ST. GEORGE – Two quarterbacks, both adept at passing and running the football, were named as Region 9 co-MVP’s by the league’s coaches.

Blake Barney, fresh off of leading Dixie High to the state 3A championship, and Ty Rutledge, who helped the Desert Hills Thunder to a co-region title and a trip to the state semifinals, were awarded the honor by a panel of the region’s coaches.

Region 9 has had a team in the state football championship game nine straight years and for the past two seasons, 3A’s champ has hailed from southern Utah. That high level of play has produced some outstanding talent at the collegiate level and the following list of Region 9 stars will likely produce similar results.

Barney was outstanding all season, throwing for 2,805 yards and 27 touchdowns while allowing just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,321 and 19 TDs and led Dixie to a 49-21 victory in the state championship game against Spanish Fork.

Rutledge also topped 2,000 yards passing (2,062) and rushed for 1,159 yards as well. Desert Hills went 5-1 in region and made it all the way to the state semifinals before falling to Spanish Fork 35-28.

Adam Thompson was also honored as special teams MVP, drawing the accolades for his outstanding specialist work. Thompson returned several kicks for touchdowns this season and scored 27 career touchdowns for the Tigers, who finished 5-1 in region.

Dixie coach Blaine Monkres, who just completed his 23^rd year as a head coach, led Dixie to its seventh football state championship. Monkres, who also led Morgan to a state title in the 1990s, is 168-88 as a head coach.

The first team is littered with tremendous talent, including a pair of ferocious defensive linemen in Desert Hills’ Josh Anderson and Dixie’s Jesse Lambert. Touchdown machine Jared Edwards, from Hurricane, is also on the first team. Edwards had 1,336 combined rushing and receiving yards this year and scored 23 touchdowns in 11 games.

The first team lists includes seven players from top seed Desert Hills, six from No. 2 seed hurricane, five from third-place Dixie, four from Pine View, three from Snow Canyon, two from Cedar and one from Canyon View.

2012 All-Region 9
CO-MVPs
Blake Barney and Ty Rutledge

SPECIALIST MVP
Adam Thompson

COACH OF THE YEAR
Blaine Monkres

ALL-REGION FIRST TEAM

DESERT HILLS
Josh Anderson
Jordan Hokanson
Brock Doman
Bridger Cowdin
Sil Bundy
Travis Lagrone

HURRICANE
Jared Edwards
Andy Perkins
Patrick Sanders
Sean Hafen
Thurman Joe
Ethan Stratton

DIXIE
Jesse Lambert
Drew Batchelor
David Teaupa
Taylor Berry
Tyson Graff

PINE VIEW
Prentiss Miller
Wes Moeai
Logan Stott
Wesley Kauvaka

SNOW CANYON
Mitch Phillips
Jake Lindsey
Trevor Horlacher

CEDAR
Mike Hourigan
Cameron Williamson

CANYON VIEW
Koy Huxford

ALL-REGION SECOND TEAM

DESERT HILLS
Brad Wulfenstein
Gabriel Sewell
Keenan Wittwer
Lausii Sewell
Brock Johnson
Dallin Bristol

HURRICANE
Zach Prince
Koy Gubler
Bennett Heyrend
Kellen Seely
Cody Engstrom
Sino Sefita

DIXIE
Gavin Graff
Lukas Hildebrandt
Dakota Bair
Chris Whetton
Chris Abraham

PINE VIEW
Cody Boyer
Austin Gibbs
Brandon Mauai
Anthony Robertson

SNOW CANYON
Taylor Johansen
Jace Graft
Austin Best

CEDAR
Ryan Armstrong
Kaylor Smith

CANYON VIEW
Dallin Dastrup
Carson Connelly

ALL-REGION HONORABLE MENTION

DESERT HILLS
Landon Broadhead
Andrew Yergensen
Chipper Whatcott
Brian Highland
Justice Alo
Tucker Cowdin

HURRICANE
Jacob Nielson
Cody Lebaron
Austin Swyers
Adlai Elison

DIXIE
Braxton Ipson
Tanner Webster
Colten Hunter
Jaxon Davis
Andy Appel
Taylor Strehlow

PINE VIEW
Tyker Olds
Brock Bracken
Thor Katoa
Cameron Hughes
Jaden Ahquin
Justin Gunter

SNOW CANYON
Kallan Webster
Mason Smith
Kade Bunting
Brandon Macfarland
Connor Parry

CEDAR
Easton Weaver
Kolton Harris
Tyson Hinton

CANYON VIEW
McKoy Johnson
Brooks Rigtrup
Brycen Bybee
Tyson Garfield
Jesse Johnson
Dallen Echohawk

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Copyright 2012 St. George News.