Throughout the month of August, VirginiaPreps.com will begin previewing the upcoming 2017 High School Football season. As part of our comprehensive coverage, we will be counting down the Top Ten rankings for each classification.

What to Know: Hired in 2014, Brandon Harner took over a program with rich tradition. Wythe won state titles in 2002 and 2012. Under Harner, they've gone 33-8 and scored a school-record 629 points last year. The Maroons haven't had a losing record since 1996. Hopes are high this season with three-year starting quarterback Deacon Beamer, who tossed 22 touchdown passes during the 2016 campaign on his way to 2nd Team All-Region honors.

Beamer will have to get along without two of his better playmakers in Bogger Owens and Markell Moss, both of whom graduated. Weapons are still aplenty in Wytheville for the gifted passer as he'll now spread the ball around to the likes of senior wideouts Reid Skeens and Khorey Hull. Skeens' older brother, Trey, plays at Virginia Tech. He'll have a versatile backfield, too, with senior Teion Brown, junior Isaiah Sawyers and sophomore Ravvon Wells.

Of the 11 seniors George Wythe graduated from last year, five of them were linemen. Two were indispensable pieces to their attack in Dylan Anderson, the Mountain West Conference Lineman of the Year now playing at UVA-Wise, and Larry Isaac, a freshman at Concord University. Nonetheless, the Maroons have two established veterans to pick up where they left off in senior center Gavin Gray (6-3, 298), a 2nd Team All-State performer, and senior right tackle Parker Coe (6-3, 282).

Harner feels really good about his cast of linebackers and defensive linemen. Gray and Coe pull double duty, helping stuff the run along with senior Charlie Caudill (6-3, 275) and sophomore Dorrian McMillian. At linebacker, Skeens, Brown and Sawyers will a good deal, plus they're anticipating big things from senior Landon Thompson (6-2, 212), arguably their best prospect for the next level on the defensive side of the football. Hull is the lone returning starter in the secondary and will need support from Wells and junior Jacquez Younger.

Although Wythe sees three Class 2 schools to begin the season before a key home game with Top Ten member Chilhowie, the schedule isn't exactly a gauntlet. Many fans will circle the October 13th home game against Galax. The presence of Beamer is such a great equalizer for Wythe, especially come playoff time. Not too many teams at the Class 1 level possess a quarterback with his skills, so that ca very well be a difference in their quest to win the state title.

#2 - Riverheads Gladiators - Read More Here

#3 - Sussex Central Tigers - Read More Here

#4 - Galax Maroon Tide - Read More Here

#5 - Parry McCluer Fighting Blues - Read More Here

#6 - Essex Trojans - Read More Here

#7 - Altavista Colonels - Read More Here

#8 - Hurley Rebels - Read More Here

#9 - Chilhowie Warriors - Read More Here

#10 - Northumberland Indians - Read More Here

Final 1A Rankings for 2016:

#1 - Riverheads (12-1)

#2 - Sussex Central (12-1)

#3 - Galax (11-3)

#4 - George Wythe (12-2)

#5 - Parry McCluer (11-2)

#6 - Hurley (11-1)

#7 - Altavista (9-4)

#8 - Fort Chiswell (9-4)

#9 - Colonial Beach (9-3)

#10 - Chilhowie (9-3)

Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him every Saturday at 10AM on ESPN Radio 94.1.