ST. GEORGE — Every football team in Region 10 was represented at Fox Sports Southern Utah’s first-ever Region 10 media day Wednesday afternoon at the Holiday Inn in St. George.
Region 10 teams are making their final preparations and roster moves with the kickoff of the 2022 high school season less than 24 hours away.
Region 10 football expert Devin Dixon, From the Bleachers radio hosts Kaden Foremaster and Mark Musgrave and St. George News were among the participants in a panel discussion at media days.
Media members and coaches collaborated to produce a preseason Region 10 poll.
“I think the top two teams on paper this year are pretty clear,” Dixon said. “I think it’s Desert Hills and I think it’s Snow Canyon.”
The Thunder are led by third-year quarterback Noah Fuailetolo and running back Tyden Morris.
Most pundits agree that the top two teams coming into the 4A season are Green Canyon in Region 11 and Desert Hills in Region 10.
The Thunder ran the table last year and won Region 10 with a 6-0 record. They lost at home in a quarterfinal playoff to Pine View
“They’re hungry, and they’re better than last year’s team,” Dixon said.
Desert Hills beat Snow Canyon on the last play of the game last season and this year’s matchup Sept. 23 might well decide the Region 10 title.
“Snow Canyon’s junior class last year was really good and they’re all back for this year,” Foremaster said.
Added Dixon: “Hunter Johnson had over 2,100 yards last year. I think he could go for 330 yards per game and 30 touchdowns this season for Snow Canyon.”
He went on to say that the Snow Canyon receiving corps of Jake Hill, Will Warner and Brooks Esplin will offer Johnson a number of formidable passing targets.
Coming in at third in the preseason rankings are the Dixie Flyers. After falling short in the 4A state championship game against Ridgeline last year, veteran coach Blaine Monkres reloads with plenty of playmakers.
“Dixie, every year, it doesn’t matter if you pick them first or fifth, they’re going to be a tough matchup every single week and you can almost bet on them making the playoffs and making a run in the playoffs,” Dixon said.
Rounding out spots 4-7 in the Region 10 preseason poll are Crimson Cliffs, Pine View, Cedar and Hurricane.
In a close vote in the poll for preseason Region 10 MVP, Fuailetolo from Desert Hills earned the honor.
“Not a huge surprise. This is going to be his third year starting as the Desert Hills Thunder quarterback, so not a huge surprise to me,” Musgrave said.
“This kid wanted to be a quarterback and he’s put the time and the work in,” Dixon said.
Desert Hills opens the Utah high school football season Thursday night at Brighton. The game will be broadcast locally at 7 p.m. by KJZZ 88.1 in Salt Lake City.
To watch a stream of the Region 10 media days, see the video below.
Preseason coaches/media Region 10 poll:
- Desert Hills
- Snow Canyon
- Dixie
- Crimson Cliffs
- Pine View
- Cedar
- Hurricane
Region 10 MVP: Noah Fuailetolo, quarterback, Desert Hills
First Team all-Region 10:
- Desert Hills: Noah Fuailetolo, Tyden Morris, Kona Crowell, Tayven Mortenson
- Snow Canyon: Brooks Esplin, Hunter Johnson, Jake Hill
- Dixie: Seth Takau, Treven Allredge, Jaxon Barben
- Crimson Cliffs: Parker Andrus
- Pine View: Jacob Sersansie
- Cedar: Bryson Bennett
- Hurricane: RJ Wright, Carter Ashby
Second Team all-Region 10:
- Desert Hills: Lincoln Holmes, Stewart Tagua, Ayzen Cummings, Cyrus Polu
- Snow Canyon: Will Warner, Rockwell Jones
- Dixie: Mason Kesterson, Chet Atkinson, Jonathan Bibiano
- Crimson Cliffs: Adrixx Clegg, Konner Kell, Jace Sweeten, Boston Adamson, Jordan Eaton, Tyson Marshall, Steele Barben
- Pine View: Tyson Dinsmore, Camden Smith, Caden Nelson
- Cedar: Koden Lunt
- Hurricane: Kellen Pledger
Photo Gallery
(L to R) Pine View football players Jacob Sersansie, Tyson Dinsmore, Abe Rosenlund, Preston Christensen and coach KJ Boyer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L to R) Crimson Cliffs football players Connelly Ulrich, Jordan Eaton, Brock Baker, Tyson Marshall and coach Wayne Alofipo, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L to R) Desert Hills football players Ayzen Cummings, Noah Fuailetolo, Tayven Mortensen, Stewart Tufua and coach Rick Berry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L to R) Hurricane football players Adrixx Clegg, Mahonri Tonumaipea, Carter Ashby, RJ Wright and coach Cory Ashby, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L to R) Dixie football players Jalen Shultz, Dave Hollings, Mason Kesterson, Blake Watson and coach Blaine Monkres, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L-R) Devin Dixon, Mark Musgrave and Kaden Foremaster talk about the upcoming Region 10 high school football season, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
(L to R) Snow Canyon football players Rockwell Jones, Jake Hill, Brooks Esplin, Hunter Johnson and coach Mike Esplin, St. George, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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