Cameron Young and Jykeon Cunningham of West Point and Michael Mosley of Columbus were named players of the year when the Class 5A Region 1 all-region team was announced Monday.
Young was named the region’s Offensive Player of the Year, Cunningham received Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Mosley was honored as Special Teams Player of the Year.
West Point, which will play for the MHSAA Class 5A title against Picayune at 7 p.m. Saturday in Hattiesburg, stormed through the region undefeated, a fact reflected in the whopping 24 Green Wave players honored. West Point placed eight players each on the all-region first team, second team and honorable mention list.
That doesn’t even include Young or Cunningham. Young finished his senior season with 1,344 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on 165 carries. He compiled six consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including a 21-carry, 212-yard performance with two touchdowns in a win over Noxubee County. He scored three touchdowns against Columbus, when he rushed 16 times for 180 yards.
Green Wave first-team selections include seniors JaJaylon Sykes, a 280-pound lineman; Jamarquez Melton, who averaged 21.5 yards per catch; O’Bryan Ewings-Brandy; Fred McMillian; Jacoby McQuiller; and Chris Deanes. Also on the first team were sophomores Jaquantis Harris, who rushed for 335 yards and five touchdowns after getting one carry as a freshman, and Jalen Lairy, who is already a 310-pounder.
Columbus and New Hope placed four players apiece on the all-region team. For the Falcons, seniors Deitrick McCray, Isaiah Harris, Elijah Short IV and Darion Mosley were honored, while seniors Ty Crowell, Rashad Williams, Richard Guy and Terrance Harris were selected from the Trojans.
Five West Point lineman are among the eight Green Wave players on the second team: seniors Dahmarrion Williams and Shelton Binder, juniors Tajon Smith and Jahace Mallard and sophomore Josh Lairy.
Quarterback Kahnen Daniels, who rushed for 988 yards and passed for 492; running back Keshawn Henley, who totaled 1,042 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns; and wide receiver Ahmari Cox, who caught 13 passes for 320 yards also made the second team for the Green Wave.
Columbus was represented on the second team by seniors running back Tawonn Troop, linebacker Jamarion Moody and quarterback Omari Williams and junior defensive tackle Tyrese Erby.
Four New Hope juniors made second-team all-region: running back Ladarius Tate, whose season was highlighted by a 226-yard effort against Greenville, linebacker Alex McCarter, cornerback Javeon Henry and safety Alex Dawkins.
Honorable mention players from West Point are seniors Chad Brooks, Jaden Floyd and Chris Ivy; juniors Andrew Elkins, Kolban Hogan and Chris Chandler; and sophomores AJ Lee and Branson Rainey.
From Columbus, honorable mention players are seniors Michael Williams II, Anthony Thompson Jr., Zywan Lacey and Carlos Crusoe and juniors Christopher Martin, Hemyar Nagi and Tyrie Sherrod.
New Hope is represented on the honorable mention list by seniors Ty Jackson, Jaylon Lewis, J’Lynn Topps and McKinley Bailey and juniors Grant Fleming, Salia Diabagate and Zach Dismuke.
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