Rock Hill, Fort Mill And Northwestern Crack 5A Top 10 In State Poll

Five high school football teams from York and Lancaster counties are ranked in the top 10 of this week’s South Carolina media poll, led by Northwestern at No. 2 in Class 5A and South Pointe at No. 2 in Class 4A.

Three of the 10 spots in 5A, the state’s largest classification, belong to York County programs. Rock Hill and Fort Mill both remain unbeaten at 4 and 0, and Northwestern drew one of the 18 votes for No. 1.

Records appear in parentheses in each list below, followed by the number of No. 1 votes where applicable.

Three York County Teams In 5A Top 10

Dutch Fork holds the top spot in 5A at 4 and 0, collecting 17 of the 18 votes for No. 1. Northwestern (3 and 1) received the other No. 1 vote and sits second.

Rock Hill is fourth and Fort Mill is seventh, both unbeaten. Boiling Springs (5 and 0) is No. 8 and is the only team in the 5A top 10 with five wins.

1. Dutch Fork (4 and 0), 17
2. Northwestern (3 and 1), 1
3. Dorman (4 and 0)
4. Rock Hill (4 and 0)
5. James Island (4 and 0)
6. Byrnes (3 and 1)
7. Fort Mill (4 and 0)
8. Boiling Springs (5 and 0)
9. Berkeley (4 and 1)
10. Sumter (3 and 2)

Others receiving votes: River Bluff, Chapin, Carolina Forest

South Pointe And Indian Land In 4A

Westside (4 and 1) leads 4A with 10 votes for No. 1. South Pointe is second at 2 and 1 and picked up six No. 1 votes, the second most in the classification. The Stallions have played one or two fewer games than every other team in the 4A top 10.

Indian Land (4 and 1) is No. 5, the only Lancaster County team in any top 10 this week. Lugoff Elgin (4 and 0) received the remaining two No. 1 votes, and North Myrtle Beach (5 and 0) is the other unbeaten team in the top 10.

1. Westside (4 and 1), 10
2. South Pointe (2 and 1), 6
3. Irmo (3 and 2)
4. Gaffney (3 and 1)
5. Indian Land (4 and 1)
6. Lugoff Elgin (4 and 0), 2
7. T.L. Hanna (4 and 1)
8. Hilton Head Island (4 and 1)
9. North Augusta (4 and 1)
10. North Myrtle Beach (5 and 0)

Others receiving votes: South Florence, Greer

Daniel A Unanimous No. 1 In 3A

Daniel (5 and 0) received all 18 votes for No. 1 in 3A. Bishop England, Hanahan and Chapman are also unbeaten at 5 and 0. No York or Lancaster County team is ranked or receiving votes in 3A.

1. Daniel (5 and 0), 18
2. Bishop England (5 and 0)
3. Hanahan (5 and 0)
4. Wren (4 and 1)
5. Camden (3 and 2)
6. Chapman (5 and 0)
7. Loris (4 and 1)
8. Oceanside Collegiate (2 and 3)
9. Emerald (4 and 1)
10. Gilbert (3 and 1)

Others receiving votes: Pickens, Powdersville, Belton Honea Path, Aynor, Hartsville

Andrew Jackson Receives Votes In 2A

Strom Thurmond (4 and 0) is the unanimous No. 1 in 2A. Andrew Jackson, in Kershaw, was among six teams receiving votes outside the top 10.

1. Strom Thurmond (4 and 0), 18
2. Marlboro County (4 and 0)
3. Dillon (3 and 1)
4. Clinton (3 and 1)
5. Orangeburg Wilkinson (4 and 0)
6. Mid Carolina (4 and 0)
7. Woodruff (3 and 2)
8. Saluda (3 and 1)
9. Keenan (4 and 1)
10. Battery Creek (5 and 0)

Others receiving votes: St. Joseph’s, Southside Christian, Crescent, Woodland, Chesnee, Andrew Jackson

Fairfield Central Leads 1A

Fairfield Central (5 and 0) received all 18 votes for No. 1 in 1A. Blackville Hilda and Wagener Salley are also unbeaten at 5 and 0.

1. Fairfield Central (5 and 0), 18
2. Central (4 and 0)
3. Bamberg Ehrhardt (4 and 1)
4. Lamar (4 and 1)
5. Hampton County (3 and 2)
6. Abbeville (2 and 2)
7. Carvers Bay (4 and 1)
8. Blackville Hilda (5 and 0)
9. Wagener Salley (5 and 0)
10. Lake View (4 and 1)

Others receiving votes: Johnsonville, C.A. Johnson, Scott’s Branch

Local Voices On The Panel

The poll is voted on by 18 media members from across the state. Three represent the Rock Hill and Fort Mill area: Mac Banks of Fort Mill Prep Sports and Tyler Cupp and Chris Miller of WRHI.

The full panel: Mac Banks, Fort Mill Prep Sports; Lou Bezjak, The State; Jed Blackwell, SC Prep RedZone; Travis Boland, The Times and Democrat; JB Brown, Blue Ridge Tigers Sports Network; Tyler Cupp, WRHI; Chris Dearing, SC Prep RedZone and The State; Jordan Ferrell, Fox Sports Spartanburg; Thomas Grant, Irmo News and Cola Daily; Ian Guerin, SC Prep RedZone; Travis Jenkins, The News and Reporter; Wes Kerr, LowCo Sports; James McBee, Boiling Springs Sports Journal; Chris Miller, WRHI; Brett Shugart, WBCU Radio; Brandon Stockdale, SC Prep RedZone; Rob Williams, Fourth Quarter Friday; Pete Yanity, WSPA.