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

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As summer kicks into high gear, so does preparation for the 2026 football season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams across the state of South Carolina are rapidly rounding into form for the upcoming season. With fall right around the corner, we can make our predictions about each team's probable 2026 MVP. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region VIII-A has candidates galore, but here are the five players who are most likely to lead their squads during the 2026 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BAPTIST HILL BOBCATS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172343' first='Kyilann' last='Gordon']&nbsp;</strong>ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect Gordon to be all over the field for the Bobcats this fall, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's watched him. He enters this season as Baptist Hill's leading returning receiver and tackler, as well as the second-leading returning rusher who also logged six interceptions. Put it all together and Gordon concluded his junior season with 1,107 all-purpose yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns. Believe it or not, those numbers might up in his senior campaign.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24991698/68ee5b2f284add0dda2ae4cbu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a299d389730c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BURKE BULLDOGS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821680' first='Ki'Rell' last='Manigault']&nbsp;</strong>WR/DB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manigualt is a veteran leader for the Bulldogs and will have to have fingerprints all over the season if Burke hopes to turn its program around. Manigault's agility and athleticism help him defend wide receivers despite his 5-foot-9 frame and make him a nightmare to tackle in the open field on offense. Despite having just one year of varsity experience under his belt, the rising senior has already had a tremendous impact and will likely be the player head coach Earl Brown II tries to get the ball to in crunch time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22563398/69cf0858283b4b4e3302b648u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a299d389734f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CROSS TROJANS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172364' first='Mah'ky' last='Green']&nbsp;</strong>RB, 2027 (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps one of the most electric offensive players in all of Class A, Green is set up to have another spectacular season as a senior. His impressive combination of vision, balance, and speed make him one of the state's top tailbacks. He was one of only six running backs in the state to top 1,500 rushing yards last season and averaged an absurd 10.1 yards per carry. Don't think that stacking the box will slow him down, either; he averaged 13.1 yards per reception as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20126835/69083d7f0c02cc788e72469au0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a299d3897376"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>MILITARY MAGNET EAGLES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824024' first='Marc' last='Phillips']&nbsp;</strong>ATH, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillips missed parts of his junior season due to injury but is expected to return with a vengeance in 2026. The rising senior can play running back and safety and the Eagles will need him to stand out on both sides of the ball. Military Magnet suffered through a winless season last fall and Phillips' return to full strength can't come soon enough. If the Eagles want to compete this year, they'll need their playmaker to be at his best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>ST. JOHN'S ISLANDERS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarance Rivers&nbsp;</strong>ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rivers had seen time at running back and wide receiver, giving the Islanders a versatile weapon on offense. He broke off some impressive runs as a junior and should get more touches following the graduation of Jaquez Lawrence. Wins have been hard to come by in recent seasons for St. John's, but Rivers might be the spark to help the Islanders record their first multi-win season in three years.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->