D2Football.com South Atlantic Conference Week Nine Preview

Last week solidified the thought of this conference being competitive from top to bottom.

Carson-Newman survives a 17-13 scare on the road against Lenoir-Rhyne?

Brevard holds Mars Hill's sensational running back Jonas Randolph to only 59 yards on 18 carries?

Catawba records ten sacks against Tusculum?

Newberry's Brandon Gantt throws for a career-high 336 yards in a victory at Wingate?

Those are just a few examples of how the South Atlantic Conference is transforming. The gap between all schools is narrowing and it is happening at an accelerated rate.

Regional Rankings for Week 9

1. North Alabama (8-0, 8-0)
2. Albany State (7-0, 7-0)
3. Carson-Newman (6-2, 5-2)
4. Mars Hill (5-2, 5-1)
5. UNC-Pembroke (6-1, 5-1)
6. West Alabama (5-3, 4-2)
7. Fort Valley (5-3, 4-2)
8. Morehouse (5-2, 5-2)
9. Arkansas Tech (5-2, 5-2)
10. Wingate (5-2, 5-2)

Recapping Week Eight

Carson-Newman: 17 Lenoir-Rhyne: 13
Predicted Score: Carson-Newman: 60 Lenoir-Rhyne: 17

Lenoir-Rhyne flirted with an upset for over three quarters until Carson-Newman scored 14 unanswered points in the final period. The Bears held Carson-Newman to only 112 yards rushing. Most years, the Eagles have that in less than a period against Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears received another gutsy performance from senior quarterback Justin Sanders as he allowed L-R to more than double the rushing total from Carson-Newman with 230 yard. C-N's air attack was contained for most of the game, including a couple of drops from Reggie Hubbard. However, Hubbard made up for it with the go-ahead score to seal the victory.

Newberry: 35 Wingate: 27
Predicted Score: Newberry: 37 Wingate: 30

By shutting down the Wingate ground game, Newberry put itself in terrific shape to silence a dangerous Bulldog team. Wingate was unable to overcome a game-changing interception return for a touchdown by Newberry in the fourth quarter. WU quarterback Cody Haffly went toe-to-toe with perhaps the SAC's best player not named Jonas Randolph, which is Brandon Gantt. Haffly had 232 yards passing and three touchdowns. However, one of his two interceptions essentially ended all hopes of a 4-0 SAC start. Newberry was boosted by the play of big-time receivers Brandon Bostick, nine catches for 158 yards, and David Smith, seven catches for 142 yards and a score.

Catawba: 41 Tusculum: 27
Predicted Score: Catawba: 38 Tusculum: 24

Catawba quarterback Pat Dennis continues to energize a Catawba offense that is beginning to hit its stride after atrocious displays earlier in conference play. In a way, the first and second half of the Tusculum game is a microcosm of Catawba's conference season. The Tribe earned a combined zero points after two trips inside the Tusculum 5-yard line. Dennis lifted the Indians to 28 second half points to give his team the first conference win of the season. Tusculum allowed ten sacks to the Indians. Pioneer freshman quarterback Bo Cordell completed 32 of 50 passes for 392 yards and four scores.

Mars Hill: 28 Brevard: 13
Predicted Score: Mars Hill: 31 Brevard: 17

While this one is not classified as a moral victory for Brevard, it does show how far the Tornados are advancing under head coach Paul Hamilton. BC was determined to slow down the Lion rushing attack at all costs, which allowed Mars Hill quarterbacks Jon Richt and Luis Cruz to fire devastating blows. The duo combined for 258 yards passing and three scores to give Brevard its first home setback in 2009.

Week Nine Previews

I made last week look easy by going 4-0.

My record now stands at 31-12 for the season and 10-6 in conference play.

The 4-0 prediction record is not only a result of my expertise with this conference, but also an attempt to land my own reality-television show.

Some people pretend to have their kid in a silly looking balloon in their quest to get TV time while others calculate point spreads and preview South Atlantic Conference games.

Saturday October 24, 2009

Brevard (6-2, 2-2) at #15 Carson-Newman (4-2, 3-0), 1:00 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 57 degrees, few showers, 9 MPH wind, and 30% chance of precipitation.
Point Spread: Carson-Newman (-28)

I know I should have learned a lesson after Lenoir-Rhyne nearly knocked off Carson-Newman, but I feel like this one will not be close. This will be the second straight week that the Eagles will face an option offense. Plus, the Brevard offense hardly got off of the ground last week against Mars Hill. To win, or be competitive, at Mossy Creek, a team must have a high-octane offense.

Carson-Newman is due a huge win at Burke-Tarr Stadium this season and they will not have another week of not being able to execute inside of the redzone.

Carson-Newman's split back veer running attack may be limited early by Brevard's determined defense. In fact, one of the biggest surprises to most this season is the impressive numbers posted by their defense.

