Just over 7 weeks from the kickoff of the 2015 high school football season, the High School Sports Report released their preseason rankings. A number of local teams made the cut.
Here’s the complete release:
Moncks Corner–With the return of rising senior running back Tavien Feaster and the field leadership of quarterback Austin Scott Spartanburg comes into the 2015 pre-season ranked number one in Class AAAA by The High School Sports Report.
The Vikings will play in the final year of AAAA having two divisions and they are the defending Div. II AAAA champions. This will be the final season for two divisions in Class A and AA as well as a new five classification system begins in 2016.
Upstart Fort Dorchester (11-3) is loaded with talent top to bottom and they are the odds-on favorite to win the Div. I AAAA title coming into the season ranked number two by the HSSR and led by players like sophomore quarterback Dakaerion Joyner and fullback Datron Jones who rushed for 1,741 yards last season. John Simpson and Chris Morales are two next level offensive linemen expected to make all-star teams when the season is over.
Rounding out the top 10 in AAAA are the defending Div. I AAAA Hillcrest Rams at number three with Northwestern, South Florence, Dutch Fork, Dorman, Byrnes, York, and Greenwood rounding out the top 10.
In AAA Greer (11-1) is top ranked coming into he season and Will Young’s team is loaded with next level talent led by quarterback Mario Cusano and receiver Dorian Lindsey who caught 62 passes for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Coach Young will begin his 11th season as the head coach at Greer. “When you combine character and talent and hard working kids this is as good as we’ve had since I have been at Greer, and we have had a lot of talented teams,” said Coach Young. “We kind of felt that last year was going to be a rebuilding year but when we went 11-1 with a fairly young team we were pleased but we are focused on doing even better this year.”
On defense the Jackets are led by speedy defensive back Troy Pride (5-11, 165) committed to Virginia Tech but that has stopped schools from pressing him to look their way. Greer is also led by running back Adrian McGee and junior offensive lineman Noah Hannon.
South Pointe (12-3) dominated Hartsville in the AAA state finals last year and the Stallions come into the season ranked second led by senior quarterback Greg Ruff (5-9,175) who completed 209 0f 295 passes for 2,669 yards and 33 touchdowns last year. The Stallions are loaded in the defensive secondary with top prospects Chris Smith (5-11,170) and Nick McCloud (6-0, 165).
Rounding out the top 10 in AAA is Myrtle Beach, Hartsville, Marlboro County, Hanahan and Daniel is number six. The next four are A.C. Flora, Midland Valley, Seneca and Berkley.
Dillon will come into the season ranked number one but expect a push from Timberland now in the same division of AA with the Wildcats.
“This is the best team I’ve coached at Dillon to date and we expect to compete for a state championship,” said head coach Jackie Hayes. “We have no problem at all being ranked number one in the pre-season but winning that last game at the end is our main goal.”
Dillon will be led once again by quarterback Avery McCall who can become the first quarterback in state history to win four straight state titles. The Wildcats return 16 starters from a 14-0 team lat year and have depth at every position. A few other key players returning include running backs Jamison Chapman and Johnny Allen at running back and Adonis Sealey and Harley Mincey are back along the offensive line.
On defense the Nasty Cats are led by major college prospects Jermaine McDaniel (6-3, 240) at defensive end and Trey Melton (6-0,225) at linebacker.
Christ Church, owner of the state’s longest win streak at 54, will enter the pre-season ranked number one in Class A but McBee is an up-start team that won the state track meet in May with several up and coming prospects.
“Right now our biggest concern is finding a quarterback to replace Andrew Slade who graduated and coming out of the spring we have three young men all competing and they are dead even right now,” said head coach Don Frost starting his 8th season as head coach at Christ Church.
The quarterback candidates includes juniors Jeffrey Johnson and Cole Berube along with sophomore Ellis Millwood.
The cavaliers return six starters on both sides of the football. They have depth at receiver with senior Braxton Westfield (6-3, 190) who has seven offers along with Chase Poplin.
