The two Lowco area teams who began the season ranked in the top 10 in their classifications each climbed one spot in the S.C. Prep Football Media Poll after opening the season with victories Friday.
Whale Branch moved up to No. 3 in the Class 1A poll after a wild 54-50 comeback win over Calhoun County. The Warriors rallied from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter behind six touchdowns from Joseph Hicks. Whale Branch (1-0) travels to Bethune-Bowman on Friday.
Beaufort High climbed to No. 7 in Class 4A after a dominant 28-8 win over Richmond Hill. The Eagles allowed just 125 total yards to the Wildcats, whose only scoring came on a kickoff return touchdown and a safety. Beaufort (1-0) plays at Effingham County in another border battle Friday.
May River (1-0) also received votes in the Class 4A poll but finished just outside the top 10.
SC Prep Football Media Poll
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (14)
2. Fort Dorchester
3. T.L. Hanna
4. Ridge View
5. Gaffney
6. Byrnes
7. Sumter
8. Northwestern
9. Clover
10. (tie) River Bluff
10. (tie) Dorman
Others receiving votes: Carolina Forest, Mauldin, Chapin, Spartanburg, Woodmont
Class 4A
1. A.C. Flora (13)
2. (tie) Myrtle Beach (1)
2. (tie) Greenville
4. Catawba Ridge
5. South Pointe
6. North Myrtle Beach
7. Beaufort
8. Irmo
9. North Augusta
10. Westside
Others receiving votes: Greenwood, May River, Greer, West Florence, Airport
Class 3A
1. Daniel (14)
2. Chapman
3. Dillon
4. Gilbert
5. Camden
6. Oceanside Collegiate
7. (tie) Union County
7.(tie) Woodruff
9. Brookland-Cayce
10. Aynor
Others receiving votes: Chester, Seneca, Wren, Belton Honea Path, Clinton, Lower Richland, Hanahan, Fairfield Central
Class 2A
1. Abbeville (14)
2. Gray Collegiate
3. Barnwell
4. Marion
5. Newberry
6. Saluda
7. Andrews
8. Silver Bluff
9. Christ Church
10. Chesnee
Others receiving votes: Andrew Jackson, St. Joe’s, Woodland, North Central, Batesburg-Leesville
Class 1A
1. Southside Christian (14)
2. Lamar
3. Whale Branch
4. Bamberg-Ehrhardt
5. Blackville-Hilda
6. (tie) Wagener-Salley
6. (tie) Lake View
8. Baptist Hill
9. Lewisville
10. Ridge Spring-Monetta
Others receiving votes: Great Falls, Hannah-Pamlico, C.A. Johnson, Allendale-Fairfax, Johnsonville, Whitmire
This Week’s Voters: James Benedetto Index Journal; Lou Bezjak, The State Newspaper; Jed Blackwell, Prep Redzone SC; Cole Bryson, ESPN Upstate; Thomas Grant, Lexington Chronicle; Ian Guerin, Prep Redzone SC & My Horry News; Travis Jenkins, News & Reporter; Wes Kerr, Lowcosports.com; Justin Mathis, CastPrep and Boiling Springs Journal; James McBee, Boiling Springs Journal; David Shelton, Charleston Post & Courier and High School Sports Report; Brandon Stockdale, Prep Redzone SC; Pete Yanity, WSPA; Alex Zietlow, Rock Hill Herald
Photo by Todd Stowe