South Carolina Week Two Rankings

According to the S.C. High School Sports Report

Class 4A
1. Dorman (1-0) - defeated Gaffney, 21-12 NEXT: vs. Spartanburg
2. Northwestern (1-0) - defeated South Pointe, 42-20 NEXT: vs. York
3. Goose Creek (1-0) - defeated Irmo, 49-28 NEXT: at Cane Bay
4. Summerville (1-0) - defeated Conway, 50-26 NEXT: vs. Berkeley
5. Byrnes (0-1) - lost to Hoover (Ala.), 14-0 NEXT: at Myrtle Beach
6. Gaffney (1-1) - lost to Dorman, 21-12 NEXT: at Greenwood
7. North Augusta (1-0) - defeated Midland Valley, 38-14 NEXT: at Dutch Fork
8. Greenwood (1-0) - defeated Boiling Springs, 17-8 NEXT: vs. Gaffney
9. Beaufort (1-0) - defeated Hilton Head, 44-3 NEXT: at Battery Creek
10. Spartanburg (1-0) - defeated Union County, 27-19 NEXT: at Dorman

Class 3A
1. Myrtle Beach (1-0) - defeated Carolina Forest, 63-6 NEXT: vs. Byrnes
2. Marlboro County (2-0) - defeated Cheraw, 30-0 NEXT: at Conway (Sept. 17)
3. Berkeley (1-0) - defeated Stratford, 40-145 NEXT: at Summerville
4. Chester (2-0) - defeated Lewisville, 52-6 NEXT: vs. Lancaster
5. Fairfield Central (2-0) - defeated Blythewood, 25-7 NEXT: at Airport
6. South Pointe (1-1) - lost to Northwestern, 42-20 NEXT: vs. Rock Hill
7. Greenville (1-0) - defeated Woodruff, 21-7 NEXT: vs. Daniel
8. Clinton (1-0) - defeated Newberry, 27-14 NEXT: at Woodruff
9. Camden (2-0) - defeated Ware Shoals, 34-14 NEXT: vs. West Florence
10. Belton-Honea Path (1-0) - defeated Laurens, 28-27 NEXT: vs.Westside

Class 2A
1. Dillon (2-0) - defeated Lake View, 31-0 NEXT: vs. Latta
2. Central (1-0) - defeated Anson County (N.C.), 20-7 NEXT: vs. Lewisville
3. Lake City (1-0) - defeated Lee Central, 62-0 NEXT: vs. Darlington
4. Timberland (2-0) - defeated Hanahan, 28-21 NEXT: at Cross
5. Broome (1-0) - defeated York, 21-13 NEXT: at Union County
6. Strom Thurmond (2-0) - defeated Laney (Ga.), 20-7 NEXT: vs. Saluda
7. Manning (1-0) - defeated Scott’s Branch, 34-14 NEXT: vs. Marion
8. Chesnee (1-0) - defeated Chase (N.C.), 19-13 NEXT: vs. Landrum
9. Silver Bluff (0-1) - lost to Aiken, 28-13 NEXT: vs. Ninety Six
10. Palmetto (2-0) - defeated Wren, 35-20 NEXT: vs. Dixie

Class 1A
1. Chesterfield (1-0) - defeated Timmonsville, 36-14 NEXT: vs. Cheraw
2. Williston-Elko (1-1) - defeated Barnwell, 56-15 NEXT: at Ridge Spring-Monetta
3. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (1-0) - Bye NEXT: Edisto
4. Calhoun County (1-1) - defeated Lake Marion, 26-0 NEXT: vs. Wagener-Salley
5. Lamar (1-0) - defeated Hartsville, 24-13 NEXT: vs. Timmonsville
6. Abbeville (1-1) - defeated Lincoln County (Ga.), 24-21 NEXT: at Crescent
7. Hemingway (2-0) - defeated Kingstree, 39-0 NEXT: vs. C.E. Murray (Sept. 10)
8. Christ Church (2-0) - defeated Liberty, 48-14 NEXT: at Eastside (Sept. 17)
9. Carvers Bay (1-1) - defeated Georgetown, 22-0 NEXT: vs. Waccamaw
10. Blackville-Hilda (1-1) -lost to Keenan, 14-12 NEXT: vs. Fox Creek

S.C. Week Two Schedule

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Members of the Byrnes secondary nearly intercept a pass thrown by Hoover's Caleb Sims last Saturday during the team's contest in Rock Hill. The Bucs prevailed in the game, 14-0.

Thursday’s Games

A.C. Flora at Eau Claire
Dixie at Palmetto

Friday’s Games

Abbeville at Crescent
Aiken at Crestwood
Allendale-Fairfax at Bethune-Bowman
Andrews at Georgetown
Ashley Ridge at Socastee
Aynor at Green Sea-Floyds
Baptist Hill at Denmark-Olar
Beaufort at Battery Creek
Berkeley at Summerville
Bishop England at Hanahan
Blue Ridge at Eastside
Bluffton at Hardeeville
Blythewood at Lexington
Boiling Springs at Hanna
Branchville at Academic Magnet
Broome at Union County
Byrnes at Myrtle Beach, 8 p.m.
C.A. Johnson at Keenan
Carolina Aca. at Walhalla
Carolina Forest at St. James
Chapman at Wade Hampton (G)
Cheraw at Chesterfield
Clinton at Woodruff
Daniel at Greenville
Darlington at Lake City
Dreher at Columbia
East Clarendon at Johnsonville
Edisto at Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Fairfield Central at Airport
Fort Dorchester at Irmo
Fort Mill at Ridge View
Fox Creek at Blackville-Hilda
Gaffney at Greenwood
Garrett at St. John’s
Gilbert at White Knoll
Goose Creek at Cane Bay
Gre at Falls at Andrew Jackson, 8 p.m.
Greer at Berea
Hannah-Pamplico at Creek Bridge
Hartsville at Lee Central
Indian Land at Blacksburg
J.L. Mann at Southside
Kingstree at C.E. Murray
Lake Marion at West Ashley
Lancaster at Chester, 8 p.m.
Landrum at Chesnee
Latta at Dillon
Laurens at Hillcrest
Lewisville at Central
Lincoln County (Ga.) at McCormick
Lower Richland at Lakewood
Marion at Manning
McBee at Buford
Mid-Carolina at Batesburg-Leesville
Military Magnet at Whale Branch
Nation Ford at Rock Hill
Newberry at Brookland Cayce
Ninety Six at Silver Bluff
North at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler
North Augusta at Dutch Fork
Orangeburg Wilkinson at Colleton Cty.
Pelion at Emerald
Pendleton at West-Oak
Pickens at Liberty
Ridgeland at Hilton Head
Riverside at Wren
Saluda at Strom Thurmond
Scott’s Branch at Woodland
South Aiken at Midland Valley
Spartanburg at Dorman, 8 p.m.
Spring Valley at Lugoff-Elgin
St. Joseph’s at North Central
Sumter at Stratford
Swansea at Chapin
Timberland at Cross
Timmonsville at Lamar
Waccamaw at Carvers Bay
Wade Hampton (H) at Estill
Wagener-Salley at Calhoun County
Wando at Conway
West Brunswick at North Myrtle Beach
West Florence at Camden
Westside at Belton-Honea Path
Whitmire at Calhoun Falls Charter
Williston-Elko at Ridge Spring-Monetta
Wilson at South Florence
York at Northwestern
Stall at James Island
Saturday’s Game
North Charleston at Burke

