This article recaps a segment from The Rush's Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 episode. Watch the full show.
Provo Bulldogs senior Brexton Hunter plays receiver, cornerback and returns kicks, and he made plays at all of them this season. In Provo's 47-15 win at Timpanogos on Oct. 14, he had an interception and two touchdown catches, according to the Deseret News. The win clinched a fourth straight Region 8 title for the Bulldogs.
Hunter said winning the region has become the expectation. "I feel like every year we go into the year just knowing that we're going to win it," he said. Getting the trophy again, he said, "it's nice."
Turning around an 0-3 start
That title did not look likely early. Provo opened with losses to Green Canyon, Crimson Cliffs and Springville. "We expected coming into this year to go into it," Hunter said. "We just didn't perform the first couple weeks. We just weren't playing together." Provo won six of its last seven games to finish 6-4, according to MaxPreps.
The turning point was a 34-28 overtime win at Salem Hills, which shared the region title. Andy said Hunter had a kickoff return touchdown and two touchdown catches in that game. "Them scoring right away, that definitely kind of made us have some doubts," he said. "When I had that kick return, I saw the open hole right away. And then once I saw it, I hit it. I was past everyone. So I knew I was gone." He said the score changed the game. "That's how good we are when just one little thing happens. We all get together and feed off of each other's energy. We just can't be stopped at that point."
Andy said Hunter also had a 93-yard kickoff return against Uintah, two interceptions including a pick six against Crimson Cliffs, and more than 1,200 all-purpose yards this season.
Playmakers everywhere
Hunter praised his teammates. Running back Teave Brown is "just a dog, like, that's the best way to say it." Receiver Liam Schoenrock "always finds a way to get open, catches every single ball." Junior Justice Tela "can hit people. He could jump over people. He does it all too." On defense, junior lineman Jesse Noa clogs the middle. "Nobody can really run on us because of him," Hunter said. "No one can block him." Junior Tonu Lesa finished the regular season with 21 sacks, Andy said.
No. 14 Provo plays at No. 3 Stansbury on Friday, Oct. 30, in the 4A first round. See how the coaches predicted the region races.