Sky View running back Brevin Egbert, #12, runs through a host of Bear River defenders on Sept. 15, 2023. Photo by Clint Allen.
LOGAN – Yet again multiple teams from Region 11 made it to the state semifinal playoff games, and one even made it to the championship. It was a record year for Green Canyon, particularly, defeating Sky View for the first time and making the deepest playoff run in school history. The 2023 football season was full of close contests and exciting plays throughout Region 11 and the voting members* of the Cache Valley Media Group who regularly follow high school football have voted on and selected the All Region 11 1st and 2nd teams, along with an overall Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Running back Brevin Egbert from Sky View was recognized as the MVP; wide receiver Graham Livingston was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Year; defensive lineman Will Wheatley from Green Canyon was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year; and, first-year Green Canyon head coach JT Tauilili was selected as the Coach of the Year.
Region 11 MVP: Brevin Egbert from Sky View
For the second consecutive year, Brevin Egbert has been recognized as the Cache Valley Media Group’s Region 11 overall MVP. Egbert rushed for nearly 2,000 yards on the season and found the endzone 28 times for the Sky View Bobcats.
“The thing that makes Brevin such a good player is his leadership on the field, sidelines and off the field,” says Sky View play-by-play announcer “Hurricane” John Newbold. “He is the student body President and he is a multi-sport athlete plus academic All State.
“He is a great running back because he was super patient and has great vision.”
Multiple times this season Egbert was recognized as our Player of the Week for his performances (following his opening week performance with 222 rushing yards at Salem Hills; following his 208 scrimmage yards in Sky View’s 35-7 win over Fremont in week 4; and, following his week 7 performance at Logan, tallying 316 yards from scrimmage – 247 rushing, 69 receiving – with six total touchdowns – five rushing, one receiving).
“Brevin is a great kid both on and off the field,” adds Sky View color analyst Rex Davis. “He is the class president, his teammates and Coach (Christopher) Howell speak incredibly highly of him. When #12 was on the field you knew at any given time he could break a big play no matter what the down and distance were.
“He was one of those players that was a game changer. Sky View has been lucky to have several of those in the past such as Ike Larsen and Mason Falslev. I put Brevin in that same category as those guys. Any time John or I would ask Brevin about his big runs or touchdowns he would always deflect credit right back at his offensive line.”
Region 11 Offensive Player of the Year: Graham Livingston from Ridgeline
Graham Livingston led the potent Ridgeline Riverhawks in receiving yards and in finding pay dirt. In fact, Livingston led all receivers throughout Region 11 in receiving touchdowns with 13. On the year, Livingston caught the ball 93 times for 1,320 yards, helping his team reach the 4A football semifinals for the third straight season.
“Graham Livingston is an incredible route runner with great quickness and speed,” says Ridgeline color analyst Nick Zollinger. “He has the ability to break a 10-yard crossing route into a 75-yard touchdown. He breaks tackles and ankles with his shift moves in the open field.
“On top of all that, Graham has some very good hands and you rarely see him drop passes that are within reach. As a sophomore, his numbers speak for themselves with 93 receptions, 1320 yards and 13 touchdowns.”
Region 11 Defensive Player of the Year: Will Wheatley from Green Canyon
This year the Green Canyon defense stifled opponents, allowing barely 13 points per game. And one of the clear leaders of that defense was defensive end Will Wheatley. Wheatley anchored a defensive line that held opponents to a touchdown or less six times this season. Unofficially, Wheatley was responsible for 8 sacks and 87 tackles.
Region 11 Coach of the Year: JT Tauilili from Green Canyon
It’s the second year in a row that a first-year head coach in Region 11 is receiving the Coach of the Year nod. This year it goes to Green Canyon’s JT Tauilili largely because of the turnaround he orchestrated with the Wolves. In 2022, the Wolves won only one game. In 2023, the team won 10 and played their way to the 4A championship game. For the first time in Green Canyon’s short history they beat Sky View and made it to the 4A semifinals and finals.
All Region 11 1st Team
QB: Nate Dayle – Ridgeline
RB: Brevin Egbert – Sky View
RB: Dax Benson – Mountain Crest
WR: Will DeKorver – Mountain Crest
WR: Graham Livingston – Ridgeline
WR: Jace Roberts – Bear River
TE: Carson Cox – Ridgeline
OL: Preston Smith – Sky View
OL: Carter Andrews – Sky View
OL: Trey Purser – Ridgeline
OL: Porter Kennington – Mountain Crest
OL: Levi Painter – Ridgeline
DL: Will Wheatley – Green Canyon
DL: Aiden Wilson – Bear River
DL: Krew Jones – Ridgeline
DL: Kaden Hess – Mountain Crest
LB: Carter Stembridge – Green Canyon
LB: Easton Ballard – Sky View
LB: Bode Hansen – Ridgeline
LB: Karsten Buttars – Mountain Crest
Secondary: Dewey Egan – Green Canyon
Secondary: Aiden Anderson – Ridgeline
Secondary: Will DeKorver – Mountain Crest
Secondary: Trace Dustin – Ridgeline
K: Aaron Young – Ridgeline
Returner: Dewey Egan – Green Canyon
Athlete: Talon Marble – Bear River
All Region 11 2nd Team
QB: Owen Olsen – Bear River
RB: JT White – Ridgeline
RB: Eric Oates – Green Canyon
WR: Bryton Williams – Sky View
WR: Dewey Egan – Green Canyon
WR: Talon Marble – Bear River
TE: Hunter Knighton – Ridgeline
OL: Connor Dean – Sky View
OL: Seth Toolson – Sky View
OL: Nixon Weston – Bear River
OL: Siaosi Tupuola – Mountain Crest
DL: Taylor Lindley – Sky View
DL: Porter Kennington – Mountain Crest
DL: Reed Olsen – Logan
DL: Caysen Dana – Ridgeline
LB: Cooper Clark – Ridgeline
LB: Hans Herrmann – Sky View
LB: Tyson Braegger – Bear River
LB: Carsten Buttars – Mountain Crest
Secondary: Ramsey Vicars – Sky View
Secondary: Tanner Ferrin – Green Canyon
Secondary: Thatcher Phelps – Mountain Crest
Secondary: Cash Howell – Sky View
K: Stone Higley – Bear River
Returner: Thatcher Phelps – Mountain Crest
Athlete: Jakyb Bitton – Mountain Crest
Honorable Mention
Sky View: Carson Thatcher, Landon Elsner, Caleb DeQuadros
Green Canyon: Ethan Kunzler, Collin Gibson, Payton Wilson, Hayden Schramm, Calvin Wallis
Logan: Cooper Redd, Nate McCallister, Ryan Lazzari, Brock Brown, Keeton Pond
Bear River: Tydon Jones, Brody Miller
Ridgeline: Will Graham, Easton Hammond, Ben Thomas, Dante Bond, Cooper Clark, Charlie Booth
Mountain Crest: Puma Huerta, Carter Egbert, Casey Crofts
*The Cache Valley Media Group voting panel consists of those who cover high school athletics on radio stations 106.9 The FAN, KVNU 102.1 FM / 610 AM, 100.9 Lite FM, 104.5 The Ranch, 104.9 The Ranch, 107.7 KLZX and Cache Valley Daily. The panel includes “Hurricane” John Newbold, Rex Davis, Stockton Jewkes, Adam Loertscher, Jason Walker, Josh Anderson, Trent Carter, Josh Theurer, Dave Simmons, “The Patriot” Nick Zollinger, Jake Ellis, “The Coach” John Olsen and Eric Frandsen.
