DIVISION IV FOOTBALL: Pahranagat Valley’s Leavitt named league MVP

Pahranagat Valley’s football team has proven to be the state’s top Division IV football team by a good margin.

And there’s no doubt that Wade Leavitt was the Panthers’ top player.

Leavitt excelled on offense and defense in helping Pahranagat Valley win its seventh consecutive state title and stretch its winning streak to 81 games, and he was named the Southern League’s Most Valuable Player by the coaches.

Leavitt scored an incredible 312 points this fall. He rushed for 1,515 yards and 31 touchdowns on just 104 carries. He added 40 catches for 846 yards and 13 scores.

Defensively, Leavitt led the Panthers with 68 tackles and 6½ sacks. He also intercepted three passes.

Pahranagat Valley sophomore quarterback Tabor Maxwell was named the league’s Offensive MVP. Maxwell completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 2,625 yards and 38 TDs with just two interceptions.

Spring Mountain’s Jarron Belvin, who led the Golden Eagles into the state title game, was the league’s Defensive MVP. Belvin had a team-high 67 tackles to go with four sacks and two interceptions.

Round Mountain’s Michael Blunk, who led the Knights to a 5-4 record in his first season as coach, was the league’s Coach of the Year.