The Upstate Top 10 is South Carolina's only poll that incorporates all class sizes of high school Football. The Top 10 has become a staple of the Saturday Morning Scramble and that's where you can hear a new edition of the Upstate Top 10 live each week. There's some movement this week, as a couple of teams that were ranked last week lost on Friday, for the 1st time this season. Byrnes dropped a 22-19 heart breaker to a ranked and unbeaten 4A West Florence club Friday. St. Joseph's lost at Southside Christian, as the Sabres had 2 weeks off to prepare for that game and downed the Knights 31-14. Below is the audio version of the Upstate Top 10 from this week's edition of the Saturday Morning Scramble here on The Fan Upstate. Below that is the written version of the poll.
The Upstate Top 10 Others Getting Votes (In no particular order)
St. Joe's- The 31-14 loss Friday to region rival Southside Christian knocked the Knights from the #10 spot from last week. St. Joe's should rebound this week as they take on Calhoun Falls in region play.
Spartanburg- They have three losses from a brutal early season schedule. Those losses came to powerhouse programs in Langston Hughes and Grayson from Georgia and South Carolina 5A power Dutch Fork. Since then, Spartanburg has started to turn the corner. They have a chance to play themselves into next week's poll with a win over Byrnes to open region 2 5A on Friday night.
Greenville High- The Red Raiders played three 5A teams that were ranked in this poll when they played them to open the season. They started 0-3 and have now rebounded smashing 5A squads Mauldin and JL Mann. The Red Raiders are on the road at Westside to open region play in 4A this week.
Christ Church- RB Dashun Reeder is having an amazing individual season, he racked up 4 more rushing TD's in their win Friday. CCES has just one loss on the season and that was to Holy Innocents from Georgia. They still have Southside Christian and St. Joe's left on the schedule and those games will likely determine the title race in Region 1-1A.
TL Hanna- They have 1 loss on the season and that was in blowout fashion to cross town rival Westside. Hanna does hold a win over Greenville High from week 1. They open region 1 5A play at Mauldin on Friday.
10. Easley- The Green Wave lost their season opener to Daniel in decisive fashion. Since then they have reeled off 4 wins straight since then. In that stretch they downed JL Mann who was unbeaten at the time. Easley is at Pickens in a local rivalry this week to open Region 1 4A play, it's a game I have dubbed "the battle of Highway 8". Easley makes their 1st appearance in the poll this season after being in the "others under consideration" category last week.
9. Westside- The Rams are still holding this spot after they handled Greer this past Friday 38-13. Westside lost their opener to BHP, but has responded since then running off 4 straight wins. This week, they have their biggest game of the season thus far hosting Greenville.
8. Gaffney- The Indians are holding to the #8 spot this week. They got in the 8 spot last week with an impressive road win over Northwestern. They followed that up with a come back win over Fort Dorchester at home Friday. Gaffney trailed by double digits in the 4th , but Senior QB Grayson Loftis was able to rally the offense on 2 TD drives in the final frame. Gaffney defense made a play getting an interception late in the game. Gaffney is off this week and then has Spartanburg to open their region slate Oct. 7th.
7. BHP- The Bears remain unbeaten and the win they hold over Westside continues to add gravitas to their undefeated start. BHP rolled Walhalla 44-8 this past Friday to close their non-region slate. They open region play in one of the biggest games in the area next week, as they travel to Powdersville. BHP is holding at 7.
6. Byrnes- The Rebels are down to spots from #4 last week, after their 1st loss of the season. Byrnes dropped a heart breaker 22-19 at West Florence, as WF scored on the last play of the game to win it. Byrnes has to re-group and focus on the task at hand. They open 5A Region 2 play on the road against a talented and battle tested Spartanburg squad.
5. Powdersville- The Patriots only loss came to a very good Hillcrest team in a 37-35 barn burner. Powdersville were off this past Friday. D-1 prospect LB Jalen "Rambo" Rambert left the Hillcrest game with an injury and didn't return. There's been no word on the severity of the injury. If he's not back close to 100% that could play a major factor in their region 2- 3A opener against #7 BHP this week. Powdersville is still holding at #5.
4. Clinton- The Red Devils are 6-0 on the season and have won every game by at least 2 touchdowns. Clinton handled South Aiken 54-28 this past week. They open the Region 4 3A portion of their schedule this coming week at Union County. Clinton is up two spots to #4 this week from #6 last week.
3. Dorman- The Cavs remain unbeaten in the 1st year of the Coach Dustin Curtis era. Their run game continues to roll up yardage behind what is likely the best O-line in the state. Dorman beat a previously unbeaten and ranked 5A River Bluff squad this past week, 39-23. DJ Porter has emerged as a star on the offensive side of the ball, he had nearly 300 total yards in the win this past week. The Cavs have Boiling Springs to open Region 2 5A play this week. Dorman remains in the 3 spot this week.
2. Hillcrest- The Rams keep rolling along unbeaten, they cruised past Wren 49-0 on Friday. Hillcrest's high flying offense continues to put up numbers. They have a prolific passing game with QB Bennett Judy and the playmakers around him. They also have balance, as RB Logan Coldren leads the rushing attack. Hillcrest has a bye this week and opens Region 1 5A play with Woodmont on Oct. 7th. Hillcrest is still holding at #2 which they got to after the tremendous road win over Powdersville.
1. Daniel- The Lions have won a program record 29 straight. They had no trouble in rolling Riverside 59-14, this past week. Daniel is looking for a State Title 3-peat for the 1st time in school history. They two defending champs for the 1st time since the 91 and 92 back-to-back titles. Daniel is at Walhalla in their region opener this week.
