Two Grand Strand teams are ranked No. 1 in the S.C. preseason high school football poll
Two of the Grand Strand’s top teams will begin with a huge target on their backs, as Myrtle Beach and Green Sea Floyds have been tabbed as the preseason top teams in their respective classifications.
In the Class A poll, Green Sea Floyds took seven of 10 first place votes, coming into the 2020 season as back-to-back state champions. The Trojans have a new coach this year in Joey Price, but return Class A back of the year in Jaquan Dixon.
The Seahawks have made back-to-back trips to Columbia for the Class 4A state championship game, winning the title in 2018. They return a host of offensive talent including wide receivers JJ Jones, Adam Randall and Ryan Burch.
In addition to Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach comes in the poll at No. 9, with the Chiefs’ first opponent, Hartsville, taking the third spot in the ranking.
The Class 5A poll is surprisingly void of Grand Strand representation in the top 10, as Carolina Forest, a final four team in the class last season, and Conway both received votes in the poll. In Class 3A, an Aynor team that lost just one game last season received votes but couldn’t crack the top 10.
South Carolina Prep Media Football Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)
CLASS AAAAA
1. Dutch Fork (10)
2. Dorman
3. Gaffney
4. Fort Dorchester
5. Byrnes
6. (tie) Sumter
Spring Valley
8. Goose Creek
9. T.L. Hanna
10. River Bluff
▪ Also receiving votes: Rock Hill, Clover, Carolina Forest, Ridge View, Mauldin, Berkeley, Conway, Northwestern, Hillcrest
CLASS AAAA
1. Myrtle Beach (7)
2. South Pointe
3. Hartsville (2)
4. Greenville (1)
5. AC Flora (1)
6. Greenwood
7. Wilson
8. Greer
9. North Myrtle Beach
10. Laurens
▪ Others receiving votes: May River, North Augusta, Eastside, West Florence, Beaufort, Walhalla, Westwood, Westside, Indian Land
CLASS AAA
1. Dillon (7)
2. Wren (2)
3. Chapman
4. Daniel
5. Camden (2)
6. Chester
7. Belton Honea-Path
8. Brookland-Cayce
9. Union County
10. (tie) Strom Thurmond
(tie) Oceanside Collegiate
▪ Others receiving votes: Gilbert, Woodruff, Aynor, Wade Hampton, Lake City, Lower Richland
CLASS AA
1. Abbeville (5)
2. (tie) Barnwell (1), Gray Collegiate (1)
4. Newberry
5. Saluda (2)
6. Timberland (1)
7. Cheraw
8. Chesnee
9. Pageland Central
10. Andrews
▪ Others receiving votes- Marion, Legion Collegiate, Batesburg-Leesville, Andrew Jackson, Mullins, Blacksburg, Latta, Woodland.
CLASS A
1. Green Sea Floyds (7)
2. Lamar (1)
3. Ridge Spring-Monetta
4. Southside Christian (1)
5. Lakeview
6. Wagener-Salley
7. C.E. Murray
8. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (1)
9. Whale Branch
10. McCormick
▪ Others receiving votes- Blackville-Hilda, Lewisville, Great Falls, Williston-Elko, East Clarendon, Hannah-Pamplico, McBee, Baptist Hill, Branchville, Carvers Bay