Predicting Every Team's 2024 MVP: Region I-4A

Realignment has had a massive impact on Region I-4A. A bunch of teams are out, a bunch of new faces are moving up from the 3A ranks, but there's one old familiar, as the defending 4A state champs in Westside are still right at home. The new region has a ton of standout guys and is particularly deep at QB. Here's a look at the guys who we think will have the most impact for their team this season.   Emerald Vikings   Key Holloway QB, 2025   Holloway is electric. He's got top-end speed, and he makes good decisions. He's also got a strong arm, particularly on the move. And he's a little bit of a throwback for the Vikings. He also plays safety, where he excels in coverage, has great instincts and a nose for the ball, and is a sure and physical tackler. Holloway seems poised to lead Emerald on both sides of the ball.    Fountain Inn Fury   [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] QB, 2027   Holliday was a bright spot for Fountain Inn from the moment he stepped on the field, a true dual-threat QB who took on most of the offensive load for the Fury as a sophomore in their second season as a program. Now, he'll have to step up even more as Fountain Inn bumps up to 4A, where they're expected to stay for a while. He's got a good arm, sprinter's speed, and accounted for more than 1,100 yards of offense and 16 TDs in just eight games a year ago. By the time he's done, Holliday will be one of the guys who laid a foundation for Fountain Inn football.    Laurens Raiders   [player_tooltip player_id='1254087' first='Josh' last='Goodwin'] WR 2025   Goodwin is already a key possession guy for the Raiders. He plays mostly in the slot, and at times he was used as a safety valve in Laurens' offense. He shows great concentration, ability to adjust to the ball wherever it's thrown, and enough elusiveness to make defenders miss. Now, we'll let you guess what new Laurens coach Greg Porter's offense always has as an essential factor. Yep. A guy JUST like Goodwin. If the Raiders can gel early, Goodwin will be a big part of the reason why.    Southside Tigers   Zacchaeus Dickson G/DT, 2026   The Tigers struggled last season, but there were a ton of bright spots among younger guys for Southside, even at the sub-varsity level. Dickson, though, is one of the varsity returners who is looking to help lead the Tigers to better days. He's a big, strong kid who does a good job up front on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he fights off blocks and excels as a run-stopper, while on offense he's best when he's pulling, and he finishes blocks way downfield.    Westside Rams   [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] QB, 2025   Oh boy. Where do you start to answer this question for the defending 4A champs when they've got a ton of talent returning and a ton more coming in. Three guys who shine on both sides of the ball - Chamarruys Bomar, [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'], and [player_tooltip player_id='346193' first='Zeke' last='Marshall'] - could all be penciled in here. So could homerun-threat RB [player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson'], who came into his own last season and should be the Rams' feature guy. But all things considered, we're going with [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods']. After all, he's responsible for getting the ball to all these playmakers, and he does a ton more than that. Big arm, accuracy, decision making ability, poise - Woods (pictured) has got it all. If you told us you're picking him for Region Player of the Year, for 4A State Player of the Year, well, you could make a pretty good case.    Wren Hurricanes   [player_tooltip player_id='1158040' first='Colten' last='Bagwell'] QB, 2025   Yes, another QB. That's just how deep this region is at the position. Bagwell is SPECIAL, accounting for more than 2,500 total yards a year ago while posting 28 touchdowns - 14 in the air and 14 on the ground. He's one of the best dual-threat guys in the Upstate, but his overall impact goes beyond that. The Hurricanes' gambling, aggressive defense can rely on Bagwell and the offense, which allows them to dial up a bunch of different things with the knowledge that the offense can typically make things happen. Bagwell will be a key for Wren.

Realignment has had a massive impact on Region I-4A. A bunch of teams are out, a bunch of new faces are moving up from the 3A ranks, but there's one old familiar, as the defending 4A state champs in Westside are still right at home. The new region has a ton of standout guys and is particularly deep at QB. Here's a look at the guys who we think will have the most impact for their team this season.