Predicting Every Team’s 2026 MVP: Region VI-5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 football season is drawing closer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the summer, teams across the Palmetto State will be hard at work preparing for the fall campaign. As programs round into form, we can make some educated guesses about each team's likely 2026 MVP.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region VI-5A has plenty of candidates, but here are six players who have what it takes to leave their squads this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BERKELEY STAGS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers']&nbsp;</strong>QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rivers is a dual-threat monster, rushing for 803 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while averaging over eight yards per carry. Through the air, he tossed 12 touchdowns against just four interceptions and threw for over 1,200 yards. And those numbers were down from what we've seen him do before. With the all-region quarterback at the controls, Berkeley topped 40 points five different times last year. Defenses across the region should have plenty of sleepless nights figuring out how to contain the Stags' signal caller this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19909205/69188a511e12c59908ccb5d7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a8737"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CANE BAY COBRAS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664566' first='Coran' last='Houpe']&nbsp;</strong>ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cobras lost plenty of talent to graduation but luckily return one of their most dynamic playmakers. Houpe (pictured) accounted for 820 all-purpose yards and rushed for seven touchdowns as a junior, while also contributing 30 tackles and five pass breakups in limited action on defense, earning the team's MVP award and all-region honors at running back. Houpe is expected to be the Cobras' starting quarterback in 2026, and that means the ball will be in his hands on every snap in an offense where experience counts. That spells trouble for anyone on the other side of the line of scrimmage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22460929/691a4a9f762a2df8434faf99' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a87ab"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CAROLINA FOREST PANTHERS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell']&nbsp;</strong>WR, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a sub-4.5 40-time and tremendous route-running ability, McDowell is one of the state's emerging star wide receivers. As a sophomore he caught 27 passes for 510 yards and 10 touchdowns while also returning two kicks for scores. McDowell is a big-play threat every time the ball comes his way and should be featured even more prominently in Carolina Forest's offense this season now that the team's top receiver graduated. Expect the Panthers to throw deep early and often to their speedster on the perimeter and keep opening up the tried-and-true running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23297112/693334015041c9a5741195a9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a8807"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>GOOSE CREEK GATORS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816318' first='Sincere' last='Lewis']&nbsp;</strong>RB, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis gained plenty of varsity experience last season as a sophomore and has put in the work this offseason, adding to his frame and improving his speed and explosiveness. New head coach Jamie Fordham, himself a former collegiate running back at Coastal Carolina, should have no problem finding ways to incorporate Lewis into the offensive attack. The rising junior is a solid runner between the tackles and can also explode to the outside for big plays, which the Gators will need plenty of this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24043244/690927cec00a74106a242578' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a8856"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SOCASTEE BRAVES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816423' first='Elijah' last='Owens']&nbsp;</strong>RB, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owens possesses the punch of a power back and the quickness of a speed back all in one package. Although he saw limited action on offense after transitioning from the defensive line, Owens showed incredible promise for the Socastee ground game. With the Braves breaking in a new quarterback, Owens could take considerable pressure off the signal-caller with his punishing running ability. After an offseason in the weight room and gaining familiarity with the position, there's no telling what the sophomore might produce.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26734756/6930b3e46f3c5abdcb40c3c2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a889e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>WANDO WARRIORS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467849' first='Ryan' last='Jahn']&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>RB, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jahn did a little bit of everything last season for the Warriors. He was the only player with at least 150 yards rushing, receiving, and returning, tallying 626 all-purpose yards. Jahn has been clocked at a 4.44 40-yard dash and, after battling through injuries as a freshman, should be at full strength heading into a critical junior season. The Warriors could use some pop on offense this season and Jahn may very well be the person to provide it under new offensive play-calling leadership that will give him a bunch of new looks no one has seen out of him in the past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20205802/68bf0e271c644c67204f7cb3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f0bb69a88f4"} /-->