Greenwood receives preseason national ranking

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Fullback Kevon Harrison and his teammates at Greenwood High were tabbed at No. 74 in the RivalsHigh 100 preseason poll. The teams is the first in the Palmetto State this season to be featured in the annual countdown.

Greenwood became the first Palmetto State program to be featured in this year’s RivalsHigh100 preseason poll Wednesday, debuting at No. 74.
The rankings, compiled by RivalsHigh senior analyst Dallas Jackson and a host of other experts in the realm of high school football, began Monday. Listing the top 100 teams with high expectations coming into the 2011
The Eagles, last year’s Class AAAA- Division II runner-up, finished last season ranked No. 57 in the poll after a 13-2 season in which the team held nine opponents under 10 points or less. According to Jackson, more of the same could be expected of Greenwood in 2011, returning a speedy, yet physical roster of athletes.
“Physicality is something that is being coached out of football. As more teams go to the spread on offense, and subsequently the opposition putting more defensive backs and undersized linebackers on the field, it is becoming a point of pride to have a strong and physical team,” Jackson said. “Greenwood likes to hit - and it isn't just on defense, as the running backs look for contact and the receivers block. Some teams just are not ready for that.”
Greenwood will have to validate its lofty ranking early on in the 2011 campaign, however, heading to The Reservation to play Gaffney Sept. 2. The Eagles will then host Dorman before traveling to Spartanburg, the Eagles’ last game before entering region play.
Click here to see what RivalsHigh had to say about Greenwood.