SCISA

Friday’s Games

Augusta Christian at Cardinal Newman
Pinewood Prep at Ben Lippen
Wilson Hall at Hammond
Heathwood Hall at Porter-Gaud
Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep
Byrnes School at Carolina Aca.
Lake View at Dillon Christian
Colleton Prep at Dorchester Aca.
St. John’s at Holly Hill
R.E. Lee at Richard Winn
Thomas Heyward at Bible Baptist
Cathedral Aca. at Northwood Aca.
Charleston Coll. at First Baptist
Calhoun at Coastal Christian

Hoover puts clamps on Byrnes, defeat Rebels 14-0

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Byrnes running back Shakeem Wharton draws a host of Hoover (Ala.) defenders during Saturday's game in Rock Hill. Wharton's Rebels were not able to figure out the Bucs defense, being held scoreless in a 14-0 loss.

Two of the nation’s most prolific offenses were expected to take the field Saturday afternoon in Rock Hill, but it was the defenses who took center stage when Hoover (Ala.) finally collided with Byrnes.
A match-up yearned by fans of both programs for some time, the Bucs had just enough to get by the South Carolina powerhouse, 14-0.
Quarterback Caleb Sims had a hand in both Hoover scores, opening scoring with a 20-yard run in the first quarter and a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Denson late in the third.
That was more than enough insurance for the Buccaneer defense, holding Byrnes to 127 total yards for the game, shutting it out for the first time since 1999 -- a 41-0 loss to Rock Hill in the same District Three Stadium in which it played.
“The coaches did a good job of mixing things up, and disguising coverages,” said Hoover head coach Josh Niblett. “I’m just so proud of how our kids did today.”
Byrnes did not cross the 50-yard line until the 3:56 mark in the fourth period, when the game was well in hand. The Bucs defensive speed had something to do with that, yielding only 38 yards through the air and going 0-for- 11 on third down. “We're just young,” Byrnes coach Chris Miller said. “We lost three great receivers (coming into the game) and struggled a little bit. … I'm definitely not taking anything away from our younger players. But when you don't have Tony (Hillman) and Craig (Weick), it hurts us a little bit.”
Hillman and Weick both missed the game due to injuries. Wide receiver Akia Booker also missed the game due to disciplinary reasons.
Byrnes running back Shakeem Wharton led the team with 91 yards on 22 carries.
The Rebels defense held its own against Alabama’s defending Class 6A champion, allowing 253 yards while holding Hoover to 4-of-15 on third down. The Bucs lived in Byrnes territory for much of the contest, but could not seem to finish drives, something Niblett said his team will work on in coming weeks.
“We got out of tempo a bit, but thank God for the opportunity to be here and get this victory,” the Hoover head coach said. “Something we harp upon is that everyone has a job. If you do your job, and everyone else takes care of their business, we will be in good shape.”
The road does not get any easier for the Rebels, taking on S.C. Class 3A juggernaut Myrtle Beach. Hoover dives headfirst into competition in the Heart of Dixie, taking on rival Spain Park (Ala.).

Week One — Palmetto Pigskin roundup

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

A South Pointe defender gets the best of Northwestern's Brandon Lewis during Saturday's game between the teams. The Trojans got the best of their crosstown rival however, using a third quarter explosion to push them past the Stallions 42-20.

