Biggest surprise teams so far?

[Ddub14]

Who do you think is the team that so far as shocked the most people and why?

I got two off the bat

1) Powdersville Patriots
Not only are they undefeated but have already beaten two teams that last year destroyed the conference champion that beat them.
Now I’m not saying their world beaters but the region that powdersville is in was quite possibly the worst 3a conference in history last year.
They will definitely win that region this year going away.
How far they go in the playoffs will depend greatly on who they match up with.

2) South Florence
Like what happened. New field ,new stadium, new attitude .
It’s not that their winning but how their winning.
It’s not been close . They may be a long term sleeper if you can call a team scoring 50 plus every game a sleeper.


So who else you got?

[Penguin]

I am not going to annoit any of these teams as "Would Be" Champions, but seeing the results of the first three weeks of play, I see a few real surprises, both good, and bad. Here is my take on what I did not expect. I am going to preface this with the caveat that I have no clue as to what is happening with the majority of the schools in the Pee Dee area as most have fallen victim to the Covid Crisis and have not played many, if any, meaningful games. First, those teams that have shown to be better than I expected:

1) Lower Richland

2) Saluda

3) Chapman

4) Greenwood

5) Bamburg/Erhardt

6) So-Flo

7) Aynor

8) Powdersville

9) Chapin

10) Greenville

Now, some of those teams who have underachieved based upon MY expectations. Not that any of these are bad teams, just that I thought I may see more from them;

1) Scummerville

2) Goose Creek

3) Hartsville

4) Rock Hill

5) Sumter

6) N. Augusta

7) Blythewood

8) Dorman

9) Westside

10) Irmo

Just a list of surprise teams in my head based soley upon my expectations.

[Damefan]

I am not going to annoit any of these teams as "Would Be" Champions, but seeing the results of the first three weeks of play, I see a few real surprises, both good, and bad. Here is my take on what I did not expect. I am going to preface this with the caveat that I have no clue as to what is happening with the majority of the schools in the Pee Dee area as most have fallen victim to the Covid Crisis and have not played many, if any, meaningful games. First, those teams that have shown to be better than I expected:

1) Lower Richland

2) Saluda

3) Chapman

4) Greenwood

5) Bamburg/Erhardt

6) So-Flo

7) Aynor

8) Powdersville

9) Chapin

10) Greenville

Now, some of those teams who have underachieved based upon MY expectations. Not that any of these are bad teams, just that I thought I may see more from them;

1) Scummerville

2) Goose Creek

3) Hartsville

4) Rock Hill

5) Sumter

6) N. Augusta

7) Blythewood

8) Dorman

9) Westside

10) Irmo

Just a list of surprise teams in my head based soley upon my expectations.

I agree with you on several of the underachiever's lists. Goose Creek, Sumter, Dorman, and Irmo have been a total shock to me. Watching Dorman last night and talking to a couple of the coaches I know to explain their youth still surprised me with all the mistakes. The Goose just hasn't gotten it together since Reedy left. The players are there but lack discipline. Irmo I had thought might have turned the corner, and with a few players that had moved into the area, I hoped for better things out of them, even possibly a challenge to Flora. North Augusta has played two teams that are 6A and won both games so the loss against Ridge View wasn't a total surprise. Their next game against Greenwood will be a good barometer of where they are this season. I look forward to watching Summerville, and Greenwood (this week) soon.

[Rebel-Fan-74]

I am not going to annoit any of these teams as "Would Be" Champions, but seeing the results of the first three weeks of play, I see a few real surprises, both good, and bad. Here is my take on what I did not expect. I am going to preface this with the caveat that I have no clue as to what is happening with the majority of the schools in the Pee Dee area as most have fallen victim to the Covid Crisis and have not played many, if any, meaningful games. First, those teams that have shown to be better than I expected:

1) Lower Richland

2) Saluda

3) Chapman - I'm not really surprised because they are an extremely talented and disciplined team with a good QB and good linemen protecting him. Strong "TEAM" concept and as I mentioned last week, may not have another loss on their schedule.

