Predicting Every Team's 2026 MVP: Region I-2A

Region I-2A has a little bit of everything. There are a couple of power running attacks, some great talent at the skill positions, and one of the top dual-threat QBs in the state. Realignment has shuffled the region a little bit, and that should make the competition even better.   As typical with smaller classifications, a bunch of guys who we think can have a big impact on their teams will do it on both sides of the ball. Even that dual-threat QB we told you about plays a little LB on occasion.   Here's our best guess on guys we think will have a shot at leading their teams this season.   CAROLINA TROJANS   [player_tooltip player_id='1312472' first='Bryson' last='McMoore'] LB, 2028   McMoore is a force in the middle for the Trojans. A sure-tackling, hard-hitting LB, he's been a leader for Carolina since his freshman season, when he notched 59 tackles. As a sophomore, he emerged as an even bigger threat on both sides of the ball for the Trojans. McMoore brings a MLB attitude to the game on both offense and defense - he's a rugged, straight-ahead runner with plenty of power who loves to dish out punishment as much as he loves to use his speed.    CRESCENT TIGERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1603963' first='Mason' last='Evans'] QB, 2027   Calling Evans a dual-threat QB isn't quite enough. He's capable of changing the game with his legs, and that makes him so much more effective as a passer, serving to open up lanes that might not be there if teams didn't respect his ability to move the pocket and make throws on the run. And when they don't, he's got no problem keeping it and making them pay, and that's not even mentioning what he does on designed runs. Evans had a 2,200/1,000 season last year, accounting for 48 touchdowns. He's the offensive heartbeat for the Tigers.    LIBERTY RED DEVILS   [player_tooltip player_id='1824911' first='Zane' last='Smith'] ATH, 2028   Four guys had more than 600 yards in the Red Devils' run-heavy attack last year. Only one of them is back. That's Smith, who rushed for 656 yards and nine touchdowns while tying for second on the team in carries with 95. He also contributed heavily on defense, with 36 tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. Smith is a physical player on both sides of the ball, and he's likely to take on a much bigger offensive role this season.    PENDLETON BULLDOGS   [player_tooltip player_id='1820874' first='Walker' last='Dunlap'] OL, 2027   Dunlap is a huge presence up front for the Bulldogs. He's capable of playing either guard and center, and he's good at all of it. Dunlap has good feet, quick hands, and the ability to overwhelm defenders in one-on-one situations. He turns in plenty of pancake blocks, but equally impressive is his ability to neutralize a guy at the line and then get way downfield to lead-block to take out a couple more. Dunlap will be absolutely critical to the Bulldogs' success on the interior.    ST. JOSEPH'S KNIGHTS   [player_tooltip player_id='1823372' first='Mack' last='Rambo'] RB, 2027 (pictured)   Aside from having one of the coolest names in football, Rambo plays kind of like his movie namesake: with reckless abandon. Rambo is a 200-pound monster of a running back, and tackling him doesn't look like it's very much fun, even when it's possible. He averaged 139 yards a game and scored 16 touchdowns last year, running for just shy of 1,000 yards despite playing just seven games. The Knights' offense is predicated on a power run game, and Rambo's the key to it.    WEST-OAK WARRIORS   [player_tooltip player_id='1819476' first='Carter' last='Fountain'] ATH, 2028   Fountain put together a great sophomore season for the Warriors. He rushed for 416 yards and five touchdowns on 70 carries, second on the team in all three categories. He added a couple of catches, but he really made his mark on the other side of the ball, with 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Fountain is a guy the Warriors can count on to help build a foundation.

Region I-2A has a little bit of everything. There are a couple of power running attacks, some great talent at the skill positions, and one of the top dual-threat QBs in the state. Realignment has shuffled the region a little bit, and that should make the competition even better.