High school football notes: South Pointe No. 1 in 3A

South Pointe is the No. 1 3A football team in the state according to the latest S.C. Prep Media poll, released Tuesday evening.

The Stallions (2-0) began the season at No. 2, behind Myrtle Beach, but ascended into the top spot when the Seahawks lost over the weekend to Charlotte Christian. Hartsville, the team that South Pointe beat in the 3A state title game last season, bumped up to No. 2, followed by Greer, Myrtle Beach and Belton-Honea Path in the top-five.

South Pointe faces a challenge to retain the top spot for more than a week; Strait Herron’s team hosts 4A No. 9 York (2-0) on Friday. Northwestern (1-1) is also ranked in 4A, the Trojans checking in at No. 7.

S.C. Prep Writer’s Poll -- Week 2

4A

1. Spartanburg; 2. Fort Dorchester; 3. Hillcrest; 4. Byrnes; 5. Dorman; 6. Greenwood; 7. Northwestern; 8. Westwood; 9. York; 10. Goose Creek

Others receiving votes: Westside, Blythewood, Conway

3A

1. South Pointe; 2. Hartsville; 3. Greer; 4. Myrtle Beach; 5. Belton-Honea Path; 6. Seneca; 7. Chapin; 8. Marlboro County; 9. Wren; 10. Dreher

Others receiving votes: A.C. Flora, Brookland-Cayce, Airport, Berkeley, Orangeburg-Wilkinson

2A

1. Dillon; 2. Abbeville; 3. Newberry; 4. Batesburg-Leesville; 5. Woodruff; 6. Timberland; 7. Pendleton; 8. Lake Marion; 9. Fairfield Central; 10. Strom Thurmond

Others receiving votes: Blacksburg, Loris, Chesterfield, Ninety Six, Chesnee, Crescent

1A

1. McBee; 2. Bamberg-Ehrhardt; 3. Christ Church; 4. Allendale-Fairfax; 5. Lamar; 6. Lake View; 7. Calhoun County; 8. Cross; 9. Hemingway; 10. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler

Others receiving votes: Estill, Southside Christian, Williston-Elko, Green Sea-Floyds, St. John’s, Whitmire

The S.C. Prep Media Football Poll is conducted by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal with voting from Andrew Macke, Greenwood Index Journal; Bob Castello, Greenville News; Mike McCombs, The Island Packet; Chris Clark, Orangeburg Times and Democrat; Chris Dearing, The State; Ian Guerin, Myrtle Beach Sun News; Kevin Melton, Spartanburg Herald Journal; Lou Bezjak, The State; Lake Morris, Anderson Independent Mail; David Shelton, Charleston Post and Courier; Bret McCormick, The Herald (Rock Hill); Scott Chancey, Florence Morning News and Eric Russell, Aiken Standard.

Clover a passing team now? Clover didn’t run the ball the way it would like to during Friday’s 23-20 win over Forestview (N.C.), but it didn’t matter thanks to the Blue Eagles’ passing attack. QB Noah Lindsay was 9-of-14 for 148 yards and three touchdowns. The most crucial was a 56-yard catch and run from Lindsay to Clark with about seven minutes left that put Clover in front for good.

The Blue Eagles out-gained their run game through the air for likely the first time in well over 10 years, according to coach Chad Smith. Clover takes on No. 8-ranked Westwood on Friday.

Abbeville ends Christ Church’s state-record streak: Christ Church’s state-record 55-game winning streak is no more after the Abbeville Panthers unceremoniously dropped the Cavaliers 55-14 Friday.

The Panthers led by a touchdown at halftime, but shut out Christ Church in the second with 34 unanswered points. Christ Church hadn’t lost since early in the 2011 season, but coach Don Frost was positive after the game.

“I’m proud of every kid since 2011,” Frost told the Greenville News’ Bob Castello. “I’m proud of all of them since I started, because we had some of them who set the foundation when we first got there.”

College coaches can make contact: Tuesday was the first day college football coaches could make contact with 2016 recruits – by phone – and 2017 recruits – by Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Such is the recruiting rat race that many college coaches were contacting coaches right after midnight.

Chester trash pick-up: Chester football players donned different color jerseys – bright orange ones – Saturday morning. A group of players from Victor Floyd’s football program helped pick up roadside trash near the school as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

Tri-County Coaches’ awards

Week Zero

4A schools

Offensive player of the week: Ronnie Hughes, Fort Mill – junior had 186 yards combined rushing/receiving and also two TDs in the Yellow Jackets’ win over White Knoll.

Defensive player: Nick Sturgill, York – senior made eight total tackles, recorded two quarterback pressures, three third down stops, forced a fumble and had a tackle-for-loss in York’s win at Sumter.

Offensive lineman: Ryan Enniss, York – senior offensive tackle graded out 93 percent with two knockdowns in the Cougars’ win over Sumter.

Defensive lineman: Kyle Ersek, York – defensive end recorded a tackle-for-loss and a sack to go with six total tackles against Sumter.

Special teams: Myles Prosser, York – kicker hit all five point-after tries against Sumter, as well as kicking two kickoffs for touchbacks.

1A, 2A, 3A schools

Offensive player: Mike Hill, Lewisville – junior had 14 carries for 60 yards and six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns in Lewisville’s loss to Chester in Week Zero.

Week One

4A schools:

Offensive player: Rogan Wells, Fort Mill – senior quarterback ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns in Fort Mill’s win over Lugoff-Elgin. Wells also threw for 88 yards in the victory.

Defensive player: Charlie Newton, Nation Ford – senior defensive end/outside linebacker was a terror for Nation Ford against Boiling Springs, making 10 tackles, including four for a loss and three sacks in the loss to the Bulldogs.

Offensive lineman: Caleb Clayton, York – graded out at 92 percent with two knockdown blocks and two extra effort plays in the win over

Defensive lineman: Chase Griffin, Clover – junior defensive tackle made 10 total tackles, including two for a loss in helping Clover slow down Forestview’s Syracuse-committed running back Moe Neal during the Blue Eagles’ 23-20 win Friday.

Special teams: Myles Prosser, York – hit three punts for an average of 44 yards, sticking two inside the 20. Prosser also had three touchbacks on kickoffs, was 6-for-6 on extra points and hit a 30-yard field goal.

1A, 2A, 3A schools

Offensive player: Mike Hill, Lewisville – junior finished with 12 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown and also made eight catches for 108 yards and another touchdown during the Lions’ loss to Blacksburg.

Defensive player: Keilan Renegar, Lewisville – junior made 14 tackles, including 12 primaries, and forced a fumble during Lewisville’s loss at Blacksburg.

Offensive lineman: Lewis Johnson, Lancaster – senior offensive tackle graded out 88 percent with three pancakes in the Bruins’ dominant win over Andrew Jackson.

Defensive lineman: Cristian Rodriguez, Lewisville – Rodriguez made 11 tackles, including nine primaries and three for a loss, in addition to forcing a fumble against Blacksburg.

Special teams: Matthew Medlock, Indian Land – senior hit 4-of-5 point-after tries and nailed a 22-yard field goal as time expired to help Indian Land beat Buford.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "High school football notes: South Pointe No. 1 in 3A."