Predicting Every Team's MVP: Eastern Sandhills 5A/6A

We're in the middle of conference preview season and realignment has made these previews more fun and more challenging. In a new format this year, I'm looking at which players will be key top their teams' success. This isn't necessarily the best player on the team (Though it could be) but rather the key cog that makes the whole thing go.   We've looked at some other conferences in higher classifications (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-central-piedmont-7a-8a/">Central Piedmont 7A/8A</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mip-greater-neuse-river-7a-conference/">Greater Neuse River 7A</a>, and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/cap-8a-conference-preview/">CAP 8A</a>) and I looked at some intriguing conferences on the eastern part of the state (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-eastern-plains-2a-3a/">Eastern Plains 2A/3A</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-coastal-5a-6a-conference/">Coastal 5A/6A</a>), but I haven't yet touched Fayetteville and southeast part of the state. Here, I'm predicting the MVP for every team in the Eastern Sandhills 5A/6A Conference.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Eastern Sandhills 5A/6A MVPs</h2>   The Eastern Sandhills conference is an interesting one. Teams from the old All-American and United 8 3A/4A conferences are joined by former 2A school St. Pauls, which is making a big jump in competition level. Douglas Byrd and St. Pauls are the 5A teams here while South View, E.E. Smith, Westover, and state power Seventy-First are the 6A schools. Several rivalries were preserved, and four of the six schools in the conference are coming off winning seasons. Who are the potential team MVPs?   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Douglas Byrd Eagles (5A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1709578' first='Damarion' last='Cook'], RB/LB   Cook did a little bit of everything for Douglas Byrd last season, finishing with 57 tackles on defense and playing well in limited reps at running back. This season, he should have plenty of extra opportunities on offense, where he can be an explosive playmaker and he'll look to build off a big defensive season which saw him score on not one, but both of his interceptions.   Others Considered: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ky-mani-atiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='1709583' first='Ky-mani' last='Atiles']</a>, LB   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">St. Pauls Bulldogs (5A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1709591' first='Yoshua' last='McBryde'], RB   St. Pauls loses one of its two 1,000-yard running backs, but gets McBryde back for his senior season after a 1,600-yard, 14 touchdown junior campaign. He currently sits 16 yards shy of 3,000 rushing yards for his career and there's no doubt that the Bulldogs' offense runs through him. Defensively, the Bulldogs return a ton of production, including four of five leading tacklers and their top three sack artists, listed below.   Others Considered: [player_tooltip player_id='1543777' first='De'Zhian' last='Roberts'] (Edge/IDL), [player_tooltip player_id='1656785' first='Antwan' last='McCoy'] (IDL)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">E.E. Smith Golden Bulls (6A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1709610' first='Nicholas' last='Smith'], QB   E.E. Smith had some growing pains as a young team last season, but that could be to its benefit in 2025. After rotating freshman quarterbacks last year, I think the Golden Bulls will roll with the dual-threat [player_tooltip player_id='1709610' first='Nicholas' last='Smith'] at quarterback and he's the key to the offense. The receiving corps was devastated by graduation, as only three players still on the roster caught a pass last season, with four total catches for 44 yards. Smith can also play receiver if the Golden Bulls need him there. If the offense is going to be better, it'll be partially because Smith takes a step forward.   Others Considered: [player_tooltip player_id='1709614' first='Cassell' last='Cruickshank'] (Edge/TE)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Seventy-First Falcons (6A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr']., RB/WR   While [player_tooltip player_id='1346327' first='Jayson' last='Franklin'] is the undisputed No. 1 option for the Seventy-First offense, I think it's [player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr']. who is more important to the team's success. A devastating rushing offense loses its quarterback and last year's leading rusher, the two of whom combined for over 3,000 rushing yards (plus 1,500 passing yards). Sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1709621' first='JaSiaha' last='Nance'] is likely going to succeed his brother, and he'll need both a primary receiving target and another back to complement Franklin. Pone is that guy, a twitchy, explosive playmaker who can impact the game from the backfield or the slot.   Others Considered: [player_tooltip player_id='1408808' first='John' last='Archer'] (IDL), [player_tooltip player_id='1346327' first='Jayson' last='Franklin'] (RB)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">South View Tigers (6A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1474418' first='Malyk' last='McLean'], WR   South View was devastated by graduation, losing its quarterback, two of four leading receivers, four of five leading rushers, and --on defense-- four of five leading tacklers. It may be an uphill climb to reach another winning season for the Tigers, simply due to a lack of proven production. They'll rely move heavily on the speedy McLean this year as an offensive guy with proven talent.   Others Considered: Ahmad Carmichael (CB)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Westover Wolverines (6A)</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='473854' first='Jadon' last='Rourk'], WR   Westover had a nice season last year, and they did so without having Rourk for most of the year. A rare midyear transfer, Rourk made our All-Freshman team two years ago, but spent some time at Hough in Charlotte, even starting his junior season with the Huskies, before moving back to Westover. Now firmly entrenched as one of the top receivers in the 2026 class, Rourk should be able to make an impact for the Wolverines.   Others Considered: [player_tooltip player_id='1617926' first='Richard' last='Vanderhorst'] (QB)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Predicted Order of Finish</h2>   1. Seventy-First   2. St. Pauls   3. Westover   4. South View   5. E.E. Smith   6. Douglas Byrd   Want to send this article to someone else? Promo code Helms30 will give them 30% off their first billing cycle.

We're in the middle of conference preview season and realignment has made these previews more fun and more challenging. In a new format this year, I'm looking at which players will be key top their teams' success. This isn't necessarily the best player on the team (Though it could be) but rather the key cog that makes the whole thing go.