ESPN 97.7 Region 9 Football Media Day – Monday August 4th

The 2025 Region 9 Football Media Day will be broadcast on ESPN 97.7 Monday, August 4th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Here's the agenda:

And tune in to Region 9 Football all season long on ESPN 97.7!

You can listen on ESPN 97.7 FM or stream on Sportsradio977.com or the ESPN 97.7 app!

Hurricane Tigers Football Preview 2025

Austyn McRoberts had six games last year with over 200 all-purpose yards.

“You can put him anywhere on the field, and he's going to make a play,” said Coach Jerry Cowan. “I mean, he was the Special Teams Player of the Year in the region last year. Right now, we have him playing tailback and slot. He can do it all. He’s just a kid you’ve got to find a way to get the ball to.”

McRoberts scored 18 touchdowns last season, the most of any returning player in Region 9.

Some of his most memorable performances include his game against Crimson Cliffs, where he returned two kicks for touchdowns; his epic duel with Ran Sawyer and Dixie, in which he scored three touchdowns and totaled 207 yards; and his four-touchdown performance against Hillcrest that helped the Tigers earn their first playoff win since 2015.

McRoberts’ versatility and ability to score from anywhere on the field make him one of the most exciting players to watch in the region.

But he’s not the only playmaker returning for the Tigers.

Hurricane brings back nine starters on offense, including quarterback Dylyn Gabriel, whom Cowan calls the most talented QB he’s coached in a career that includes five state championship seasons at Duchesne.

“[Dylyn’s] by far the most talented quarterback I’ve had. He’s just the perfect skill set for our offense. But more than anything, I’m excited by how much he’s matured.”

One of the Tigers’ top defenders, Jaxon Winegar, will return to the secondary this year.

“Jaxon plays bigger than he is. I mean, he's undersized, but he plays like he’s 20 pounds heavier. I had to yank him around a bit last year, we put him at middle linebacker, and he was out of position. Now we’ve got him at free safety, where he should be. He doesn’t need to be taking on 250-pound linemen. He needs to be in space, making plays on the ball and coming up to make tackles when we need him to.”

On the offensive line, Cowan is bullish on returning starter Tanner Matua.

“Tanner started for us last year as a sophomore. He’s our most vocal kid. He’s always asking big-boy questions. He’s really a coach on the field.”

Other key contributors back from last year include Brock Jacobs (316 rush yards), Connor Clyde (509 rush yards), Karston Walker (70 tackles), Armando Barrientos (49 tackles).

Hurricane will add a couple of new starters in twin brothers McKabe and Gunnar Gardner, who will play in the trenches on both sides of the ball alongside Matua.

“Those two bring a level of toughness and athleticism. They’re a little undersized, but we’re going to be asking a lot of them.”

Hurricane opens its season at home against Virgin Valley on August 15th.