Predicting Every Team’s 2025 MVP: Region VII-2A

The 2025 football season will be here before we know it.   Over the course of the next two months, teams will participate in workouts galore leading up to the start of preseason camp. And while the summer is sure to include mass transfers - thanks to the SCHSL's new policy - we have enough information to start making some educated assumptions about each team's likely MVP.   In a contentious Region VII-2A that netted five playoff victories and easily could have won a couple more a season ago, we're starting with these seven leaders for their respective teams.   ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE ARMADA   Luke Butchka LB, 2026   The Armada are in the midst of a full-bore quarterback competition that will ultimately shape the offense for the team's second-full year of SCHSL play. And while Butchka factors in as an H-Back, his flexibility as a defender will be much more important for ACA. This is a squad that was often playing from behind last fall, and the rising senior is not only one of the Armada's top returning tacklers, he's also got a vocal presence that should help the young program come along incrementally.     EAST CLARENDON   Takoda Cornelius QB, 2026   The 5-foot-9, 150-pound signal caller took on even more responsibility last fall and responded by rushing for just shy of 500 yards and throwing for another 900 in the regular season alone. He then played a clean playoff game in the opening-round victory over Andrews. East Clarendon is going to be run heavy again behind a slew of returning younger tailbacks, but Cornelius' comfort level with the offense is what drives the entire thing. Another eight-win season will certainly be expected with him calling the shots.    KINGSTREE BLAZERS   [player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes'] RB 2026 (pictured)   Soon-to-be first-year coach Brandon Cantrell should look no further than Dukes to help push Kingstree to the program's best finish in the last two decades. As a junior, Dukes rushed for 1,798 yards and 21 touchdowns. This is a good time to remind everyone that Duke initially came into the program as a corner and free safety. His 47 tackles last fall were third-best on the roster, but what he can provide on offense makes him every bit of a threat to earn all-state honors for the second straight season.     LAKE CITY PANTHERS   Hunter Blanchard LB, 2026   Blanchard was effective last year, putting up 51 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He will have every chance to make all that look like a cake walk this fall. His experience - plus a depleted linebacking corps - means he's going to move around a ton, from middle linebacker to outside backer to safety right on up to the edge. He's also going to be getting meaningful carries as a running back.     MANNING MONARCHS   [player_tooltip player_id='1592198' first='Jontavious' last='Canty'] ATH, 2026   If you don't enjoy watching Canty play, you probably just don't enjoy this game. The part of him that plays middle linebacker accrued 97 total tackles, eight sacks and 5.5 sacks. The offensive side of him put up 769 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. There's no reason to believe he won't be a 100-tackle, 1000-yard rusher over the course of his senior year. Yes, more of the opposing teams will have to focus on him, but he's got the chops to still max out his production.    MARION SWAMP FOXES   Derion Baccous LB/DL, 2027   The 2024 season was simply about getting the next crop of players ready to step into bigger roles. That's a big part of where Baccous started to exhibit what he could do. He finished his nine varsity games with 36 total tackles while starting at defensive end. He recorded at least four stops and one tackle for loss in each of the Swamp Foxes' last three games, showing he was making some individual strides. Marion will be in need of playmakers, and he's high up on that list.     MULLINS AUCTIONEERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1592515' first='Ka'Nazzion' last='Bethea'] QB, 2026   Over the course of the last two seasons, Bethea has put up more than 3,600 total yards passing and rushing while throwing for 30 touchdowns. His 17 interceptions over that span are about the only reason he's not more highly regarded than he should be. However, he's shown us over the last few months that he's ready to hit another level as a high school quarterback. His accuracy should improve, and his increased speed makes him a more dangerous runner, too.

The 2025 football season will be here before we know it.