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

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 season inches closer as we now enter 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. Here's a look at our picks for the new Region III-1A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LEWISVILLE LIONS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Cousar </strong>QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cousar returns for his senior season with the Lions, and he was the focal point on offense in 2025. Whether it is slinging it around to his receivers in the quick passing game, or making plays in the quarterback run game, Cousar is tall and athletic. He knows how to make the right reads and get guys in the right position and that experience should help as <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/on-campus-lewisville-lions-2/">the Lions will look to make another run in 2026.&nbsp;</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>GREAT FALLS RED DEVILS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816245' first='Kendrick' last='Patterson'] </strong>ATH, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patterson made his presence felt for the Red Devils in 2025 – as a freshman. Yes, you read that correctly. He was all over the field making plays, whether it was at quarterback where he took a direct snap on a designed keeper 95 yards to the house in an instant classic against Buford last year. Or we can point to a pick six where he high pointed the ball and let his speed do the rest. His impact can't be understated and with plenty more room to grow, he'll be a guy that teams will need to be aware of on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24463865/68d54ce00f5aa350d2c6d065u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24d17740afc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BLACKSBURG WILDCATS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603786' first='Trevon' last='Clark'] </strong>DE, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark is listed at defensive end, and he was disruptive as he could use his size and his speed to get into the backfield and throw off what an offense wanted to do, especially when it came to running the football in 2025. But the Wildcats used him on offense as well at quarterback, where he could scramble around and make plays in the quarterback run game with his athleticism. He should be fun to watch for the Wildcats in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BUFORD YELLOW JACKETS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824373' first='Sam' last='Hunter'] </strong>ATH, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter is another impactful two-way player who can change the game with his speed and ability to be around the football. We'll start with the latter on defense. He can diagnose plays quickly and get into the backfield, many times before the ball carrier has a chance to build momentum. He takes good angles to the ball and is a difference maker on special teams, which helps set the defense up well. On offense, he's used as a running back. Once he gets a head of steam, it could be a house call. He caught our eye on film against McBee in 2025 with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield with good speed to boot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21927908/68cb5d63386db8ef17ef044bu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24d17740b34"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>FAIRFIELD CENTRAL GRIFFINS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816745' first='Ty'Quarius' last='Shannon'] </strong>WR, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shannon (pictured above) is a dynamic pass catcher who makes life tough for opposing defenses. Standing at 6-foot-2, he runs great routes and finds the holes that coverage presents. And when he catches the ball, it's like he plucks the ball out of the air with his great hands – he catches everything that comes his way. He's great in one-on-one situations because of his size and most of the 50-50 balls, he wins the battle. He'll be a guy that teams in this region will make first priority in their defensive game plans in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26037424/692e1afccd06d6b43c361821u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a24d17740b59"} /-->