A.C. Flora 33, Columbia 32

Abbeville 24, Lincoln County (Ga.) 21

Aiken 28, Silver Bluff 13

Airport 33, Brookland-Cayce 0

Allendale-Fairfax 21, W. Hampton (H) 20

Andrews 15, Mullins 0

Ashley Ridge 14, Cane Bay 0

Aynor 28, Creek Bridge 14

Baptist Hill 14, Stall 12

Beaufort 44, Hilton Head 3

Belton-Honea Path 28, Laurens 27

Berea 20, Carolina Academy 13

Berkeley 40, Stratford 14

Bluffton 45, Ridgeland 38

Broome 21, York 13

C.E. Murray 25, Cross 0

Calhoun County 26, Lake Marion 0

Calhoun Falls Charter 45, Carolina Titans 0

Camden 34, Ware Shoals 14

Carvers Bay 22, Georgetown 0

Central 20, Anson County (N.C.) 7

Chesnee 19, Scott’s Branch 13

Chester 52, Lewisville 6

Chesterfield 36, Timmonsville 14

Christ Church 48, Liberty 14

Clover 26, Ashbrook (N.C.) 12

Crestwood 25, Sumter 24

Dillon 31, Lake View 0

Dorman 21, Gaffney 12

Easley 6, Daniel 0

East Clarendon 56, Latta 6

Eau Claire 19, C.A. Johnson 0

Emerald 24, Ninety Six 14

Estill 24, Battery Creek 6

Fairfield Central 25, Blythewood 7

Fort Dorchester 31, Woodland 20

Fort Mill 49, Lugoff-Elgin 33

Fox Creek 39, Academic Magnet 6

Garrett 44, Lincoln 0

Goose Creek 49, Irmo 28

G. Sea-Floyds 13, North Central 12

Greenville 21, Woodruff 7

Greenwood 17, Boiling Springs 8

Hammond 42, Cardinal Newman 0

Hanna 42, Westside 6

Hemingway 39, Kingstree 0

Indian Land 28, Buford 13

J.L. Mann 42, Woodmont 0

James Island 43, St. John’s 0

Johnsonville 21, Hannah-Pamplico 7

Lake City 62, Lee Central 0

Lakewood 14, Colleton County 13

Lamar 24, Hartsville 13

Lancaster 35, Andrew Jackson 16

Landrum 36, Travelers Rest 9

Lexington 34, B.-Leesville 23

Loris 44, North Myrtle Beach 0

Manning 34, Scott’s Branch 14

Marlboro County 30, Cheraw 0

Mauldin 32, Hillcrest 7

McBee 16, Blacksburg 7

Mid-Carolina 53, Whitmire 6

Myrtle Beach 63, Carolina Forest 6

North Augusta 38, Midland Valley 14

N. Charleston 40, Military Magnet 14

Nation Ford 47, Great Falls 15

Orangeburg-Wilkinson 51, Edisto 10

Palmetto 35, Wren 20

Pee Dee Acad. 33, Richard Winn 6

Pickens 24, Pendleton 14

Rangers (N.C.) 26, Southside 6

Richland Northeast 33, S. Aiken 3

Riverside 56, Eastside 0

Rock Hill 29, Greer 28

Saluda 28, Ridge Spring-Monetta 6

Seneca 37, Chapman 21

Socastee 29, N. Brunswick (N.C.) 28

S. Florence 42, W. Florence 10

Southside Christian 7, St. Joseph’s 0

Spartanburg 27, Union County 19

Spring Valley 42, Lower Richland 12

S. Thurmond 20, Lucy Laney (Ga.) 7

Summerville 50, Conway 26

Swansea 42, Wagener-Salley 6

Thomas Sumter 27, Wilson Hall 25

W.W. King 32, Patrick Henry 20

Waccamaw 14, St. James 6

W. Hampton (G) 56, B. Ridge 55

Walhalla 23, West-Oak 13

Wando 31, Ridge View 0

West Ashley 13, Bishop England 10

Whale Branch 30, H.-Kinard-Tyler 28

White Knoll 56, Pelion 6

Williston-Elko 56, Barnwell 15

Wilson 31, Darlington 12

Third quarter explosion pushes Northwestern past rival South Pointe

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley celebrates with receiver Brandon Lewis after the two connected for a touchdown in the third quarter of the team's nationally-televised contest with rival South Pointe. The Trojans would go on to win the game 42-20.

Sometimes it takes a little adversity to reveal the true character of a team.

It didn't take long for Northwestern head coach Jimmy Wallace to get his answer — and he could not be more pleased.

Down 20-7 midway through the third quarter to crosstown rival South Pointe, the Trojans exploded for touchdowns on their next five possessions en route to a 42-20 victory to open the season at Rock Hill's District Three Stadium.

For much of the first half, Northwestern's fans — and more notably its "Air Raid" offense — was silent, helpless as the Stallions defense dominated play. South Pointe forced three turnovers on the afternoon, each of which was converted to points for the team.

Top prospect Jadeveon Clowney, who wreaked havoc in the Trojan backfield all day, was responsible for the the final turnover, stripping Northwestern running back LaThomas Long of the ball a few plays into the third quarter. It didn't take the Stallions long to cash in, with Brian Jennings fighting his way into the end zone to give the team a 13-point advantage, seemingly insurmountable at the time.

"At halftime, I didn't think our kids were handling adversity well," Wallace said. "To win games, you must be able to do so ... I'm sure glad our kids responded like they did."

On the Trojans' next possession, a short slant pass by quarterback Justin Worley to wide receiver Brandon Lewis turned into a 47-yard completion, helping move the ball into the red zone and providing the team a spark. A few plays later, Worley used his escapability to shake free of Clowney, giving the Tennessee commit enough time to find Stewart Hunt for the score.

Now within six points, it would take only three plays for Northwestern to again reach pay dirt and reclaim the lead.

Blessed with good field possession after the Stallions' James Jackson could not control the ensuing kickoff, a long completion by Worley drew the ball within five yards of the goal line. From there, Worley found Long on a screen pass around right end for the score, giving the Trojans a 21-20 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for South Pointe, its next possession also ending with a turnover as Northwestern's Nicholas Cousar intercepted a pass from quarterback Tay Hacklin, returning the ball to the Stallions' 24-yard line. The Trojans' Lewis would win a jump ball in the end zone with an opposing defender on the very next play, pushing the squad's lead to eight points, 28-20.

Northwestern's star quarterback would continue his third quarter mastery of the South Pointe (1-1) defense the next drive, as following another fumble he completed a 51-yard pass to Long before finding his favorite target Robert Joseph in the end zone for a short touchdown pass. The aerial assault would end with a flourish for the Trojans as Worley from the Trojans' 43-yard line hit Lewis in stride, the receiver outrunning a Stallions defender up the sideline for a touchdown, the final salvo in a 42-20 victory.

"We really had a good scheme," said Lewis, who caught six balls for 172 yards and two touchdowns on the day. "I think we gelled well because we had confidence in this team, and the momentum we could create at any time. We believed we could had more will to win this than they did, we just had to bring it out on the field. I think we did just that."

Worley completed 24 of his 33 attempts in the game, passing for 310 yards. He also had five touchdowns and two interceptions on the day.

Each team's defensive front dominated play in the first half, making running the ball difficult for both teams. During the first 24 minutes, however, the Stallions' secondary forced the Northwestern (1-0) aerial attack to be more patient than it wanted to be, holding it scoreless in the first half with the squad's only score coming by way of a fumble return for a touchdown early in the first quarter.

However, like a ticking time bomb, it was only a matter of when — not if— the Trojans' offense would explode ... and boy did it do just that.

"It looked like it would be a defensive game for a while," Wallace said. "But I have to give credit to our offensive coordinators, they did a great job. This was a good win; we're going to celebrate but we know it's on to the next one; we'll have to be ready."

Friday's Fab Five -- Games to Watch in the Palmetto State Week One

1. Fairfield Central at Blythewood -- After surviving in its season opener vs. South Florence, Blythewood takes on its nearby rivals from Winnsboro, the Griffins. Bengals running back and South Carolina commit Brandon Wilds was held to 38 yards on the ground last Friday, something Fairfield Central middle linebacker Ralph Cooper hopes continues in this meeting between ranked squads in classes 3A and 4A.
Last season’s game was decided by two points; expect more of the same in this one. -- PREDICTION: Blythewood 24, Fairfield Central 19

2. Irmo at Goose Creek -- One thing is for sure: Irmo is committed to running the football. Expect the Yellow Jackets to attempt to do in hope the move will keep its young defense off the field against an explosive Goose Creek team returning eight starters from a unit which averaged nearly 31 points per game in 2009. The Gators are also young on the defensive side of the ball, yet head coach Chuck Reedy believes the unit is “bigger, stronger, and faster -- just young.” -- PREDICTION: Goose Creek 34, Irmo 24

3. Chesterfield at Timmonsville -- The drive for a fourth consecutive Class A title for Chesterfield begins with it matching up against fellow powerhouse in the classification in the Whirlwinds. A new cast will be required to complete the task, with five offensive and four defensive starters back to defend the crown. But the Golden Rams are set at quarterback, returning quarterback Seth Truesdale to engineer the team’s spread offense. Timmonsville returns 15 starters from last season‘s 3-9 team, particularly in the defensive backfield which is led by Donald Young, who intercepted six balls in 2009. -- PREDICTION: Chesterfield 31, Timmonsville 14

