All-Region 10 football teams announced; Desert Hills WR Awsten Turnbow named MVP

Region 10 MVP Awsten Turnbow of Desert Hills is seen here shortly after intercepting a pass in the end zone late in the game in an eventual 34-33 win over Cedar, Cedar City, Utah, Oct. 8, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

ST. GEORGE —  Region 10’s all-region football selections were announced this week, with wide receiver and strong safety Awsten Turnbow of Desert Hills heading the list as the overall Most Valuable Player.

Awsten Turnbow of Desert Hills intercepts a pass in the end zone vs. Cedar, Cedar City, Utah, Oct. 8, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The region’s seven coaches also selected Dixie wide receiver Jak’heo Mitchell as Region 10’s offensive MVP, while Desert Hills middle linebacker Cy Nunley was named the region’s defensive MVP.

For special teams, the coaches voted Pine View kicker Austin Kogan, Crimson Cliffs punter Nalu Lou and Dixie return specialist Shea Anderson as the region’s top players in their respective positions. All six of these top honorees are seniors.

Turnbow’s impressive season statistics for the year included catching 38 passes for 699 yards and 13 TDs, rushing three times for 35 yards and two TDs. Defensively, he made 52 tackles, with 25 being solo, and added eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Turnbow said that even though top-seeded Desert Hills was knocked out of the quarterfinals by region rival Pine View in a 37-35 thriller, he was still proud of the fact that the Thunder made it through the Region 10 regular season undefeated.

“Yeah, we lost in the second round of playoffs, but looking back, we beat every single team in the region. That’s such a cool experience,” Turnbow told St. George News.

Turnbow said his post-high school plans include serving an LDS mission, after which he hopes to return and play for an in-state university. Although he said he would be willing to play either offense or defense in college, he said his preference would be to land a defensive back or safety role. “But, I’ll play wherever the coach needs me of course.”

Region 10 offensive MVP Jak’heo Mitchell of Dixie and overall MVP Awsten Turnbow of Desert Hills appear on “From the Bleachers” Fox Sports radio show, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Thursday afternoon, Turnbow and Mitchell both appeared on the “From the Bleachers” sports radio show hosted by Fox Sports Southern Utah 99.5 FM personalities Mark Musgrave and Kaden Foremaster. Nunley was also invited to be on the program, but he was heading out of town and unable to make it.

Turnbow spoke highly of his teammate Nunley as the show got under way.

“Cy was huge for our defense,” Turnbow said. “You could trust him so much in the middle that all you know is if you can get the edges, Cy will literally take care of the entire middle.”

Nunley’s defensive MVP stats included 115 tackles on the season, 35 of those being solo, in addition to four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. 

Meanwhile, offensive MVP Mitchell helped power the high-flying Flyers through the season and the 4A playoffs, where they eventually reached the state championship game before losing that title contest to undefeated Ridgeline. 

Mitchell finished the season with 37 pass receptions for 637 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mitchell was quick to give credit to Dixie quarterback Bronson Barben, who he said was like having a coach on the field. “We got a quarterback that could get us the ball every time we need it,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said he has received several offers from colleges but is still in the process of deciding which school he wants to play for.

In the meantime, both he and Turnbow said they’ve already started to turn their attention toward the upcoming basketball season.

All-region football teams, Region 10

First team all-region

  • Eric Olsen, senior TE, Desert Hills.
  • Stewart Taufa, freshman OL, Desert Hills.
  • Tyden Morris, junior RB, Desert Hills.
  • Dawson Bundy, senior OL/DL, Desert Hills.
  • Lincoln Holmes, junior LB, Desert Hills.
  • Robbie Tangren, senior DL, Desert Hills.
  • Noah Fuialetolo, junior QB, Desert Hills.
  • Bronson Barben, senior QB, Dixie.

    Bronson Barben takes the snap for Dixie against Snow Canyon, St. George, Utah, Oct. 1, 2021 | Photo by Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
  • Kenneth “KC” Ericksen, senior OL/DL, Dixie.
  • Mamao Tofi, senior CB, Dixie.
  • Truemann Alo, senior LB, Dixie.
  • Bode Ray, senior LB, Dixie.
  • Treven Alldredge, junior LB, Dixie.
  • Fasito’otai Salanoa-Sagapolu, senior DL, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Jackson Griffiths, senior MLB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Easton Droubay, senior RB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Dylan Pullen, senior OL, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Corbin Cuff, senior DB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Drake Kelly, senior RB/LB, Snow Canyon.
  • Landon Robinson, senior LB, Snow Canyon.
  • Brooks Esplin, junior DB/WR, Snow Canyon.
  • Hunter Johnson, junior QB, Snow Canyon.
  • Keith Adams, senior RB, Pine View.
  • Turner Williams, senior WR, Pine View.
  • Peter Falaniko, senior OL, Pine View.
  • Bryson Bennett, junior LB/C, Cedar.
  • Ben Ellis, senior RB/LB, Cedar.
  • RJ Wright, junior WR/DB, Hurricane.

