1A, 2A, 3A breakdowns

[STrebels72]

Let me take a stab at it....

1A - Honestly, since the last realignment 1A is a total crapshoot in just about every sport. There just aren't many schools in 1A now. If you look at the brackets for the sports last season it's ridiculous how many teams get byes during the playoffs simply because of a lack of teams. Not to mention overall the league just isn't very competitive, at least IMO. With that said, I will give lower state the edge this year - Lake View is always pretty strong and Green Sea Floyds will probably make another run at it as well. On the upper state side of things, Dixie (who played Lamar in the upperstate title game last year) lost a lot of talent and didn't look really great against Calhoun Falls in the Abbeville Jamboree. McCormick however looked pretty decent in tying Ninety Six 6-6. They have some athletes and are my favorite to win that region. Then of course there is always Lamar, but they are breaking in a new coach this year so there might be some adjustments. I'll take Lake View or Green Sea Floyds for the title.

2A - To be the man, you gotta beat the man, and that man in 2A is Abbeville. The last few years - quite honestly the last decade - have been amazing for Panther fans. In the 2010s, they've have been to state championship game every year except for '13 and '14 and the only loss in the state title game during this span was in 2012. Coach NIckles and his staff get the absolute most of their players every year and this team will push strongly for that 5th title in a row. The Panthers will lose a lot of talent after this season and will likely take a step back in 2020 but the future does look bright as a lot of young talent is in the pipeline. As for challengers to Abbeville, Southside Christian gave Abbeville two good games last season and they return the QB and the star RB but the game is in Abbeville this year, where Abbeville hasn't lost a game since 2014. Saluda is also a strong team in the same region as Abbeville and returns a veteran senior QB in Noah Bell, but the Tigers will need to capitalize on opportunities more to win more games, something they didn't do in 2018. In the lower state Barnwell returns the QB who put up gaudy numbers last year and Timberland is also looking to be pretty strong as well. Bamberg-Erhardt had a strong season last year and is in year 2 of their coach so I look for them to contend as well. Carvers Bay has a new coach and it looks to be a rebuilding year there as well. I say, Abbeville vs. either Timberland or Barnwell for the title.

3A - This is where I'm not quite as knowledgeable, but I'll do my best. Chester pretty much came out of nowhere in 2018 to run the table and beat Dillon for the title. The Cyclones did catch some breaks as 6 of their games were decided by 10 pts or less. Chapman has been a strong contender as well lately and I don't see that changing. Woodruff also has the potential to be a possible contender in the upper state but they have struggled in the post season the past few years. I wouldn't be surprised to see another lesser known team rise this year in AAA just like Chester did last season. I am really interested to see how former Lamar Head Coach Corey Fountain does in his first year at Clinton, a perennial power that has struggled a lot this decade. In the lower state I don't see anyone challenging Dillon but Wade Hampton did give them a good game last year in the lower state title game. My prediction, for now - Chapman vs. Dillon.

An aside from the above analysis, I really wish the SCHSL would stop treating 1A and 2A like second class citizens. We have to had to endure some really bad field conditions at Benedict the past few years, not to mention a host of other logistical issues the stadium has (poor parking, restrooms, concessions always run out). But I've also heard there's been some issues with the other games at Williams Brice as well. This is something the league definitely needs to address - I would like for all classifications to play at the same stadium.

Thank you for a breakdown of 1A-3A football. The only thing I will add to this is in 3A lower state. Strom Thurmond returns a very explosive team with all of their playmakers returning. Entire backfield, WR’s, and very big sure handed tightened from a 9-3 team. The defense returns 7 starters as well. Last years team was young and overachievers, but this years team has that confidence and a chip on its shoulders.

We scrimmage Abbeville on Friday and that scrimmage will help us in many ways.

In the S.C. Prep Media preseason poll, the defending champion Chester Cyclones start the year at the top.
1. Chester (8)
2. Dillon (3)
3. Chapman (1)
4. Union County
5. Strom Thurmond
6. May River
7. Fairfield Central
8. Wade Hampton (H)
9. Camden
10. Woodruff

Im expecting great things from these young men this year. Great scrimmage tonight and keep working hard ST

[Chuckster]

AHS14 . Wow; impressive overview....Best on this board yet...........THANK YOU.....

[Go Tigers]

Got the chance to see Green Sea Floyd in action at the CNB Jam this past Friday. They are an impressive 1A team. Very balanced on offense. Solid at QB (Bubba Elliott) and on OL. Very explosive at RB (Jaquan Dixon), also plays WR at times. The defense is quick and swarms to the ball. Dixon scored 3 TD's in the jamboree (2 rushing, 1 receiving). GSF beat Socatee 28-0 in a 20 minute session. I know, I know it was Socastee.....but GSF made it look very easy. Almost toying with Socastee from start to finish. If GSF stays healthy they'll be in the mix again this year for sure.

[BallisLife]

3A- I'm just wondering as a lifelong Camden Bulldog how is it that we are never mentioned in the 3A race. Camden had Chester on the ropes last year and if not for a missed extra point with the game tied 13-13 with 40 seconds left Camden would have won that game in regulation. Chester won 21-19 in OT. Not only to mention Camden played Chapman tough in a second round playoff game which finished 28-21 as Camden threw an INT inside the Chapman 25yd line with 2 mins left to play. Camden will be more explosive on offense this year. I'm just saying don't count out the Bulldogs.

[Newcatntown]

3A- I'm just wondering as a lifelong Camden Bulldog how is it that we are never mentioned in the 3A race. Camden had Chester on the ropes last year and if not for a missed extra point with the game tied 13-13 with 40 seconds left Camden would have won that game in regulation. Chester won 21-19 in OT. Not only to mention Camden played Chapman tough in a second round playoff game which finished 28-21 as Camden threw an INT inside the Chapman 25yd line with 2 mins left to play. Camden will be more explosive on offense this year. I'm just saying don't count out the Bulldogs.

I have to agree 100% with ya balls or life!! Y’all are stuck in the middle of God’s country where you can grow the best peaches in the world and everyone just forgets about ya until ya beat them.
I’m impressed... y’all beat 3...5A teams, West Flo, Lugoff-Elwood and Ft. Millions...and a few more 4A squads.
I’m supposed to travel to North Central on 10-25 but if they not doing well by then I will check y’all out in Indianland on that date.