Gaffney opens season ranked no. 6 in Class 4A

It may be a new season, but Gaffney finds itself in a familiar position as it prepares for a tough 2008 schedule.

The Indians open the season ranked no. 6 in Class 4A, according to a poll made up of several sports writers statewide.

Byrnes, which opens up at North Gwinnett (Ga.) this weekend, sits atop the preseason poll. The defending Class 4A Div. I champions are also receiving votes in national polls.

Greenwood, which bowed out in the second round of the state playoffs last year, comes in at no. 2.

Gaffney opens its season at home against no. 5 Dorman, which is nationally ranked according to a recent PrepNation poll.

The Aug. 29 opener is the first of a gauntlet of contests for the Indians against top flight opponents. In addition to the upcoming visit from the Cavaliers, Gaffney also will face stiff tests from Byrnes (Sept. 26), and new region rivals Clover (Oct. 31) and Northwestern (Nov. 7).

Greenville, which is ranked no. 6 in Class 3A, will also make a visit to the new Gaffney High School Stadium on Sept. 5.

According to Gaffney head coach Phil Strickland, his team's 2008 slate is no different with the exception of the Indians being in a new region this year.

"We would have liked to be in a region with those teams in Region II-4A like we had been in previous years," Strickland said. "But we made sure to keep a lot of teams like Byrnes, Spartanburg, Dorman and others on our schedule. It was something we wanted to do and the coaches of those programs felt the same way."

In other polls, Marlboro County opens at the top of Class 3A, while Cheraw begins its quest for a 3- peat atop Class 2A. Chesterfield was tabbed no. 1 in Class 1A.

Class 4A Preseason Poll

1. Byrnes 2. Greenwood 3. South Pointe 4. Northwestern 5. Dorman 6. Gaffney 7. Sumter 8. Clover 9. Summerville 10. Berkeley