However, there comes a time when a couple of deep passes will open up the dive for huge gains. The Tornados do not possess the speed to keep up with C-N quarterback Alex Good once he reaches the edge. Expect Good to have close to 150 rushing yards thanks to a couple of long distance runs.

Carson-Newman reminds the country that the veer should still be feared.

Carson-Newman: 49 Brevard: 9

Tusculum (1-6, 0-4) at Newberry (4-3, 2-2), 7:00 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 52 degrees, showers, 12 MPH wind, and 40% chance of precipitation.
Point Spread: Newberry (-17)

This game is usually reserved as the battle of the SAC's best and fastest athletes since the year 2003.

This year it is going to be reserved as, to put it kindly, Newberry wiping out Tusculum.

It has been one of those years for the Pioneers where nothing seems to go right for very long. One issue that must be addressed by Tusculum is the pressure placed on freshman quarterback Bo Cordell. His reaction to heat in the pocket must be addressed on getting rid of the football. Last year, Pioneer legend Corey Russell always had the ball either out of his hands at the drop back or he was scrambling when his mental clock went off.

That will develop in time for Cordell but Newberry isn't going to wait.

The Scarlet and Gray's defensive backfield was responsible for another big score this season when junior Ron Parker took an interception 54 yards to the end zone.

Expect Newberry's defensive front to set the tempo from the opening drive. Newberry quarterback Brandon Gantt will be facing one of the worst secondaries he has played to date this season. Consider that with the ridiculous size of the Scarlet and Gray receivers and we have a mismatch of epic proportions.

Tusculum's offense is potent enough to keep the score reasonable although the game will be decided early.

Newberry: 47 Tusculum: 24

Wingate (5-2, 3-1) at Catawba (4-3, 1-3), 1:30 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 70 degrees, showers, 13 MPH wind, and 40% chance of precipitation.
Point Spread: Catawba (-3.5)

Both Catawba and Wingate have seen benefits arise out of initial adversities.

Wingate's star tailback Nelson Woods was sidelined for disciplinary reasons until the fourth game of the season. This allowed sophomore Vince Jordan, a West Montgomery High standout, to already have 664 yards rushing and eight scores on the season. He runs with the attitude that he will be delivering the blows, not the defenders.

Catawba had UNC-Chapel Hill transfer quarterback Cam Sexton sidelined twice with late-hit injuries. Backup quarterback Pat Dennis has been playing like the absolute starter the past two weeks, and the Catawba offense has never looked better.

It is hard to see a lot of good news for Wingate heading into this week. Although the Bulldogs control their destiny, it surely is a treacherous journey. A trip to Catawba, hosting Carson-Newman, and then heading to Mars Hill awaits the Bulldogs.

And the journey already got off on the wrong foot last week in a loss against Newberry.

Wingate will attempt to get a better running game going this week after being absolutely dismal against the Scarlet and Gray with only 80 total rushing yards.

If Wingate cannot get momentum going with Woods and Jordan early on, they will not be able to overtake Catawba.

After a ten sack performance last week, the Tribe's defensive line is looking for an encore performance. WU quarterback Cody Haffly can slip out of the pocket if he must, which he performed brilliantly in the nationally televised game against Tusculum earlier in the year.

Expect Dennis to have another incredible day with help from receivers Gerron Bryant, Brandon Bunn, and Eric Morman.

Catawba: 33 Wingate: 21

Lenoir-Rhyne (4-4, 1-3) at Mars Hill (5-2, 3-1), 2:30 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 59 degrees, showers, 11 MPH wind, and 40% chance of precipitation.
Point Spread: Mars Hill (-8)

Lenoir-Rhyne has continually stood its ground this year regardless of its opponent.

The Bear Bone offense is generally good for at least 250 rushing yards a game, which essentially limits the time of possession another team has.

A senior quarterback in Justin Sanders, along with this option offense, make it difficult to foresee the Bears being beat by more than a score or two.

This is a huge trap game for Mars Hill. Playing a perceived weaker opponent at home while being ranked fourth in the regional rankings make this game one to keep a close eye on.

Obviously, Mars Hill will need better production from Harlon Hill candidate Jonas Randolph this week after he was held in check to only 59 yards against Brevard.

The Lions should be able to pass on Lenoir-Rhyne because the Bears will put out all of the stops to contain Randolph. It is the smart move to pull of the upset in this situation. The Bears need the Mars Hill quarterbacks to prove their worth again after they performed well in the win over Brevard a week ago.

L-R coach Fred Goldsmith will force Richt or Cruz to win the game, not Randolph.

Lenoir-Rhyne does not have quite enough on defense to upset the Lions.

Mars Hill: 24 Lenoir-Rhyne: 21