4. Stratford at Berkeley -- Lowcountry rivals meet in an early season matchup as Berkeley begins its quest to winning consecutive state title in different classifications. Expect to see a heavy dose of the Stags’ running game in this affair, returning an experienced offensive line and running backs to test a veteran Stratford defense. The Knights will also attempt to utilize its ground game, running Devin Washington and Ryan Barnwell. The question: can Stratford move the ball on a strong Berkeley defense? I think not. -- PREDICTION: Berkeley 38, Straford 21

5. Aiken at Silver Bluff -- Aiken hopes to gain a measure of revenge against the rival Bulldogs Friday in one of the state’s better interclassification rivalries. Silver Bluff outlasted its rivals in five overtimes last season, propelling the team to a 9-3 finish and a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the loss sent the Hornets into a tailspin, finishing 4-8 in 2009. No doubt, this contest should be close, typical of this series in recent years. -- PREDICTION: Aiken 17, Silver Bluff 14

S.C. Week One Schedule

WEEK 1
Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Thursday’s Games

Blackville-Hilda at Keenan
Eastside at Riverside
Greer at Rock Hill
Woodruff at Greenville
Hardeeville at A.E. Beach

Friday’s Games

Aiken at Silver Bluff
Airport at Brookland-Cayce
Andrew Jackson at Lancaster
Ashley Ridge at Cane Bay
Baptist Hill at Stall
Batesburg-Leesville at Lexington
Battery Creek at Estill
Beaufort at Hilton Head
Belton-Honea Path at Laurens
Berea at Carolina Academy
Bethune-Bowman at North
Boiling Springs at Greenwood
Bluffton at Ridgeland
Broome at York
Buford at Indian Land
Camden at Ware Shoals
Chapman at Seneca
Chester at Lewisville
Chesterfield at Timmonsville, 6 p.m.
Clinton at Newberry
Columbia at A.C. Flora
Conway at Summerville
Creek Bridge at Aynor
Crestwood at Sumter
Cross at C. E. Murray
Daniel at Easley
Dorman at Gaffney, 8 p.m.
Dutch Fork at Chapin
Eau Claire at C.A. Johnson
Emerald at Ninety Six
Fairfield Central at Blythewood
Fox Creek at Academic Magnet
Georgetown at Carvers Bay
Great Falls at Nation Ford
Green Sea-Floyds at North Central
Hanahan at Timberland
Hanna at Westside
Hartsville at Lamar
Hemingway at Kingstree
Irmo at Goose Creek
J.L. Mann at Woodmont
James Island at St. John’s
Johnsonville at Hannah-Pamplico
Lake Marion at Calhoun County
Lake View at Dillon, 8 p.m.
Lakewood at Colleton County
Latta at East Clarendon
Lee Central at Lake City
Liberty at Christ Church Episcopal
Lincoln at Garrett
Lincoln County (Ga.) at Abbeville
Loris at North Myrtle Beach
Lower Richland at Spring Valley
Lucy Laney (Ga.) at Strom Thurmond
Lugoff-Elgin at Fort Mill
Manning at Scott’s Branch
Marlboro County at Cheraw
Mauldin at Hillcrest
McBee at Blacksburg
Mid-Carolina at Whitmire
Midland Valley at North Augusta
Military Magnet at North Charleston
Mullins at Andrews
Myrtle Beach at Carolina Forest
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Edisto
Pickens at Pendleton
Rangers (N.C.) at Southside
Richland Northeast at South Aiken
Ridge Spring-Monetta at Saluda
Ridge View at Wando
South Florence at West Florence
St. James at Waccamaw
St. Joseph’s at Southside Christian
Stratford at Berkeley
Swansea at Wagener-Salley
Travelers Rest at Landrum
Union County at Spartanburg
Wade Hampton (G) at Blue Ridge
Wade Hampton (H) at Allendale-Fairfax
Walhalla at West-Oak
West Ashley at Bishop England
Whale Branch at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler
White Knoll at Pelion
Williston-Elko at Barnwell
Wilson at Darlington
Woodland at Fort Dorchester
Wren at Palmetto

Saturday’s Games

Hoover (Ala.) at Byrnes, noon, at District 3 Stadium, Rock Hill
South Pointe at Northwestern, 4 p.m., at District 3 Stadium, Rock Hill

S.C.’s first full week of football comes bearing gifts

Photo Contributed by Larry Hilliard/ The Gaffney Ledger

Gaffney quarterback DeEdward Burris tries to escape a maze of Dorman defenders during last season's Class 4A "Big 16" semifinal contest. Burris gets his third -- and possibly final -- try at the hated Cavaliers Friday night at The Reservation.

Most teams come into the 2010 football season wanting to capture that winning feeling, and hope to somehow find themselves claiming the state’s top prize.
Dorman’s mission is simpler than that, yet possibly more difficult.
Repeat.
Winners of the 2009 Class 4A “Big 16” title, a 28-17 triumph over region rival Byrnes, the Cavaliers begin the quest Friday night as they take on Gaffney in a match-up between two of the state’s premier programs.
“The Cavaliers have been very business-like this off-season, taking a workmanlike approach into everything they did,” said RivalHigh Senior Analyst Dallas Jackson. “You can tell this season means a lot to them, and it starts at the top with head coach Dave Gutshall.”
While the quarterback position has been in flux for much of the preseason due to injuries, Dorman still was productive on offense by way of Clemson commitment Charone Peak. The 6-foot-4, 194-pound senior wide receiver led the team with 881 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and is expected to match those numbers -- or better them.
But the Cavaliers’ defense, which only returns three starters from a unit that gave up 10.5 points a game in 2009, will be tested by Gaffney’s prolific offense led by senior signal caller DeEdward Burris. The dual-threat accounted for 217 yards in the Indians’ 21-14 victory over Boiling Springs to open the season.
His favorite target was 6-foot-2 receiver Quinshad Davis, the recipient of two touchdowns last week against the Bulldogs.
To defeat Dorman, the Gaffney defense cannot wilt down the stretch like it did at Boiling Springs in the opener, nearly squandering a 21-point fourth quarter-lead.
That game is one of several key contests taking center stage around South Carolina this weekend, which includes a nationally-televised doubleheader in Rock Hill, S.C. Alabama Class 6A powerhourse Hoover makes the journey to the Palmetto State to take on the Rebels, and cross-town foes Northwestern and South Pointe renew acquaintances to open the 2010 campaign.
Defending Class 6A champions, the Bucs have yearned for the opportunity to play Byrnes, both schools’ dominance of the past decade running parallel tracks. Their paths will finally meet in a high noon contest at Rock Hill’s District Three Stadium, to be broadcast live on ESPN.
“When I talked to Hoover’s athletic director, the day she took the job there were a number of calls to her office requesting the school schedule Byrnes,” Jackson said. “The teams were already chirping a bit during passing camps, so they are definitely ready to settle things when it counts.”
Under center for Hoover is quarterback Ryan Carter, who Jackson believes is likely to commit to Mississippi State whenever an offer is made. He is quite a few weapons at his disposal, including receivers Jaylon Denson and Caleb Sims.
Not to be outdone, the Hoover (Ala.) defense is will do its part to stop a wounded, yet effective Rebels attack. Senior linebackers Teyrance Glaze and Tyler Roberts hope to put the clamps on Zach Blair and the rest of the Byrnes offense.
“Byrnes may be a bit down right now, while Hoover is riding high,” Jackson said. “But if Byrnes can stay close and maybe gain a little confidence in doing so, things could go their way.”
It will be strength on strength in when South Pointe takes on rival Northwestern (ESPNU, 4 p.m.).
The Stallions have dominated the series in winning three of four games, but the only defeat was a 24-6 loss to the Trojans in 2009 state playoffs.
Both squads have high hopes for 2010, led by top prospects Jadeveon Clowney (South Pointe) and Tennessee-commit Justin Worley.
“Swings of momentum will be key in this game, with a tipped ball and fumbles likely playing a role,” Jackson said. “As with any game, the team that plays the most poised, mistake-free football will win; particularly in a heated contest between rivals.”

