The Northwestern Trojans begin the 2016 season right where they left off the 2015 campaign as the #1 ranked team in the state. The 2015 4A Division II Champion Trojans, who are ranked as high as #10 nationally in some polls, return most of the skill players on the offensive side of the ball and the state’s #1 defensive recruit, Logan Rudolph. Fort Dorchester, who won the 2015 4A Division I state title is ranked #2. Perennial state power, Byrnes, checks in at #3. Another local team, South Pointe, is ranked #4. The Stallions are coming off back to back 3A State titles but replace multiple skill positions. South Pointe returns one of the state’s best players in Derion Kendrick, who will be taking over for the graduated Greg Ruff at quarterback. Defensively, Eli Adams and Bryson Cooper headline an extremely fast squad. The rest of the top ten looks like a who’s who of state powers including 3-time defending 2A state champion Dillon, 4A Division II runner-up Lexington, and 2013 4A Division I State Champion and 2014 runner-up Dutch Fork.
OTS Sports Network Statewide Poll (Pre-Season)
1.Northwestern (7)
2.Fort Dorchester (5)
3.Byrnes
4.South Pointe
5.Dorman
6.Spartanburg
7.Westside
8.Dutch Fork
9.Dillon
10.Lexington
(First place votes in parentheses)
Others receiving votes: Sumter, Hartsville, Goose Creek, Myrtle Beach, Seneca, Gaffney, York, TL Hanna, Abbeville, Lamar, Southside Christian, Lancaster, Boiling Springs
The OTS Statewide Poll is voted on by the following: Chris Miller, Robert Earl Carter, Gene Knight, Scott Wells, Coach Jimmy Wallace, Andy Robbins, Chuck Roberts, Kevin Robbins, Moe Bell, Brown Simpson, Chet Tucker, and Mario Washington.