The first step toward D.W. Daniel’s Western 3A region title last year came at the hands of Belton-Honea Path.

Even though the game was Sept. 14, the first region game and fourth overall, Daniel coach Randy Robinson recognized the value in a 14-7 victory.

“I don’t know who’s more excited, them or me,” Robinson said of his players, after the game. “We want to win a region championship. We haven’t done that here in a long time.”

Robinson knew the path to a region title goes through Bears Nation. B-HP, after all, won five straight region trophies before Daniel snapped the streak last season.

That game offered some foreshadowing between the two region heavyweights, who many expect to again battle for the title this season. Circle and/or highlight this year’s meeting for Oct. 17 again in Central.

B-HP coach Wayne Green said the situation was reversed when the Bears won their first of five straight titles.

“Being a champion is not a birth right,” Green said. “It’s something you’ve got to earn. And just because you were champion last year, does not mean you are going to be a champion this year.”

The marquee game is one of the few in the league since realignment was announced and moved Greenville out of the region. The Red Raiders had the unfortunate reality of having the region title decided at Sirrine Stadium the last two years — but lost it to B-HP and Daniel, respectively.

Berea and Travelers Rest also left, and West-Oak moved up from the Skyline region. Every other team remains, including Seneca, Pickens, and Woodmont.

“Our region is not as strong as it was last year because Greenville left,” Daniel senior quarterback Justin Walker said. “We’re going to focus on every team, but especially B-HP because we heard they’ll have a pretty good team.”

The Greenville exit means the region lacks a legitimate third title contender. Seneca and Pickens are widely believed to battle for the third spot.

But Green said teams can’t afford to look ahead.

“If you look down your schedule and start putting stars by teams, you’re about to get your butt whipped before you get to those stars,” he said.

And the Red Raiders also supplied the only passing-friendly offense. Most of the other teams have a run-first or run-only mentality.

“The thing I’ll miss about Greenville is that high-octane offense, I want to see somebody out there and no-huddle it, and sling it, and score some points,” Robinson said. “Because that prepares you, somewhere in the playoffs you’re going to see a team like that, and we’re going to miss that.”

The Bears finished third last season behind Daniel and Greenville, losing to both, after winning five straight in the middle of the conference season.

First-year West-Oak coach Jay Brannon, is a former Union County assistant who played Daniel and B-HP in the playoffs two of the last three years.

Brannon is OK with playing what many consider to be state title contenders.

“I hope Daniel is the best team in the state, and if they’re not, I hope B-HP is the best team in the state,” Brannon said. “Because if they are, and we beat them, if you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. We’ll have a good idea of how we matchup when we play those guys. If we can play with them, we can play with anybody.”

But Brannon refuses to lower his expectations even though he’s used to playing for the Upper State championship — and not many expect much from the Warriors in region play.

“I think most people expect us to go 0-5,” Brannon said. “My goal will always be 5-0, will we get there? I don’t know, but that’s going to be the expectation, and that won’t change.

Brannon’s one of two first-year coaches in the region. Ron Duncan is leading his first campaign at Seneca after moving from Bamberg-Ehrhardt.

Robinson already recognizes a tough stretch with Seneca and B-HP back-to-back.

“Seneca’s made some rapid improvements,” Robinson said after watching the Bobcats in 7-on-7 passing camps this summer. “It’s real obvious he’s got it going over there. They’re going to be a challenge. We’ll learn a lot about our team and character after those weeks.”

And even though Daniel’s only one two region titles since 2001, the annual expectations are alive.

“We’ll be disappointed if we don’t win this region,” Robinson said. “There’s great teams here, but that’s where we set the bar last year, and that’s where we’ll set the bar again this year.”

Expected order of finish

1. DANIEL

2. B-HP

3. SENECA

4. PICKENS

5. WOODMONT

6. WEST-OAK