Gaffney product Rice has hip surgery, could be ready by midseason

Gaffney and University of South Carolina product and current Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice had hip surgery Monday in Colorado, according to a report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The team's leading receiver last season, he is expected to miss up to half of this year as he recovers from the injury sustained in the NFC championship game last January.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice is expected to miss up to half of the upcoming NFL season after undergoing hip surgery Monday, according to Judd Zuglad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Rice confirmed through a text message Tuesday morning to the Minneapolis (Minn.) - based newspaper that he had undergone the procedure at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. In the text, the Vikings receiver said surgery went well, and that he is expected to be sidelined for the first half of the 2010 campaign.

He has been on the team's physically unable to perform (PUP) list since the beginning of training camp due to a hip injury suffered in the Vikings' overtime loss to eventual Super Bowl-champion New Orleans last January. The receiver initially used Sept. 9 as a target date for his return, the day Minnesota returns to the Superdome for a rematch against the Saints to kickoff the 2010 NFL season.

Rice nor the Vikings have said much about the receiver's ailing hip, which during camp has impacted his ability to cut and get in and out of breaks, Zuglad said. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune sports writer also reported "the issue could have been taken of this offseason but Rice elected not have surgery, despite the fact that two of three specialists he saw suggested that might be the best idea."

A product of Gaffney (S.C.) High School and the University of South Carolina, Rice was chosen in the the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Last season proved to be his best as a professional however, catching a team-leading 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns, heavily contributing to the receiver being voted to his first Pro Bowl.

Rice's surgery further complicates the Vikings' problems at the wide receiver position, already dealing with Percy Harvin and his ongoing bout with migraines. The second year speedster out of Florida has missed much of camp due to the medical condition, which last week caused him to collapse on the practice field.

Harvin could return to practice this week, but his availability remains day-to-day, according to Zuglad.

A State Steeped in History: High School Football in South Carolina

By JOE L. HUGHES II

Published: The Gaffney Ledger, Aug. 23, 2010

Little has changed about high school football in South Carolina through the decades, yet in towns from the Upstate to the Lowcountry people line up in droves hoping to get a view of their hometown team.

The state’s love for the gridiron was a subject John Boyanoski was quite acquainted with when he relocated to the Palmetto State from Scranton, Pa., to begin a new chapter in his journalism career. Yet, he wanted to delve further, find out more about what makes Friday nights under the lights such a time honored tradition in South Carolina.

“I had written two books and was wondering what should I do next,” Boyanoski said. “Then it hit me — I should look into South Carolina’s rich football tradition. After all, I always wanted to know where this all started, and where did this come from?”

An award-winning journalist who through the years has written for The Greenville News and the Spartanburg Herald- Journal, and contributed to the likes of the Associated Press and Sports Business Journal, Boyanoski tries to capture more than a century’s worth of history in his latest work, “High School Football in South Carolina: Palmetto Pigskin History.” The 208-page book jumps headfirst into the state’s tradition on the gridiron, getting state residents acquainted with Florence High School — sometimes dubbed the Yellow Jackets or the Golden Tornadoes — winners of the first four state football titles, a mark that has been tied, yet never broken.

He also discusses key events on and off the field, including the aftermath of a 1922 contest between teams from Columbia and Charleston in which fans from the state’s capital city sent their friends from the Lowcountry home with egg on their faces — literally. “After the game, violent Columbia fans hurled eggs at the Charleston train as the players left for home,” Boyanoski said.

The longtime journalist began his search for answers in Columbia, making several treks around the state to libraries, schools and sometimes homes in locales such as Charleston, Florence and Summerville, looking through any publication he could get his hands on, whether it be a newspaper or a yearbook stashed away in a high school’s media center.

“The biggest thing I wanted to do was chronicle some of the past stories and careers that make the state unique, and hunt down some of those stories and characters that somehow fell through the cracks due to the passing of time,” Boyanoski said. “I pulled from some of the major dailies covering particular areas of the state as well as publications serving communities looking for clues as to what that newspaper said about a certain year or era. I really wanted to go directly to the source and see what was being said in these local papers.”

While some would consider the current batch of athletes as the best era ever collected by the Palmetto State, Boyanoski begs to differ.

“Those that played in the early 1970s, the likes of Harry Carson and Mike O’ Cain, in my opinion that era has to top the list,” he said. “There have been many really talented eras, but when you break everything down, nothing compares to that era.”

According to the author, Carson’s case was quite intriguing.

“For a Pro Football Hall of Famer, you do not see too many articles or mentions of him in publications or for that matter the S.C. high school football history books,” Boyanoski said. “He wasn’t a superstar in high school, and did not play in either the Shrine Bowl or the North — South (All-Star) game. Yet, he went on to have one of the more dazzling careers in NFL history, and was recognized by being inducted into the hall of fame.”

