High school sports site MaxPreps.com released their ranking of the Top 25 Small School teams in the United States with the Dillon Wildcats earning fourth place.

The Wildcats claimed the Class 2A Division 1 championship last season with a 13-1 record. Dillon faced Central for the state title three years in a row from 2008 to 2010 and the Wildcats have claimed the title three times in the last five years.

Dillon is returning some top talent this year as well in Joe Blue, Anthony Blue, Jalen Washington, Damu Ford, and Avery McCall.

In their pre-season appearances, the Wildcats defeated Lumberton 35-0 and tied Central 14-14.
Dillon opens the regular season this Friday at 7:30 p.m. against North Carolina’s Mallard Creek. The Wildcats are ranked first in their division in South Carolina, while Mallard Creek’s Maverick’s are the top ranked Class 4A team in North Carolina.

East Bernard, Texas; Clairton, Pennsylvania; and Clearwater Central Catholic of Florida claimed the top three spots in the ranking. Texas had six teams in the Top 25 while California had five and Florida had three. The Wildcats were the only South Carolina team to make the list.