Midlands Top 10: Who are the best teams to start 2020 high school football season?
A look at this preseason Top 10 Midlands high school football power rankings as voted on by a panel at The State Newspaper:
1. Dutch Fork
Last year’s record: 14-0-1
Why they are ranked: The Silver Foxes are four-time Class 5A state champions. Record-setting QB Tyler Olenchuk and WR Jalin Hyatt are gone but there’s still plenty of firepower on offense with Ben Lippen transfer QB Will Taylor and the receiving corps made up of Charlotte commit Elijah Spencer, Devin Hyatt and Antonio Williams. Dutch Fork enters season with a 40-game unbeaten streak.
2. Spring Valley
Last year’s record: 6-6
Why they are ranked: The Vikings’ switch from flexbone offense to the spread was a success as DQ Smith threw for 2,317 yards and 30 TDs. Smith is back and has a new target in RNE transfer Tysean Osby. Spring Valley has a lot of key players back on defense including Trey Peterson, who had 16 sacks last year.
3. Camden
Last year’s record: 12-2
Why they are ranked: The Bulldogs came within a game of playing for state championship last year and have plenty of weapons back including 2,000-yard rusher Willis Lane, quarterback Jaffari Pearson and a big offensive line.
4. (tie) A.C. Flora
Last year’s record: 10-2
Why they are ranked: The Falcons return 17 starters from last year’s team and added Hillcrest High transfer Ethan Beamish to go along with a talented group on offense that features 1,000-yard rusher Matt Pack and WR Eriq Rice.
4. (tie) River Bluff
Last year’s record: 9-3
Why they are ranked: The Gators have won nine games in each of the past two two seasons and made it to the second round of the playoffs last year. Jackson Stone is back at QB and two of the top playmakers are back on offense in WR and Syracuse commit Kendall Long and running back Riley Myers.
6. Ridge View
Last year’s record: 9-5
Why they are ranked: The Blazers made it to 4A Upper State championship game last year but are moving up to 5A this season. The biggest question mark will be the team’s secondary, where the Blazers lost Division I signees Tyson Player and Dwight Jacobs.
7. Brookland-Cayce
Last year’s record: 8-5
Why they are ranked: The Bearcats are moving back down to Class 3A this season and should be a contender in the lower state. Running back Willis Way is back on offense and had more than 2,000 all-purpose yards a season ago.
8. Gray Collegiate
Last year’s record: 10-3
Why they are ranked: The War Eagles are coming off the deepest run in school history where they were a win away from the 2A Upper State title game. Tre Robinson takes over at QB for record-setting QB Hunter Helms, and returning running back KZ Adams scored 35 touchdowns a year ago. Gray is in a tough region with likes of Newberry, Saluda and Batesburg-Leesville.
9. Hammond
Last year’s record: 12-2
Why they are ranked: The Skyhawks are going for a fourth-straight SCISA title and are off to 3-0 start so far this season.. The offense features dynamic running back CJ Stokes and Drew Bobo, who anchors a talented offensive line. The defense is allowing just 7 points a game despite losing several Division I players.
10. Blythewood
Last year’s record: 5-6
Why they are ranked: Florida State receiving commit Joshua Burrell headlines a talented group of returnees on both sides of the ball. The Bengals started strong in 2019 but struggled near the end of the season.
Others receiving votes: Chapin, Gilbert, Lower Richland, Newberry, Saluda, Westwood.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 8:07 AM.