Jack Epting (6-2, 285) won King of the Mountain honors at a Citadel summer camp and also got high honors at a rival’s offensive lineman as well. Isaiah Alston (6-2, 300) returns at left tackle and he recently tested had a 36″ no-first step vertical jump. Junior running back Radford Swent returns to add depth at running back.
The defense is anchored by middle linebacker Josh Jackson (6-2, 185) who has 488 career tackles coming into his senior season. “He’s a special player,” said Coach Frost. “His motor never stops.” Daniel Dixon returns at another linebacker spot.
Austin Hayden is back at free safety along with both corners Chase Bowie and Kevin Williams. Zach Idris (6-2, 230) returns at one defensive end and Beale Wood and Ryan Putman (6-3, 208) will also play up-front.
Charlie Poole begins his 5th season in McBee and his team tied a school record for wins with 11 last year when they lost in the upper state finals against Christ Church.
McBee will be led in their power offense by quarterback/.linebacker Jordan Fair.
Rounding out the top 10 in Class A are Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Allendale-Fairfax, Calhoun County. Lake View, HKT, Lamar, St Joseph’s and Estill.
In the SCISA ranks Hammond will once again reload but a challenge is coming from upstart Ben Lippen. Northwood Academy returns a lot of depth on defense and in ranked number one in SCISA AA with Williamsburg Academy top ranked in SCISA A. Richard Winn and The Carolina Academy are ranked one-two in the pre-season in the fast paced action of 8-man football.
2015 HSSR AAAA Pre-Season Football
1. Spartanburg
2. Fort Dorchester
3. Hillcrest
4.Northwestern
5. South Florence
6. Dutch Fork
7. Dorman
8. Byrnes
9. York
10. Greenwood
11. Wando
12. Westside
13. Fort Mill
14. Goose Creek
15. Ashley Ridge
16. North Augusta
17. Colleton County
18. Westwood
19. River Bluff
20. White Knoll
2015 HSSR-AAA Pre-Season Football
1. Greer
2. South Pointe
3. Myrtle Beach
4. Hartsville
5. Marlboro County
6. Hanahan
7 Daniel
8.. A.C. Flora
9. Seneca
10. Emerald
11. Midland Valley
12. Berkeley
13. Swansea
14. Wren
15. Chapin
16. Swansea
17. Brookland-Cayce
18. Hilton Head
19. Beaufort
20. Broome
2015 HSSR AA Pre-Season Football
1.Dillon
2. Timberland
3. Central
4. Newberry
5. Chesnee
6. Loris
7. Cheraw
8.. Woodruff
9. Batesburg-Leesville
10. Fairfield Central
11. Keenan
12. Strom Thurmond
13. Abbeville
14. Ninety-Six
15. Powdersville
16. Ridgeland-Hardeeville
17. Pelion
18. Silver Bluff
19. Woodland
20 Chesterfield
2015 HSSR Class A Pre-Season Football
1.Christ Church
2. McBee
3. Bamberg-Ehrhardt
4. Allendale-Fairfax
5. Calhoun County
6. Lake View
7. HKT
8, Lamar
9. St Joseph’s
10. Estill
11. Hemingway
12. St. Johns
13. Williston-Elko
14. Fox Creek
15 St. Joseph’s
16. Cross
17. Great Falls
18. Southside Christian
19. Timmonsville
20. Carvers Bay
2015 HSSR-SCISA AAA Top 5
1. Hammond
2. Ben Lippen
3. Laurence Manning
4. Wilson Hall
5. Pinewood Prep
2015 HSSR-SCISA AA Top 5
1. Northwood Academy
2. Florence Christian
3.Calhoun Academy
4.Hilton Head Christian
5. Orangeburg Prep
2015 HSSR-SCISA Class A Top 5
1. Williamsburg Academy
2. Holly Hill Academy
3. Curtis Baptist
4. Dillon Christian
5. Hilton Head Prep
2015 HSSR- SCISA 8-Man Top 5
1. Richard Winn
2. The Carolina Academy
3. Andrew Jackson
4. Clarendon Hall
5. Patrick Henry