4) Greenwood

5) Bamburg/Erhardt

6) So-Flo- Band Dad said there was a new attitude and it appears that he was right. Lot of talented teams left on the schedule including N Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, so that Region is going to be tough but they appear to be multi-talented across the board. Defense looks strong and they appear to have speed in many places.

7) Aynor

8) Powdersville

9) Chapin

10) Greenville - This one appears to be for real but again, look at that region...Greer, Laurens, Greenwood and a non-region game against Northwestern. Tough sledding ahead!

Now, some of those teams who have underachieved based upon MY expectations. Not that any of these are bad teams, just that I thought I may see more from them;

1) Scummerville (only one game, a last minute match up at Gaffney? I'm not sure I can agree with this one, yet)

2) Goose Creek

3) Hartsville

4) Rock Hill

5) Sumter

6) N. Augusta

7) Blythewood

8) Dorman (I'm not sure what it going on with the Cav's. I felt like the game against Fort Dorchester would be an opportunity to see a battle of unbeatens. I expected a lot from Dorman, and there is still time for them to get it together and be a force in the Region and in the Upper State.

9) Westside

10) Irmo

Just a list of surprise teams in my head based soley upon my expectations.

I'll add Byrnes to my list as I thought we would beat Greer in a closer game, I felt like Chapman was going to be an extremely tough night with a close loss and I felt like we would only score twice against Dutch Fork.... once early and once very late after the game was over. Now someone who just saw the final would think Dutch Fork ran away with the game, but until late in the 2nd quarter is was a two point conversion away from being tied. Then the Rebels had a blocked FG attempt and Dutch Fork goes for a TD on the very next play and instead of being down by two points, we were down by 17. For anyone on the Silver Foxes schedule, a word of warning.... they score quickly and often. Make no mistakes!

[Whatwave22]

I am not going to annoit any of these teams as "Would Be" Champions, but seeing the results of the first three weeks of play, I see a few real surprises, both good, and bad. Here is my take on what I did not expect. I am going to preface this with the caveat that I have no clue as to what is happening with the majority of the schools in the Pee Dee area as most have fallen victim to the Covid Crisis and have not played many, if any, meaningful games. First, those teams that have shown to be better than I expected:

1) Lower Richland

2) Saluda

3) Chapman

4) Greenwood

5) Bamburg/Erhardt

6) So-Flo

7) Aynor

8) Powdersville

9) Chapin

10) Greenville

Now, some of those teams who have underachieved based upon MY expectations. Not that any of these are bad teams, just that I thought I may see more from them;

1) Scummerville

2) Goose Creek

3) Hartsville

4) Rock Hill

5) Sumter

6) N. Augusta

7) Blythewood

8) Dorman

9) Westside

10) Irmo

Just a list of surprise teams in my head based soley upon my expectations.

I agree with you on several of the underachiever's lists. Goose Creek, Sumter, Dorman, and Irmo have been a total shock to me. Watching Dorman last night and talking to a couple of the coaches I know to explain their youth still surprised me with all the mistakes. The Goose just hasn't gotten it together since Reedy left. The players are there but lack discipline. Irmo I had thought might have turned the corner, and with a few players that had moved into the area, I hoped for better things out of them, even possibly a challenge to Flora. North Augusta has played two teams that are 6A and won both games so the loss against Ridge View wasn't a total surprise. Their next game against Greenwood will be a good barometer of where they are this season. I look forward to watching Summerville, and Greenwood (this week) soon.

Both Dorman and fort were missing players last night.starters game was what it supposed to be a tune up.
Both teams are better than they showed.fort still being the better of the two.

Summervilles quarterback left .they have some line issues
And passing issues.work in progress. Raffs a good guy good coach. But until they clean house from the good old boy system they will continue to be mediocre.

