The high school football season in South Carolina is set to start in just over a week. The preseason rankings have been released and more than a dozen Upstate teams find themselves in the polls.
In 5A, Perennial power Gaffney sits at #2 to open the final season of the Coach Dan Jones era. TL Hanna is ranked 7th in the preseason polls. JL Mann is coming off a historic run to the Upper State Title game last year. Hillcrest comes in at #10 in the preseason polls.
In 4A, defending State Champs Westside (Anderson) were voted #1 by a wide margin coming into 2024. Traditional powerhouse and the 3A State Champs from last year, Daniel sits at #3 after moving up to 4A . While those two teams are in different regions, many people feel they are on a collision course to meet in the postseason.
BHP opens as the preseason #1 in class 3A, after a run to 2023 the 3A Upper State Finals where they fell to Daniel. Christ Church has won back to back 1A State Titles and this off season was moved up two classes. The expectations are still high despite being moved up two classes, as the Cavs open at #4. Chapman opens at #5, their region mate and rival Broome sits tied for 8th. Pendelton comes in at #6 after a 9-3 campaign in 2023. Powdersville who was the 2022 State Runner Up in 3A, is tied with Broome for 8th.
Chester another traditional power has moved down from 3A to 2A, after winning 10 games in 2023. The Cyclones open the season as the #1 team in 2A. Clinton has been another 3A power and they have been moved down to 2A and open at #2. It's crazy that the top two ranked teams in the state are in the same region, so one won't even be region champions.
Abbeville has always been in the mix as a State Title contender in 2A. The Panthers have been moved down to 1A. With Christi Church, St Joseph's and Southside Christian all being moved up to 3A, it seems to open a "cake-walk" for Abbeville through the Upstate. Almost everybody around the scene has Abbeville and Johnsonville penciled in to the 1A State Finals in December.