A number of names recognized by the masses also turn up in the book, including Cale Yarbrough, the NASCAR legend who was once a standout at Timmonsville High School; former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club Hootie Johnson, who earned a football scholarship at the University of South Carolina due to his performance on the gridiron at Greenwood High in the late 1940s; and Anderson’s Jim Rice, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, now a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Of course, Gaffney makes quite a few appearances in the book, according to Boyanoski.

“According to some research I conducted, when Gaffney won its first state football championship in the 1920s, an estimated 5,000 people waited into the wee hours of the morning at train station awaiting the team’s return from Columbia. ... Gaffney’s been a football power for forever and a day, the fans are so in love with the Indians and how they perform on the field,” he said.

The book, which was published by History Press, also contains all-time win-loss records for schools, in addition to the state’s long line of All-State performers on the gridiron. It is currently available at www.historypress.net for $19.99.

Week Zero — Palmetto State Pigskin

Photo Courtesy of Larry Hilliard / The Gaffney Ledger

Gaffney wide receiver Khris Brown looks for room to run during the Indians' season opener at Boiling Springs. Gaffney held on the victory, 21-14.

Week Zero Rankings & Results

Rankings courtesy of S.C.Varsity.com

Class 4A

1. Byrnes (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Hoover (Ala.) (ESPNU — noon Sat.)

2. Dorman (0-0) — NEXT: at Gaffney

3. Northwestern (0-0) — NEXT: vs. South Pointe (ESPNU — 4 p.m. Sat.)

4. Goose Creek (0-0) — NEXT: at Cane Bay

5. North Augusta (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Midland Valley

6. Blythewood (1-0) — def. South Florence 14-7, NEXT: vs. Fairfield Central

7. Gaffney (1-0) — def. Boiling Springs 21-14, NEXT: vs. Dorman

8. Summerville (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Conway

9. Wren (0-0) — NEXT: at Palmetto

10. Dutch Fork (0-1) — lost to Irmo 28-26, NEXT: at Chapin

Class 3A

1. Myrtle Beach (0-0) — NEXT: at Carolina Forest

2. South Pointe (1-0) — def. AFC Rangers (N.C.) 51-6, NEXT: at Northwestern (ESPNU — 4 p.m. Sat.)

3. Berkeley (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Stratford

4. Clinton (0-0) — NEXT: at Newberry

5. Fairfield Central (1-0) — def. Eau Claire 24-9, NEXT: at Blythewood

6. Chester (1-0) — def. Abbeville 35-21, NEXT: at Lewisville

7. Daniel (0-0) — NEXT: at Easley

8. Belton-Honea Path (0-0) — NEXT: at Laurens

9. Crestwood (0-0) — NEXT: at Sumter

10. Greenville (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Woodruff (Thu.)

Class 2A

1. Lake City (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Lee Central

2. Strom Thurmond (1-0) — def. Williston- Elko 7-0, NEXT: vs. Laney (Ga.)

3. Manning (0-0) — NEXT: at Scott's Branch

4. Central (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Lewisville (Sept. 3)

5. Timberland (1-0) — def. Carver's Bay 13-6, NEXT: vs. Hanahan

6. Dillon (1-0) — def. Cheraw 35-7, NEXT: vs. Lake View

7. Silver Bluff (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Aiken

8. Batesburg - Leesville (0-0) — NEXT: at Lexington

9. Broome (0-0) — NEXT: at York

10. Columbia (1-0) — def. Lower Richland 28-0, NEXT: at A.C. Flora

Class A

1. Chesterfield (0-0) — NEXT: at Timmonsville

2. Williston - Elko (0-1) — lost to Strom Thurmond 7-0, NEXT: at Barnwell

3. Calhoun County (0-1) — lost to Marlboro County 34-12, NEXT: vs. Lake Marion

4. Lamar (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Hartsville

5. Abbeville (0-1) — lost to Chester 35-21, NEXT: vs. Lincoln County (Ga.)

6. Carvers Bay (0-1) — lost to Timberland 13-6, NEXT: vs. Georgetown

7. Allendale-Fairfax (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Wade Hampton

8. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (1-0) — def. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 49-48, NEXT: vs. Edisto

9. Scott's Branch (0-0) — NEXT: vs. Manning

10. Hemingway (1-0) — def. Hannah-Pamplico 35-0, NEXT: at Kingstree

Week Zero Results in South Carolina

A.C. Flora 34, Gilbert 3

Andrews 63, Johnsonville 20

Aynor 21, Lake View 15

Bamberg-Ehrhardt 49, Orangeburg Wilkinson 48

Blackville-Hilda 8, Barnwell 0

Bluffton 39, Hilton Head 0

Blythewood 14, South Florence 7

C.A. Johnson 36, North 0

Camden 28, Spring Valley 21

Carolina Forest 33, Socastee 7

Chester 35, Abbeville 21

Christ Church Episco 42, Travelers Rest 7

Clover 22, South Point (N.C.) 7

Columbia 28, Lower Richland 0

Conway 35, North Myrtle Beach 0

Crescent 18, Calhoun Falls Charter 14

Dillon 35, Cheraw 7

Dixie 23, Southside Christian 7

Easley 31, West-Oak 13

Fairfield Central 34, Eau Claire 9

Fox Creek 41, Branchville 0

Gaffney 21, Boiling Springs 14

Garrett 47, Academic Magnet 0

Green Sea-Floyds 42, West Columbus (N.C.) 26

Greer 41, Seneca 14

Hanahan 32, Hartsville 28

Hemingway 25, Hannah-Pamplico 0

Hilton Head 26, Bluffton 14

Irmo 28, Dutch Fork 26

Lake Marion 44, Denmark-Olar 0

Lewisville at York (PPD)

Loris 36, St. James 3

Marlboro Co. 32, Calhoun Co. 12

McCormick 18, Edisto 17

Mullins 22, Georgetown 2

Nation Ford 28, Forestview (N.C.) 16

Palmetto 40, Walhalla 14

Pelion 27, Wagener-Salley 6

Richland Northeast 54, Dreher 7

Ridge Spring-Monetta 27, Whitmire 7

South Pointe 51, AFC Rangers (N.C.) 6

Stall 32, Lincoln 0

Strom Thurmond 7, Williston-Elko 0

Timberland 13, Carvers Bay 6

Waccamaw 50, Latta 0

Whale Branch 26, Baptist Hill 14

Happy Football Days!

While the journalism business has its problems, there are times when you can only say one thing: "What a job this is."

For me, with the arrival of each Fall comes another football season, ripe with hope and belief for programs all over the country.

This year, I look forward to the opportunity to bring gridiron coverage to you from around the Southeast; regardless if it is Louisiana or Mississippi, North Carolina or Florida.