Second team all-region

  • Tayven Mortensen, junior FS/WR, Desert Hills.
  • Izzy Meredith, senior CB, Desert Hills.
  • Shayden Scott, junior K, Desert Hills.
  • Maguire May, senior OL, Desert Hills.
  • Jake Wilkins, senior LB, Desert Hills.
  • Gunner Orr looks to pass for Crimson Cliffs against Dixie, Washington, Utah, Oct. 8, 2021 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

    Mason Kesterson, junior TE, Dixie.

  • Seth Takau, junior RB, Dixie.
  • Honor Alo, senior OL, Dixie.
  • Cade Hanson, senior DL, Dixie.
  • Derek Kesterson, senior WR, Dixie.
  • Cole Stewart, junior DL, Dixie.
  • Zach Andrus, senior MLB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Jaxson Cleverly, senior DB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Kona Crowell, junior RB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Gunner Orr, senior QB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Isaac Golder, senior DB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Wai Kaonohi, senior LB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Logan Mendenhall, senior DB, Snow Canyon.
  • Fructuoso Alejos, senior DL, Snow Canyon.
  • Jordan Wade, senior WR, Snow Canyon.
  • Jake Hills, senior WR, Snow Canyon.
  • Rockwell Jones, junior LB, Snow Canyon.
  • Will Warner, junior WR/DB, Snow Canyon.
  • Jeffrey Toloa, senior DL, Pine View.
  • Jacob Sersansie, junior DB, Pine View.
  • Tanner Fordham, senior LB, Pine View.
  • Parker Allen, senior DL/OL, Cedar.
  • Matthew Villa-Rowe, junior DL, Cedar.
  • Edgar Hernandez-Hinojosa, junior K/P, Cedar.
  • Carter Ashby, junior QB/DB, Hurricane.
  • Ephraim Johnson, senior LB, Hurricane.

Honorable mention

  • Steele Wyman, senior OL, Desert Hills.
  • Broden Cox, senior TE/DL, Desert Hills.
  • Christian Bolli, senior DL, Desert Hills.
  • Cyrus Polu, freshman, Desert Hills.
  • Jarom Wilkins, sophomore OL, Desert Hills.
  • Zac Ford, junior, Desert Hills.
  • Aiden Hatch, junior DL, Dixie.
  • Dave Hollings, junior LB, Dixie.
  • Alex Alldredge, junior OL, Dixie.
  • Jayton Tanibe, senior WR, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Stone Hansen, junior OL, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Dexten Draper, senior DB, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Hunter Baer, senior WR, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Konner Kell, sophomore WR, Desert Hills
  • Devin McAffee, senior DL, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Ryan Wooley, senior K, Crimson Cliffs.
  • Ayden Anaya, senior DL, Snow Canyon.

    Pine View’s Marcus McKenzie (12) defends a pass against Hurricane receiver RJ Wright in a Region 10 football game, St. George, Utah, Sept. 3, 2021 | Photo by Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
  • Kyle Kennedy, senior LB, Snow Canyon.
  • Devin Jensen, senior RB, Snow Canyon.
  • Braydon Jones, senior DB, Snow Canyon.
  • Bo Hickman, senior WR/DB, Snow Canyon.
  • Carson Notwatzke, junior WR/LB, Snow Canyon.
  • Corben Gifford, senior DL, Pine View.
  • Tyson Moten, senior WR, Pine View.
  • Ian Becker, senior DB, Pine View
  • Dylan Becker, senior LB, Pine View.
  • Dominique McKenzie, senior WR/DB, Pine View.
  • Marcus McKenzie, senior WR/DB, Pine View.
  • Tuitasi Lolotai, senior DE, Pine View.
  • Payton Calico, senior OL, Pine View.
  • Floyd Vai Lefefe-Amotai, senior OL/DL, Pine View.
  • Braedon Nomee, senior OL, Pine View.
  • Faagalu Aetonu, senior MLB, Pine View.
  • Benjamin Beckstrand, senior WR, Pine View.
  • DJ Warren, junior WR, Cedar.
  • Dallan DeMille, junior OL/DL, Cedar.
  • Koden Lunt, sophomore QB, Cedar.
  • Braxtan Torres, senior DB/WR, Cedar.
  • Conner Hardman, junior WR, Cedar.
  • Kas’n Crandall, senior WR/DB, Cedar.
  • Mahonri Tonumaipea, senior OL, Hurricane.
  • Ashton Williams, senior LB/RB, Hurricane.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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