
The 2010 season will be upon us before you know it and the time to prognosticate (ie: guess) the best teams in the state is here. The defending state champion Dorman Cavaliers bring a lot to the table in terms of
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strength, including the state's top offensive player in Charon Peake at wide receiver. The Cavs' defense was stellar in the DI title victory over Byrnes, and if they can replace a few holes will be the team to beat in 4A again this season.
For the first time in several years, the SCVarsity.com Football Polls will begin without Byrnes at the top ranking. The Rebels will start at No. 2 this season after losing a wealth of talent - all in key positions. Depth has not been a problem at Byrnes and they have a standout - but young - replacement for Marcus Lattimore to keep the running game strong enough to compliment the wide open offense they use.
Fourteen of the Top Twenty Five are Class 4A teams, which one would expect. The highest ranked team from another classification would be 3A Myrtle Beach coming in at No. 6. This will be the strongest of the Myrtle Beach teams we've seen in the past three seasons and they should very well be the team to beat in their class. Three other 3A teams own spots in the Top Ten. Berkeley (No. 8) and South Pointe (No. 10) each move down from 4A, while Chester (No.9) returns what may be their best team in three years. Fairfield-Cenral (No. 11) and Clinton (No. 24) are the only other 3A teams in the Top Twenty-Five.
The Class 2A is well represented with a powerhouse Strom Thurmond coming in at No. 12. Lake City (No. 14) drops from 3A to 2A with the state's top running back prospect, Shon Carson. Manning (No. 23) is loaded with DI talent and, along with Lake City, lends strength to the lower state 2A.
Two Class 1A teams are in the Top Twenty-Five and could play with almost anyone on the list for a half before depth hurt them. Chesterfield (No. 17) is the team to beat - again - in 1A with a strong roster and one of the state's outstanding quarterback prospects in Seth Truesdale. Williston-Elko (No. 25) is also a 1A favorite and, like Chesterfield, boasts a strong quarterback prospect in Tyman Garrett.
| Team | City | State | |
| 1 | Dorman | Roebuck | SC |
| Defending state champs return the state's top offensive player in WR Charon Peake. | |||
| 2 | Byrnes | Duncan | SC |
| Rebels took a big hit to graduation, but depth has never been a problem. | |||
| 3 | Northwestern | Rock Hill | SC |
| Trojans return 4A's top signal caller and weapons to help him on the outside. | |||
| 4 | Goose Creek | Goose Creek | SC |
| Loaded with talent, the Gators are the low country's best. | |||
| 5 | North Augusta | North Augusta | SC |
| Team to watch from Region V, this team is loaded with weapons on offense and strong on defense. | |||
| 6 | Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach | SC |
| This may be the Seahawks' best starting lineup yet. | |||
| 7 | Blythewood | Blythewood | SC |
| 4A's top running back, Brandon Wilds returns to a talent-filled roster. | |||
| 8 | Berkeley | Moncks Corner | SC |
| Stags lost key talent, but will reload as they move down to 3A. | |||
| 9 | Chester | Chester | SC |
| Once again, the Cyclones are poised to make a run at the 3A title game. | |||
| 10 | South Pointe | Rock Hill | SC |
| Stallions must rebuild an offensive line, but have the talent everywhere else. | |||
| 11 | Fairfield Central | Winnsboro | SC |
| One of 3A's top teams, the Griffs will be strong defensively | |||
| 12 | Strom Thurmond | Johnston | SC |
| 2A's best team is loaded at every position and young. | |||
| 13 | Summerville | Summerville | SC |
| Greenwave have the low country's top RB to lead the offense. | |||
| 14 | Lake City | Lake City | SC |
| Returning a wealth of talent and dropping down to 2A; this team is loaded. | |||
| 15 | Lexington | Lexington | SC |
| New coaching philosophy and a little talent will help this team in 2010. | |||
| 16 | Greenwood | Greenwood | SC |
| Eagles will be better than people expect. Strong in skills positions. | |||
| 17 | Chesterfield | Chesterfield | SC |
| The Rams are the team to beat in 1A, and can compete with anyone in the state. | |||
| 18 | Irmo | Columbia | SC |
| Quarterback is a question mark, but this team could be good down the stretch. | |||
| 19 | Mauldin | Mauldin | SC |
| One of the state's biggest turn arounds, this team will be strong in the upstate. | |||
| 20 | Stratford | Goose Creek | SC |
| The Knights have struggled for a couple of seasons, but they will surprise people this season. | |||
| 21 | Gaffney | Gaffney | SC |
| Losing Coach Strickland could set this team back into a short span of mediocrity. | |||
| 22 | Spartanburg | Spartanburg | SC |
| Strong in skills positions, especially at wide receiver and in the secondary. | |||
| 23 | Manning | Manning | SC |
| One of 2A's best, the Monarchs will be strong defensively. | |||
| 24 | Clinton | Clinton | SC |
| Red Devils will be one of the teams to beat in 3A upstate. | |||
| 25 | Williston Elko | Williston | SC |
| May have the best set of running backs in the state. | |||