Of course, there will be an emphasis on South Carolina, my home state and the place in which I work. As seen in the picture above, DeEdward Burris and the Gaffney Indians have aspirations of a state title in 2010, which would be the program's 17th overall — a Palmetto State record.

Of course, I will also keep everyone abreast with what is going on in college and professional football, which will be cranking up in coming weeks.

Happy football days everyone! It's the most wonderful time of the year ... let's enjoy it!

It's a question of where...

Former Gaffney and current S.C. State quarterback Malcolm Long leaps across the goal line during the Indians' drubbing of Irmo in the 2006 S.C. Class 4A "Big 16" title game at Williams-Brice Stadium. Programs in the state's highest classification discussed the possibility of moving its two championship contests from the venue earlier this year. (Photo courtesy of Larry B. Littlejohn/ The Gaffney Ledger)

Published : Aug. 13, 2010 — The Gaffney Ledger

By Joe L. Hughes II

Some summers are best spent inside.

This year happens to be one of them, with temperatures near or surpassing 100-degrees, the easy stroll to the mailbox has become somewhat laborious. I almost feel sorry for those who must make a living in the sun — construction workers, street crews and especially the mailman who must deal with both the afternoon heat and a pit bull nipping at his heels.

It is hard to believe that in a few short months the temperature will go from the 90s to near freezing.

Being a football fan, each week sitting among the crowd at the nearest high school football stadium yields the opportunity to see nature at work. During the first few weeks of the season, it seems the sun does not go down until the second half, fans typically getting a glimpse of the sunset — the makings of a perfect date in my opinion.

My wife may tend to differ — yet she still winds up in the crowd with me every Friday night. Now, back to the subject.

With every week, it seems the weather gets a bit more nippy, with a torrential downpour every ruining the plans of those wanting to see the home team play.

Then just like that, it's the playoffs and a state champion has been crowned.

With the exception of a few years in which the games were held in Clemson and Orangeburg (Class 1A held state title games at S.C. State University for the past several years), Columbia and the University of South Carolina's Williams- Brice Stadium has been the goal of high schools throughout the Palmetto State. Providing the opportunity for some athletes to achieve the dream of walking onto the venue's hallowed turf, it is quite a reward for players and coaches alike — win or lose.

However, with each passing year it seems the debate of whether to move the event, aptly named the "Weekend of Champions", from the capital city.

Following last year's Weekend of Champions, the Class 4A football committee consisting of a representative from each of the classification's eight regions toyed with the idea of moving the Division I and II games to separate venues, with expenses from the event being at the heart of the issue.

Under the current format, the schools involved in a title game receive an equal amount of revenue from ticket sales despite the number of tickets sold.

In an effort to cut costs, the Class 4A football committee proposed the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) move its Division II title tilt to Saturday, being played the same afternoon as the Class 2A and Class 3A championship games. The committee went as far as to solicit bids from other venues including Clemson, Furman and Spring Valley High School in Columbia to host the games.

The Class 4A football committee later wound up keeping the state title game in Williams-Brice Stadium, deciding not to bail on their peers in Classes 2A and 3A, who would have had to find a way to come up with $62,000 for use of the venue and the fact it would not bring the savings once perceived by the governing body.

With school districts scrambling to stay afloat in today's unstable economic climate, I can definitely understand why Class 4A football officials at least looked into moving the game. After all, what should take preference — making sure every student has a book or how much money the school and school district should commit should it be lucky enough to advance to Columbia?

Speaking of Columbia, my hometown really is the one which benefits most from the weekend, bringing in a large amount of money from visitors lodging at the city's hotels and eating at the municipality's many restaurants.

Two years ago, the SCHSL tinkered with the idea of moving the Weekend of Champions to Clemson, which offered a change of pace for all involved. According to friends who went to games during the two-day event it was a resounding success, not to say if it were in Columbia it would not do well.

In my opinion, the state's high school athletic commission ought to follow the blueprint of its contemporaries in Alabama, which chose to alternate between Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Auburn, Ala., as hosts for its high school title games. The championship games were previously held in Birmingham, Ala., the home of the Super 6 Championships for more than a decade.

The school not hosting the annual Iron Bowl matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Tigers would a week or so later welcome the 12 schools advancing to their respective classification's championship game. For example, with the Iron Bowl being held in Tuscaloosa this year the Super 6 Championships will take place in Auburn this year, alternating each year.

If the SCHSL adopted this measure, it would have little bearing on this year's games as Williams-Brice Stadium would host the Weekend of Champions, with Death Valley being the site of the 2010 renewal of the Carolina-Clemson game.

While the plan would not necessarily ease all complaints or ever will, rotating the site of the Weekend of Champions would ease the burden of Upstate schools one year and those from the Midlands down the following season. It would also offer some student-athletes the opportunity to walk the same field Frank Howard, Woody Dantzler and more recently C.J. Spiller walked, instead of only being offered the chance to see where Gaffney product Sidney Rice spent four years.

It would offer the total experience for them — if they cared. These kids are only concerned with making their dreams of a championship come true.

However, if money is the issue, there is nothing wrong with looking at other options. When sports and athletic success becomes more important than the hard work necessary in the classroom, that's when I have a problem.

After all, that's why the word student comes before athlete when referring to athletes (student-athlete) in high school and college, right?

Sports action heating up — literally

The beginning of football season is something we all yearn for, but only if the safety of those involved is the top priority, not wins and losses.



