Cimarron-Memorial defensive tackle Neil Spencer (6 feet 2 inches, 265 pounds) was named the Sunset Regional Defensive Player of the Year. Photo by John Locher.

Las Vegas and Cimarron-Memorial had vastly different styles of play, but both football teams used a similar formula for success this fall.

Both had a powerful force in the middle of the defensive line, and a big-time offensive force in the backfield, leading the teams to a combined 22-3 record. And those players were rewarded, being named Players of the Year on the All-Region teams released by the coaches.

Las Vegas defensive lineman Billy Winn was named the Sunrise Defensive Player of the Year, and Wildcats quarterback O'Ryan Bradley took the Sunrise Offensive Player of the Year award.

Cimarron tackle Neil Spencer was the Sunset Defensive Player of the Year, and running back Eddie Wide was the Offensive Player of the Year.

"You have to have those kind of kids to get as far as both of our teams got," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "You have to have big-time players in order to get there. You're not going to do it with a bunch of average kids."

The 6-foot-4-inch, 260-pound Winn keyed a Las Vegas defense that allowed an average of 13.4 points in capturing its second consecutive state championship.

"(Winn) was just a big playmaker," Faircloth said. "He always came up with big plays when we needed them."

Bradley passed for 2,750 yards and 29 touchdowns, including 15 in four postseason games, to fuel a spread offense which averaged 36 points. He rushed for 628 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"He was the fastest player on our team," Faircloth said. "This kid was definitely the most well-rounded quarterback we've ever had. I think he's going to have a phenomenal future at the college level."

Like Las Vegas, Cimarron counted on a big tackle to lead its defense. Spencer (6-2, 265) was the force that helped the Spartans record five shutouts and allow an average of 5.4 points.

"He was the guy who kind of pushed everything up front," Cimarron coach Ron Smeltzer said. "He was basically a guy who could clog things up and take on a couple blocks. He also had the ability to run to the ball, too. He has some decent speed."

Speed was Wide's biggest strength. He rushed for 1,702 yards and 23 TDs to key Cimarron's power running game.

"He has an ability to make people miss," Smeltzer said. "He can stop and change directions. I don't recall anybody ever catching him from behind. Once he got past people, he was gone."

Smeltzer, whose team was 10-0 in the regular season before being upset by Bishop Gorman in the first round of the playoffs, was named the Sunset's Coach of the Year.

Faircloth shared the Sunrise coaching honor with Del Sol's Preston Goroff. Goroff guided the Dragons to a 10-3 record after winning just six games in the school's first two seasons.