Predicting Every Team’s 2026 MVP: Region III-4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 season inches closer as we are now in the summer months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As teams get into the heart of their summer conditioning, 7-on-7 and camp schedules, our attention turns to the popular Team MVP series where we'll be giving you our picks for who we think will be the best player on each team throughout the state in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at our picks for the new Region III-4A, which features teams from the Catawba River Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CATAWBA RIDGE COPPERHEADS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603804' first='Colten' last='McCauley'] </strong>WR, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCauley returns for his senior season and will be one of the leaders in the receiver room. He had an exceptional 2025 season where he was a consistent threat, either flexed on the outside or in the slot. He can catch the ball at its highest point and knows when to turn and look for the ball, like on a slant route or a corner route that we saw on his film. He's tough to cover one-on-one because of his size and will be a matchup problem in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23806931/691e6028c047e2e5a58f67c1u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d8338"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CLOVER BLUE EAGLES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey'] </strong>QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shealey may be one of the most under-the-radar guys in the Catawba River Region heading into 2026, but we have a feeling he will make some noise for the Blue Eagles <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/on-campus-clover-blue-eagles-2/">under new coach Bennett Swygert</a>. Shealey is a dual threat who has the capability to create when the play isn't there and scramble around and get yardage. He can let the ball fly and gets the ball accurately to his receivers, especially on throws to the sideline where his guy can catch it and get up field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20140379/692dfdd6cc386d23796090ddu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d83a0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>INDIAN LAND WARRIORS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] </strong>QB, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kucia returns for his junior season after throwing for 3,000 yards and finishing as an All-Region and All-State performer in 2025, leading the Warriors to an Upper State championship appearance. He knows how to find the open receivers and puts it where only where his receivers can get the ball. He has good presence in the pocket and has great command of the Warriors' offense and what they are aiming to do. That experience should show itself again in 2026 as Indian Land looks to make another run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18301412/68ab7931d4703bcf918d6b33u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d83ca"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LAKE WYLIE CHARGERS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612450' first='Landon' last='Robinson']</strong> QB, 2029 (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson is a rising sophomore who played on Clover's JV team in 2025. Now in 2026, he has moved on to Lake Wylie, who <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/on-campus-lake-wylie-chargers/">will be kicking off their inaugural season</a>. Robinson has great eye discipline for a young guy to be able to affect the guys in the secondary and get the ball accurately to his receivers. He will take what the defense gives him and won't force it downfield – if it's not there, he showed an ability in 2025 to scramble and get yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27188633/697fe8815f22b7ffddef783cu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d83eb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NATION FORD FALCONS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824012' first='Asher' last='Beck'] </strong>ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beck will be leaned on as one of the leaders for the Falcons in Jake Bentley's second year as the head coach at Nation Ford. Beck played at wide receiver in 2025, and was a difference maker at receiver. He found a way to get open and make people miss when he gets into space. He was a difference maker on special teams and is a threat to score with the ball in his hands. With some of the losses at the skill positions due to graduation, it will be interesting to see how the Falcons use him in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21454218/691dfab13d192b2f293c5af8u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d8411"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SOUTH POINTE STALLIONS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816732' first='Rasean' last='Brown'] </strong>RB, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown saw time in a reserve role for the Stallions behind his older brother, RJ in 2025. Now the younger Brown looks primed and ready to take on a more prominent role for South Pointe as they look to make another run after a state championship run in 2025. Brown is fun to watch when the ball is in his hands. He runs with a burst of speed and elusiveness as soon as he gets the ball – there's no dancing in space with him, it's good north/south progress. If he finds a lane, normally it is a house call. He's tough to bring down one-on-one as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26509793/689b72aff16643ae54d2b72bu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d8436"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>YORK COUGARS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379090' first='Ryan' last='Brochu'] </strong>QB, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had a chance to see Brochu in person this spring at the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Spartanburg, where <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/ccc-spartanburg-session-3-mvp-award-winners/">he won MVP honors for his play.</a> After sitting behind Tayshon Freeman in 2025, Brochu has the keys to the Cougars' offense in 2026. He has good size on him and can scramble around and create plays off script. He has a good velocity on his throws and can make the tough throws where a defender is right on top of the receiver, but the receiver has a chance to make the grab.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17544449/690f84111026a5d5e10e560bu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24ca41d8455"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->