The race for the Republican Herald’s 2026 MVP is wide open. Here are some of the players expected to be in the running.
QB Cohen Kirby, Blue Mountain
The multi-sport athlete for Blue Mountain was impressive as a sophomore, completing 59.4% of his passes for more than 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He also ran for 249 yards and a score. If Kirby can take the next step in his game, he could be in line for a major season, especially with a plethora of offensive weapons, including wide receiver Chase Guers.
RB Colton Reber, Schuylkill Haven
After totaling 1,114 rushing yards on 84 carries as a sophomore, Reber exploded for 2,875 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior in 2025 to take home the Republican Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year honors. With Niko Carestia and Niko Castillo now graduated, Reber will be in line for another big season in 2026 as he takes the bulk of the carries again for the Hurricanes.
RB Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua
McDowell was one of Schuylkill County’s top running backs a season ago with 315 carries, 1,740 yards, and 19 touchdowns. Both McDowell and the Blue Raiders as a whole should be improved in 2026. McDowell, a smaller running back, still runs with plenty of force and has the speed to beat linebackers and defensive backs. A 2,000-yard season should be well within his reach.
RB Fletcher Thompson, Williams Valley
Through his first two high school seasons, Thompson has run for 3,301 yards and 39 touchdowns on 378 carries. He hasn’t received the same level of praise as his counterparts, thanks in part to sharing the backfield with former starting quarterback Brady Shomper, but Thompson could be in line for a 2,000-yard campaign in 2026. He’s also a standout on defense, with 98 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two sacks a year ago.
RB Parker Hatter, Tri-Valley
Hatter was a big part of the Tri-Valley offense in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. After totaling 102 carries for 645 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, he totaled 134 carries for 768 yards and 10 scores in his sophomore campaign. Cole Gemberling’s graduation should create even more opportunities for Hatter, who has averaged 6 yards per carry over the last two seasons.
WR Chase Guers, Blue Mountain
The West Virginia commit exploded on the field in his junior season. After five receptions for 74 yards as a sophomore, Guers had 35 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns. Of course, wide receivers rely on their quarterback play, but if Cohen Kirby makes the jump we believe he can, then Guers should be the biggest beneficiary. The sky is the limit for the speedster, who is a home run threat on every play.
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