ST. GEORGE – All the teams from the new 3AA South Region faced the media Friday in the first annual 3AA South Region Media Day.
Coaches and players from the different schools fielded questions from the local media and addressed issues such as the new realignment/classification, travel concerns over new league member Payson, position battles in fall camp and attempts to carry on traditions.
Members of the media also voted on the predicted order of finish of the region’s teams as well as potential league MVPs.
Desert Hills, with electrifying junior running back Bridger Cowdin, was picked to emerge as champion of the new region. Pine View, with talented quarterback Kody Wilstead, was touted as the No. 2 team. Hurricane, which has been champion or co-champion of Region 9 the past four years, was picked to finish third. Defending state champion Dixie, which will try to replace state MVP (and three-year starter) quarterback Blake Barney, was touted fourth.
The preseason media poll:Rank Team (1st vts) total points
1. Desert Hills (4) 51 points
2. Pine View (1) 44 points
3. Hurricane (2) 41 points
4. Dixie (1) 38 points
5. Snow Canyon 18 points
6. Cedar 16 points
7. Payson 15 points
Wilstead was picked by the media as the league’s preseason MVP, edging out Cowdin, while Dixie wide receiver Drew Batchelor also garnered some attention from the media and was third in the balloting.
Preseason All-Region/MVP poll
1. Kody Wilstead, QB, Pine View
2. Bridger Cowdin, RB, Desert Hills
3. Drew Batchelor, WR, Dixie
4. Thor Katoa, LB, Pine View
5. Sil Bundy, LB, DH
6. Lukas Hildebrandt, WR, DX
7. Adlai Elison, QB, Hurricane
8. Brock Doman, OL/DL, DH
9. Pano Tiatia, RB, PV
Others receiving votes: Braxton Ipson, OL/DL, DX; Gavin Graff, OL/DL, DX; Jordan Ence, OL/DL, HU; Jacob Frei, QB, Snow Canyon; John Harmon, LB, Payson; Dallin Grover, RB, Cedar.
The following Videocast features Desert Hills coach Carl Franke and Thunder players Landon Broadhead, Quenton Hatch and Brock Doman.
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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
This is how you do a press conference. Very impressed with these Desert Hills Athletes. They look like the only ones who wore their school colors. I didn’t see much pride from the other teams in this region. Looking forward to this season and good luck to all the region 9 teams. Desert Hills looks and sounds like the team to beat!
GO THUNDER!!!!!