The high school football season kicks off Friday, and two Lowco public schools begin the season ranked in the top 10 in the state in their classifications in the S.C. Prep Media Football Poll coordinated by high school sports writers throughout the Palmetto State.
Whale Branch checks in as the highest-ranked local team at No. 4 in Class 1A. The Warriors put together the first undefeated regular season in program history last year before dropping an 18-15 heartbreaker to Bamberg-Ehrhardt in the second round of the playoffs. They return a trio of first-team All-Lowco performers in OL/DL Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech commit), RB/LB Joseph Hicks, and LB D’Ante Parker, as well as second-team All-Lowco standouts LB Mason Griffin and DB Keith Chisolm.
Beaufort High is ranked eighth in Class 4A as the Eagles aim for a third-consecutive region title. The Eagles return All-Lowco Offensive Player of the Year Tyler Haley at quarterback, along with first-team All-Lowco standouts RB Amariee Morris, WR/DB Kacy Fields, and DL Eamon Smalls.
May River received votes in the Class 4A poll but fell just short of the top 10 as the Sharks look to replace a number of key seniors, including star QB Ahmad Green.
S.C. Prep Media Football Poll — Week Zero
Preseason rankings for S.C. Prep Football Media Poll released Tuesday, Aug. 17. First-place votes in parentheses
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (10)
2. Fort Dorchester
3. Northwestern
4. (tie) Dorman
4. (tie) T.L. Hanna
6. Ridge View
7. Gaffney
8. Byrnes
9. Sumter
10. River Bluff
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg, Chapin, Hillcrest, Nation Ford, Mauldin, West Ashley.
Class 4A
1. A.C. Flora (7)
2. Myrtle Beach (2)
3. Greenville (1)
4. Catawba Ridge
5. South Pointe
6. North Myrtle Beach
7. Westside
8. Beaufort
9. Irmo
10. Greer
Others receiving votes: North Augusta, May River, Greenwood, Airport
Class 3A
1. Daniel (10)
2. (tie) Chapman
2. (tie) Camden
4. Oceanside Collegiate
5. Wren
6. Dillon
7. Chester
8. Gilbert
9. Brookland-Cayce
10. Union County
Others receiving votes: Aynor, Woodruff, Clinton, Fairfield Central, Hanahan, Palmetto
Class 2A
1. Abbeville (10)
2. Gray Collegiate
3. Marion
4. Barnwell
5. Chesnee
6. Newberry
7. Andrews
8. Saluda
9. Batesburg-Leesville
10. Christ Church
Others receiving votes: St. Joseph’s, Andrew Jackson, Woodland, Pelion, Cheraw, North Central, Chesterfield, Silver Bluff, Blacksburg
Class A
1. Southside Christian (10)
2. Lake View
3. Lamar
4. Whale Branch
5. Bamberg-Ehrhardt
6. Blackville-Hilda
7. Baptist Hill
8. Wagener-Salley
9. C.A. Johnson
10. Lewisville
Others receiving votes: Carvers Bay, Johnsonville, McBee, North/Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Ridge Spring-Monetta, Allendale-Fairfax, C.E. Murray, Great Falls, Denmark-Olar
This Week’s Voters: Lou Bezjak, The State Newspaper; Jed Blackwell, Prep Redzone SC; Tyler Cupp, WHRI; Ian Guerin, Prep Redzone SC & My Horry News; Travis Jenkins, News & Reporter; Wes Kerr, Lowcosports.com;James McBee, Boiling Springs Journal; David Shelton, Charleston Post & Courier; Pete Yanity, WSPA; Alex Zietlow, Rock Hill Herald