[DFOLDMAN]

As far as any real overachievers or underachievers ....no one really jumps out. They teams that are a bit down (save Dorman maybe) lost a lot of key players...Sumter, River Bluff etc.

As a Pickens County native, Easley, Pickens and Daniel are making us proud.

Friday confirmed to me Dutch Fork is still 4 TDs better than any team in the state...save maybe Fort D.

Fear The Fox...Fixed On Six...for Jack #60

[DFOLDMAN]

As far as any real overachievers or underachievers ....no one really jumps out. The teams that are a bit down (save Dorman maybe) lost a lot of key players...Sumter, River Bluff etc.

As a Pickens County native, Easley, Pickens and Daniel are making us proud.

Given everything that has transpired, Friday confirmed to me Dutch Fork is still 4 TDs better than any team in the state...save maybe Fort D.

Fear The Fox...Fixed On Six...for Jack #60

[Blister]

On the good side:

Clinton -- Not a surprise to me as I saw them improve last year, but better not take them lightly. See them probably finishing 2nd in that region.
.
Riverside -- no, it won't last long, but for a team that couldn't beat anybody, they have at least been beating their equally inept brethren from Greenville County. This will all end in a week, but for now they make the list.

Greenwood -- You knew they would be pretty good, but they made a bit of a statement with a win on the road over that collection of recruited talent out of Charlotte at Catawba Ridge

The bad side:

Dorman -- Obvious choice

Clover -- High expectations after they beat Dorman. But maybe that said more about Dorman than Clover as the Eagles have been getting absolutely trucked since then.

Irmo -- Since they opened up their recruiting department at Irmo one figures that the beat down at the hands of SF is a cause for concern.

River Bluff -- At a school like RB things tend to go in cycles and they appear to be on a downward cycle.

[SF Band dad]

6) So-Flo- Band Dad said there was a new attitude and it appears that he was right. Lot of talented teams left on the schedule including N Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, so that Region is going to be tough but they appear to be multi-talented across the board. Defense looks strong and they appear to have speed in many places.

I'm hearing that 2nd year head coach Drew Marlowe, former Sumter assistant, has stressed character, discipline, hard work and attitude. (Strength & conditioning.) It appears that is paying dividends.

Earlier this year I was surprised to hear that our 3rd-year starting junior QB had received an offer from UVA, then I saw him in the Sumter scrimmage and our first two games. It is obvious he's put in a lot of hard work. I don't want to exaggerate, but he has matured into one of the most talented FB players I've ever seen at SF. We're not a one-man show, we have several other players on both sides of the ball that will be making various "superlatives" lists.

We are a young team. The starting QB, RB and the most prolific WR are all juniors. Note worthy: I believe that one of the 5 TD passes scored against Irmo was caught by the QB's little brother, a freshman.

[Itsmeoclock21]

6) So-Flo- Band Dad said there was a new attitude and it appears that he was right. Lot of talented teams left on the schedule including N Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, so that Region is going to be tough but they appear to be multi-talented across the board. Defense looks strong and they appear to have speed in many places.

I'm hearing that 2nd year head coach Drew Marlowe, former Sumter assistant, has stressed character, discipline, hard work and attitude. (Strength & conditioning.) It appears that is paying dividends.

Earlier this year I was surprised to hear that our 3rd-year starting junior QB had received an offer from UVA, then I saw him in the Sumter scrimmage and our first two games. It is obvious he's put in a lot of hard work. I don't want to exaggerate, but he has matured into one of the most talented FB players I've ever seen at SF. We're not a one-man show, we have several other players on both sides of the ball that will be making various "superlatives" lists.



We are a young team. The starting QB, RB and the most prolific WR are all juniors. Note worthy: I believe that one of the 5 TD passes scored against Irmo was caught by the QB's little brother, a freshman.

South Florence is going to be tough I can see Myrtle Beach losing to them......would not be out of the question but I’m still cautiously optimistic