Predicting Every Team's MVP: Region VII-5A

All that's between us and another high school football season is a summer of conditioning and a few preseason jamborees. It's never too early for us to begin looking ahead and we're going to do just that as we dissect who the MVP might be for each team in the state.   Here we look at Region VII-5A. This region features a lot of experience at quarterback, and it shows in these selections. We've picked who we think will be every team's MVP this coming fall.   Berkeley Stags   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] QB, 2027   Rivers spent the spring helping the Stags to the Class 5A, Division II baseball state title and didn't do any football activities. But you couldn't tell that from his performance a week ago in leading Berkeley to the Shane Beamer 7-on-7 championship. Rivers is poised in the pocket and throws a great deep ball but can tuck it and run when needed. He's coming off a sophomore season in which he threw for 2,070 yards and a team-best 796 rushing yards and a total of 26 touchdowns.    Cane Bay Cobras   [player_tooltip player_id='1664566' first='Coran' last='Houpe'] RB, 2027   Houpe brings a big-play threat to the running game. He hits the corners well and that helps open other things for the rest of the offense. Cane Bay likes to run the football, and the 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior is going to have opportunities to showcase his skills. He ran for over 400 yards a season ago and averaged over five yards per carry. The total yardage could more than double and Houpe potentially could flirt with a 1,000-yard season.    Goose Creek Gators   Meliq McMowan RB, 2026   The powerful and shifty McGowan is coming off an injury-riddled junior season, but he's considered one of the best running backs in the 2026 Class. McGowan is 6-foot, 190 pounds and is going to be a three-year starter. He showcased what he could do in the season opener last season with over 200 yards and three touchdowns but then a shoulder injury derailed most of the rest of the year. He will be the focus of the Gators attack and could easily reach the 1,500-yard plateau if healthy.      Lucy Beckham Bengals   [player_tooltip player_id='1656624' first='Nick' last='Buggie'] TE, 2026   The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is a throwback and is going to do a lot of good things for the Bengals. He's tough and physical and that will help aid in the running game but he's also very athletic and will be a nightmare of a matchup problem in the passing game. He earned the Top Offensive Combo Award at the Carolina Coaches Combine at Woodland. We think he's going to be featured more in the passing game this season but he's going to be impactful in whatever role he plays.    Stratford Knights   [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] QB, 2026   Davis has already committed to Liberty University and his skills continue to pop off the chart. He spent the spring as one of the best pitchers on the Knights baseball team but ran over 22 MPH in the Carolina Coaches Combine Invite Only Event at River Bluff. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Davis is athletic as they come. He finished 2024 with 1,877 yards passing and 698 rushing yards that included three games with over 100 yards on the ground. He passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for 13 as well.    Wando Warriors   [player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone'] QB, 2026   The region is littered with top quarterbacks and Stone is right there in the mix. He threw for 1,868 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 319 yards rushing and two scores. Stone (pictured) is 6-foot-3 and has a huge pocket presence and a strong arm to boot. He can throw on the move and fit the ball into a small window. He throws a nice deep ball and is a good decision maker.

All that's between us and another high school football season is a summer of conditioning and a few preseason jamborees. It's never too early for us to begin looking ahead and we're going to do just that as we dissect who the MVP might be for each team in the state.