Strom Thurmond remains the highest-ranked team among area South Carolina schools in the latest S.C. Prep Writers Poll released Tuesday. The Rebels held firm at No. 4 in Class AAA after routing Midland Valley 54-7 last week. They moved to 2-1 and have two tough tests coming up in Emerald and North Augusta before starting region play. North Augusta dropped one spot to a tie for ninth in Class AAAA after falling to Lexington 22-20 on the road this past Friday.