Region 5-AAAAA in 2012 included football teams making first-time appearances in the playoffs, old traditions standing strong and players doing their best to make a name for themselves.

The region’s coaches recently voted and chose senior Kyler Neal of East Paulding as the Offensive Player of the Year and senior Lorenz Suttles, also of East Paulding, as Defensive Player of the Year.

Others from Paulding County on the all-region team included:

n First team offense from Paulding County:

QB- Chase Noonan, junior, North Paulding, RB - Kamani Thomas, senior, East Paulding; WR - Marcus Gilbert, senior, East Paulding; WR- Matt Mixon, junior, North Paulding, TE- Aaron Black, senior, East Paulding, OL- Lorenzo Adger, junior, South Paulding, OL- Connor Christian, junior, East Paulding; OL- Tanner Ledbetter, junior, East Paulding, OL- Cooper Corley, junior, North Paulding, OL- Jesse White, senior, East Paulding; placekicker- Miles Hemphill, senior, East Paulding.

n Second team offense from Paulding County:

QB- Mitchell Webb, junior, East Paulding, RB- Jae Bowen, junior, South Paulding, RB- Corn Collins, junior, North Paulding; WR- Kayden Bishop, junior, North Paulding, WR- Chris Byrd, senior, Paulding County High; WR- Chandler Burks, junior, South Paulding; TE- Demetrious Simon, senior, Hiram; OL- Justin Collett, senior, Hiram, OL- Cameron Banks, junior, North Paulding; OL- Immanuel Smith, senior, South Paulding; placekicker, Trevor Wiley, senior, Hiram.

n First team defense from Paulding County:

DB- Jace White, junior, North Paulding; DB- Chandler Burks, junior, South Paulding; DB- Jaleel Hinds, senior, East Paulding; DB- Khalia Hackett, junior, South Paulding, LB- Josh Anderson, senior, South Paulding; LB- D.J. James, senior, East Paulding; DL- Romaine Gooden, senior, East Paulding; DL- Carnell Hospin, senior, South Paulding; punter, Chase Brady, senior, North Paulding.

n Second team defense from Paulding County:

DB- Chris Byrd, senior, Paulding County; DB- Matt Mixon, junior, North Paulding; DL- Dylan Coleman, junior, East Paulding; DL- Matt Magardo, senior, Paulding County; punter- Zach Phelps, senior, Paulding County.

Each school had players named as honorable mention as well – East (one), Hiram (13), Paulding County (eight), North (six) and South (nine).

Other schools in the region with first and second team players included Allatoona (10), Lithia Springs (two), Rome (five) Villa Rica (five) and Woodland (one).