Despite finishing with a 10-4 record, losing in the semifinals of the state playoffs and returning many, the Gaffney High football team appears to be flying under the radar with so-called prep pigskin experts.

The Indians are ranked No. 21 in the SCVarsity.com preseason poll that includes teams from all four classifications, while the High School Sports Reports omitted the Indians from a poll that asked on-line readers to vote for the top Class 4A team.

In fact, the comment that accompanied the school’s ranking in the SCVarsity.com poll, suggested the team will be adversely affected by the loss of head coach Phil Strickland.

Despite heavy graduation losses, Byrnes is ranked No. 1 in the SCVarsity poll, a notch ahead of defending state champion Dorman. Northwestern is third, while Goose Creek and North Augusta round out the top five.

Class 3A power Myrtle Beach is sixth with Blythwood seventh, Berkeley seventh, Chester ninth and South Pointe at No. 10.

Northwestern, Berkeley, defending state champion Dorman, Byrnes, South Pointe and Goose Creek are the six teams HSSR has battling for the top spots in Class 4A.

Maxpreps has yet to release its South Carolina state poll. But the Palmetto State is well represented among the website’s Top 100 prospects. South Carolina boasts two of the top six players in No. 2 rated Jadaveon Clowney of South Pointe and Goose Creek’s 6-7, 290 lb. offensive tackle Brandon Shell, who is rated the sixth-best prospect.