Duchesne placed three football players on the

Class 1A first team when The Deseret News re leased its all-state selections.

The Eagles were repre – sented by Parker Crum, Cade Gines and Branson Hartman.

“It’s really hard to get three guys on the first team when you get knocked out in the

quarterfinals,” Duchesne coach Jerry Cowan said. “I think that we were fortunate to get the three

that we did. It was well deserved.” Gines, a junior, finished the season with 56 tackles. He pulled in two intercep – tions and recorded two

sacks.

“Cade is arguably our toughest kid,” Cowan

said. “He is undersized at 140 pounds. He plays like 180 pounds. “

Gines played linebacker and halfback for the Eagles.

“He is a talented kid,” Cowan explained. “We moved him around a little

bit this year on defense. He played inside and then

outside. We just used him in situations that we need –

ed him. He could do a little bit of everything for us.” Crum, a junior, reg istered 41 tackles and hauled in seven intercep- tions from his defensive back position.

He was also Duchesne’s starting quarterback.

“He made all-state on defense, but he was as good as quarterback as

there was in our league,” Cowan said. “His stats could back that up. He

made plays for us running the ball and throwing the ball. He put us in situa-

tions to make sure we had chances to win games. He is another kid that is asked

to do a lot. It would be nice to save him on offense,

but he is so valuable on defense that isn’t really

an option for us.” Hartman was the only senior to make the first team for the Eagles. He was the anchor on the offensive line and defensive line.

“Branson started for

us all four years,” Cowan said. “He comes to Al – tamont every day for prac tice. He attends Duchesne

during football. He was all in with it. He was our most physical kid. He was our best lineman. He was an awesome kid. We are going to miss him.” Draker Goodliffe and

Gatlen Farnsworth made the second team.

“Draker and Gatlen

both played really well for us,” Cowan added.

Union

The Cougars landed two players on the Class 3A all- state first team all-state football squad.

Those players were seniors Alec Labrum and Justin Gillman.

“We were excited to get two of them on the first team,” Union coach Matt Labrum said. “A lot of it comes down to your placing of your team and where you finish. These guys were incredible. They were all team cap tains for us. That says

something about who they were and what they did for our team.” Labrum recorded 78 receptions for 953 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Alec really took a big step not just as a football player but his leadership

overall,” Coach Labrum said. “By mid-season he was making our checks

for us defensively. He took a real understanding of

what was going on. He always had a positive at –

titude. He was just a joy to have him on our team.” Labrum’s height helped him turn into a dangerous wide receiver.

“A lot of the time the teams put two defenders on him,” Coach Labrum

said. “If they did that it helped open it up for

somebody else. He was just a playmaker for us.” Gillman had 71 tackles. He had five hurries and seven tackles for losses to be named to the top team in 3A.

“We started Justin out as an outside linebacker,” Coach Labrum said. “We changed him to middle linebacker in week five. He is just an ultimate team guy. He is just somebody that you could always depend on.” Jackson Rasmussen and Colby Winterton were named to the second team. Rasmussen was Union’s

starting quarterback.

“Jackson is another guy that has a chip on his

shoulder,” Coach Labrum said. “He threw the ball well. He is a guy that you want on your team but you probably really don’t

like him if you are on the other team.” Winterton played on the

offensive and defensive lines.

“Colby is just a stud,” Coach Labrum said. “It was just fun to watch his development and his ded –

ication in what he wanted to become.”

Union’s Justin Gillman records a first down in a home game this season.