Published: The Gaffney Ledger, July 23, 2010

By Joe L. Hughes II

As if we needed a reminder.
For nearly four months, sports fans are delivered a treat in the form of March Madness and the NBA playoffs, being given wall-to-wall coverage of teams’ quest for college and professional basketball’s top prizes.
But following the coronation of a NBA champion, we enter a proverbial desert of sorts, annually arriving at a location on the calendar commonly referred to as the “Dog Days of Summer.”
At most points during the year, two sports are in season — one of which is getting cranked up, while another is preparing for another campaign to end. For example, each winter the Super Bowl marks the competitive conclusion of the NFL season, while NBA teams are making the push for the allstar break.
However, the summer is different. Baseball rules the tube.
Not that anything is wrong with baseball; after all, it is “America’s Pastime” for a reason.
The problem often during this time of year is that it is the only thing on the television, daily reminding people the season is a 162-game marathon — the only sport to begin and end its campaign during the same calendar year.
The FIFA World Cup offered those in need of competition their fix, the month-long tournament concluding July 11 with Spain being crowned champions of the world’s most popular sport. Seemingly gone as soon as it arrived, the World Cup served as a respite for those wanting something beyond the baseball diamond.
Despite all of baseball’s greatness and soccer’s worldwide appeal, I’d be mistaken not to believe a great many sports fans’ eyes were already intently focused on the final days in July and the weeks during the month of August.
Football season is right around the corner. What were you expecting me to say — I’m excited about the second season of Jersey Shore?
Trust me, I’ll be doing enough fist pumping to make “The Situation” and “Snooki” jealous. This time of year will do that to you.
The Cleveland Browns report to practice today in Berea, Ohio, with my team, the Dallas Cowboys, blowing the whistle to begin the first practice of the 2010 campaign Saturday in San Antonio, Texas.
In Birmingham, Ala., Southeastern Conference (SEC) football coaches are unofficially opening the college football season as you read with the annual circus that has become “SEC Media Days.” A three-day event allowing the media access to coaches prior to each school’s first practice, the session has been dominated with reports of NCAA rules violations involving agents and an alleged party on Miami’s (Fla.) South Beach, potentially putting the eligibility of athletes from several teams in jeopardy.
On a more positive note, fall sports in South Carolina — a pool including football, cross country, soccer and field hockey — begin practice July 30. I can expect the usual suspects to be at the top of the hill this year at Gaffney High School, watching practice in an effort to see what their Indians have in store for them.
The squads will begin practice during one of the most vicious heat waves in recent memory, with temperatures seemingly nearing the 100-degree mark on a daily basis in various portions of the country. Such high temperatures put athletes of all ages at risk of “running hot”, increasing their chances of some heat-related illness, particularly heat stroke.
Heat stroke is the third-leading cause of death among athletes in the U.S. According to data compiled by the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research at the University of North Carolina, 39 football players — 29 of which were in high school — have succumbed to heat stroke since 1995.
The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) has made it clear such instances are not acceptable, outlining a plan to prevent it from happening here, or anywhere else.
“The main problem associated with exercising in the hot weather is water loss through sweating,” the SCHSL said in a document regarding how to keep athletes safe during summer practices. “Water loss is best replaced by allowing the athlete unrestricted access to water. Water breaks two to three times every hour are better than one break per hour.”
In addition, the state high school sports commission asks coaches never to restrict the amount of water an athlete drinks and be sure the athlete is drinking water.
While the SCHSL places the onus on coaches to make sure their teams are properly hydrated, athletes must take care of themselves.
Each year about this time, I’m in the ear of my brother making sure he is drinking enough fluids in anticipation of training camp. A redshirt sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), the speeches coming from my direction have lessened in recent years as he makes sure to get in the nutrients and fluids — particularly water — needed to excel on the gridiron, and most importantly in the game of life.
In the end, sports is nothing more than mere entertainment. Though bringing out the best in competition, exhibiting the talent welled up in athletes, the games mean nothing if you are not able to play — much less live.
I encourage coaches to keep a close eye on players as practice begins, staying alert for the warning signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. That winning feeling can last anywhere from a few hours to several months, but the painful loss of a teammate or friend lasts forever.
Let’s make sure not to lose another athlete due to something that could have been prevented. I think we would all rather there be more fist-pumps going around.

Preseason Top 25 released by USA Today

Mark Ingram and Alabama begin the 2010 campaign just where it ended last season, no. 1.

It is likely the most unimportant vote by college football pollsters each year.
USA Today revealed its preseason top 25 poll Friday, with defending national champion Alabama ranked no. 1 after receiving 55 first place votes.
Ohio State was the only other team to receive first place votes (4). After finishing strong to end the 2009 campaign, capping it with a Big Ten title and a 26-17 victory over Oregon at the Rose Bowl was enough for voters to tab the Buckeyes as no. 2.
The Jeff Brantley era begins with a no. 3 ranking for Florida, which though unproven is still a very talented squad. Rounding out the top 5 are last year's national runner-up Texas, and Boise State, which finished an undefeated 2009 campaign with a 17-10 win over TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
As with any season, it begins with many questions. However, the 2010 college football season has a wealth of questions in need of answering, from top to bottom.
Each of the top 5 teams in the first USA Today poll has points of emphasis which will determine exactly how their seasons will go. Here are a few:

1. Alabama - After finishing undefeated and returning the storied program back to glory, the Crimson Tide should be as talented on the offensive side of the ball as any in the country this season, returning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and wide receiver Julio Jones.
Unlike last year, Alabama has an abundance of questions to answer on defense after graduation and the NFL draft took eight pieces of what was the nation's no. 2-ranked defense. For there to be glory in Tuscaloosa again in January, the defense will have to grow up -- fast.

2. Ohio State - The Buckeyes earned a measure of respect New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl in its disposal of Oregon, in the process proving the program could indeed reverse its current trend of finding ways to lose big games.
At the forefront of this about face was junior signal caller Terrelle Pryor, who showed toward the end of the season that he was evolving into the type quarterback which is able to be relied on in the clutch, which was not previously the case.
If Ohio State can weather an early tussle with Miami (Fla.) and road conference games at Wisconsin (Oct. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 20), watch out -- head coach Jim Tressel could again be leading his team to Arizona with a shot at the national title.

3. Florida - The biggest question about this bunch of Gators is not who is on the team, but what type of team will this be?
Obviously, the offense will be much different from the Tim Tebow-led squads of the past three seasons, taking on a more traditional approach under redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley. The biggest strength on this side of the ball may be its offensive line, returning center Mike Pouncey, right guard Carl Johnson and left tackle Marcus Gilbert, allowing the new signal caller to settle in among his many weapons led by speedy junior running back Jeff Demps.
Florida's defensive unit also must address an array of departures, only four starters returning from last year's campaign. The secondary will likely set the tone early on this side of the ball, with talented safety Ahmad Black and cornerback Janoris Jenkins doing their best to harass opposing receiving corps.

4. Texas - Similar to Florida, the Longhorns are breaking in a new starting quarterback in 2010, though each of us already know what true sophomore Garrett Gilbert is capable of.
With Texas trailing big in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Gilbert replaced an injured Colt McCoy and nearly was able to pull off what would have been one of the most memorable comebacks in college football history. He is no longer as much a question mark on a team though talented on offense is rather inexperienced, particularly in the trenches.The offensive gameplan will also tend to be more balanced, quite different from what McCoy was able to offer during his time in Austin.
The Longhorns should remain one of the top defensive units in the country under the direction of coordinator Will Muschamp.

5. Boise State - If there was any better time for the Broncos to take the next step as an elite football program, 2010 would be it.
Already proving it belongs in the conversation as powerhouse despite not being a part of a BCS conference, Boise State with 17 starters returning from an undefeated team last season conceivably could make a run at the national title this year.
For the Broncos, a Labor Day matchup against Virginia Tech in Landover, Md., might as well be regarded as D-Day for the team, the Hokies likely their stiffest test of the campaign.