.1 yards per touch and scored every 3.6 times he possessed the ball. His 1,121 yards from scrimmage included a Cook Inlet Conference leading 843 receiving yards on 44 catches and 278 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network
All-state football team
Offense -- C.J. Toomer, quarterback, Service; Tyrone Davis, quarterback, West; Colton Young, quarterback, Soldotna; Lui Faamasino, running back, West; James Nisbett, running back, Palmer; Gabe Mingledorf, running back, Chugiak; Chris Samanirio, running back, Lathrop; Demetrius Campos, running back, Juneau; Kenny Pegues, lineman, Chugiak; Tevita Fehoko, lineman, West; Chris Feero, lineman, West; Rhys Sands, lineman, Service; Brodie Jones, lineman, Dimond; Colin Thompson, lineman, Palmer; Alain Devoe, tight end, South. Leroy Elliott, wide receiver, West; Marques Buster, wide receiver, Dimond; Daniel Bilifor, wide receiver, Colony; Armend Alijui, wide receiver, Service;
Defense -- Kekelii Fomai, line, Service; P.J. Seui, line, West; John Widmar, line, South; Tevita Fehoko, line, West; Isaiah Dawkins, line, Wasilla; Kenny Pegues, line, Chugiak; Levi Hansen, linebacker, Service; Dave Tuliman, linebacker, West; Cody Wells, linebacker, Palmer; Sam Cook, linebacker, South; Marques Rayford, defensive back, West; Alec Valdez, defensive back, South; Cash McGregor, defensive back, Wasilla; Nyeem Johnson, defensive back, Service; Jordan Murcheson, defensive back, West; Leroy Elliott, defensive back, West.
Anchorage Daily News