Cream of Region 2's crop

Just how good was Region 2 football this past season?

This good: Both finalists and three of the four semifinalists in the 5A playoffs were from the league, arguably the best all-around athlete in the entire state played here and the state champions only took fourth place in region play and got shut out of the year-end individual awards.

Though his team fell to Skyline in the 5A title tilt, Brighton prep superstar Mike Hague capped a brilliant high school season by being named the Region 2 Player of the Year by region coaches. It's no wonder why: The BYU-bound stud rushed for 2,003 yards, averaged nine yards a carry and scored 33 touchdowns while carrying the Bengals to the finals.

The good news for region coaches is that Hague was a senior. The bad news: Sean Taylor was only a junior. The sensational quarterback earned Offensive Player of the Year recognition for helping turn Jordan's season around. The Beetdiggers earned a share of the region championship along with Alta and Brighton as he passed for 2,285 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for another 205 yards and six scores.

Troy Bunting, a hard-hitting senior from Alta, was named Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Hawks to the semifinals from his linebacker position. Brighton senior Coleman Peterson was honored as Kicking Specialist, while Jace Allen, a Hillcrest senior, was named Return Specialist.

Here's the rest of the All-Region 2 first team:

Jordan: Cody Larsen, DE/OL, sr.; Houston Cassita, RB, sr.; Mark Johnson, WR/DB, soph.; Kenneth Damron, WR/DB, jr.; Jordan Lundstrom, LB/OL, sr.; Scotty Ebert, WR/DB, jr.; Cody Raymond, WR/DB, soph.

Alta: Braden Hansen, OL, sr.; Jordan Herkimer, DL, sr.; Blake Tillotson, DB, sr.; Austyn Whittenburg, RB, sr.; Boston Walbeck, RB, sr.; Tyson Andrizzi, LB, sr.; Jordan Wells, DB, sr.

Brighton: Jesse Taylor, LB, sr.; Jake Owsley, OL, sr.; Matt Marietta, QB, sr.; Matt Snow, LB, sr.; Colby Barber, LB, sr.; Junior Salt, OL, sr.; Mike Hicken, WR, sr.

Skyline: Matt Marshall, QB, sr.; Leka Moeaki, DL, sr.; Sam Walton, OL, sr.; Brian Vaaulu, OL/DL, sr.; Toa Taeoali'i, RB, sr.

Hillcrest: Adam Eastmen, QB, sr.; Ray DeWolfe, LB, sr.; Dex Olsen, DB, sr.; Jake Buddell, LB, sr.

Taylorsville: Aisea Maafu, RB, sr.; Matt Anderson, QB, jr.; Kuika Taufa, OL, sr.

All-Region 2 second-teamers include: