Anything can happen in the South Atlantic
Conference.
Pretend this question was posed a week before
the 2009 season started.
Which of the following statements is true of
Week Ten?
A. Carson-Newman running back Buck Wakefield
had 303 yards rushing in a 45-7 blowout win over Wingate. It gives C-N the
conference crown after an 0-2 start.
B. The once last place Tusculum Pioneers beat
Mars Hill 38-28. Lion tailback Jonas Randolph runs for 260 yards.
C. Brevard beats Catawba 7-6 on a blocked punt
returned for a score.
D. Lenoir-Rhyne held an eighteen point lead in
the second quarter only to fall to Newberry by three. It was the Bears' fifth
loss by seven points or less.
E. All of the above.
And to think all of that happened in one week.
By the way, the answer is E.
Regional Rankings for Week Eleven
1. North Alabama 10-0 10-0
2. Carson-Newman 8-2 7-2
3. Albany State (Georgia) 8-1 8-1
4. UNC Pembroke 8-1 6-1
5. Mars Hill 6-3 6-2
6. Arkansas Tech 7-2 7-2
7. Morehouse 6-3 6-3
8. Benedict 7-3 6-3
9. Wingate 6-3 6-3
10. Fort Valley State 6-4 5-3
Carson-Newman can join North Alabama, UNC-Pembroke,
and Albany State in the playoffs. The other two spots are up for grabs between
Mars Hill, Arkansas Tech, and the two SIAC schools Morehouse and Benedict.
For Wingate to have a chance to earn a berth,
they must beat Mars Hill while both SIAC teams take losses. Not a good outlook
for the Bulldogs after being dominated by Carson-Newman last week.
Recapping Week Ten
Carson-Newman: 45 Wingate: 7
Predicted Score: Carson-Newman: 35 Wingate: 14
Carson-Newman jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead on
an Alex Good 53 yard pass to Charles Dobson. The Eagles controlled the game
thereafter with running back Buck Wakefield tallying 303 yards on the ground,
which broke a school record. Wingate was gashed for 496 yards on the ground in a
game that was decided in the second quarter. The last four minutes of the first
half were disastrous for the Bulldogs. First, Wakefield breaks free for a
68-yard touchdown run. Next, Wingate punts after a drive stalls only to see Good
throw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Dobson. Then, Wingate return man Bobby Seidof
fumbled a kickoff return that led to an easy scoring drive for C-N.
Carson-Newman secured the South Atlantic Conference crown with the easy win.
Tusculum: 38 Mars Hill: 28
Predicted Score: Mars Hill: 42 Tusculum: 31
Mars Hill got everything it could out of
tailback Jonas Randolph. Another monster day for the super sophomore as he ran
for 260 yards and four scores on 38 carries. The Lions' offensive woes came in
the passing game, and it just happened to be against the SAC's best passing
offense. Mars Hill quarterback Luis Cruz threw three interceptions to ruin first
half drives while they trailed the Pioneers. TC had its usual ups and downs with
freshman quarterback Bo Cordell throwing for 366 yards and four scores, but also
with two interceptions and five sacks. The Lion quarterbacks combined for 9
completions on 33 attempts.
Newberry: 24 Lenoir-Rhyne: 21
Predicted Score: Newberry: 28 Lenoir-Rhyne: 17
This game really is a microcosm of Lenoir-Rhyne's
2009 season. It is really not far-fetched to say that the Bears were a couple of
plays away from being the champions of this league. The Bears held a 21-3 lead
at home in the second quarter. Newberry had a great day from running back Gerald
Legree as he ran for 153 yards on 22 carries along with a score. The Scarlet and
Gray passing game was hampered by the weather, which makes the victory that much
more interesting. Lenoir-Rhyne's option attack with quarterbacks Justin Sanders
and Major Herron, and running backs Byron Darby and James Pone played well
enough to win. Newberry keeps the Bishops Trophy for the fourth straight season.
Brevard: 7 Catawba: 6
Predicted Score: Catawba: 38 Brevard: 17
Brevard earned a major victory over a reeling
Catawba team by way of a special teams play. The Tribe was holding onto a 6-0
with roughly five minutes remaining in the contest when several Tornados blocked
a Colby McCanna punt. Junior defensive lineman Richard Ray ran the loose ball
for 12 yards to give Brevard a 7-6 lead that the Indians could not overcome. The
field conditions were atrocious and so were the statistics. Catawba lost two
fumbles and threw an interception. Brevard gained only 88 yards of offense and
was 1-3 for 7 yards passing.
Week Eleven Previews
It seems that I cannot avoid splitting the
games each week in conference play. Once more, another 2-2 performance now has
my overall record at 35-16 overall and 14-10 in conference.
Tusculum (3-6, 2-4) at #9 Carson-Newman
(8-2, 6-0), 1:00 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 64 degrees, sunny, 4 MPH wind, and 0% chance of
precipitation.
Point Spread: Carson-Newman (-21)
The South Atlantic Conference has two teams
playing better than anyone else right now.
They will face off at Burke-Tarr stadium this
Saturday.
Tusculum has won two in a row after being beat
by Catawba. Carson-Newman has strung along eight straight wins since their
difficult non-conference games.
Obviously, very different offensive
philosophies will be on display at Mossy Creek on Saturday afternoon with the
Eagles' split back veer option going up against Tusculum's spread passing
attack.
Although Tusculum had a huge win last week
against regionally ranked Mars Hill, they are still very vulnerable against the
run. Mars Hill's Jonas Randolph was able to run for 260 yards on a Pioneer run
defense that gives up 231 yards a contest.
Carson-Newman will easily have 300 yards
rushing on this defense. Buck Wakefield continues to impress after his injury
comeback.
Can Tusculum protect freshman quarterback Bo
Cordell well enough early for him to gain confidence throughout the game? If the
Pioneers give up five sacks this week - this game is a blowout.
Carson-Newman is playing with a sense of
fearlessness and desperation to make up for a bad start to the year.
Carson-Newman has the conference crown locked
up for 2009, yet the Eagles feel like they have so much left to prove.
Lots of points in this rivalry game.
Carson-Newman: 52 Tusculum: 28
Wingate (6-3, 4-2) at Mars Hill (6-3, 4-2),
1:30 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 61 degrees, sunny, 6 MPH wind, and 0% chance of
precipitation.
Point Spread: Mars Hill (-3)
It would be a better story line if this game
had the dynamic of the winner going to the playoffs and the loser staying at
home.
Instead, it appears that only Mars Hill can be
that second SAC team in the postseason after Carson-Newman.
Being ninth place puts Wingate in a bad spot
after the Bulldogs dropped their game to Carson-Newman. Morehouse and Benedict
would be difficult to jump at this point.
All Mars Hill has to do is win this game and
they will be in the postseason. After the dreadful passing display last week
against Tusculum, one can only imagine that the air attack will improve.
Is it even possible for Lion tailback Jonas
Randolph to improve? He has a realistic chance to set the conference's single
season rushing mark in a season.
Wingate's ground game never got going against a
terrific run defense of Carson-Newman. Running backs Vince Jordan and Nelson
Woods need to give the Bulldogs over 200 yards rushing for them to have a
chance.
Wingate's passing game is much more reliable
than the Lions at this point in the season. Quarterback Cody Haffly did
everything within his power to keep the Bulldogs in the game against C-N. He
takes care of the ball and eludes pressure nicely.
Although WU's offense can hit you with the pass
and the run, the Mars Hill running game is too much for Wingate to stop. Add in
the motivation of what is at stake for the Lions, plus the fact that they are at
home gives Mars Hill the edge in this one.
Mars Hill: 27 Wingate: 21
Brevard (7-3, 3-3) at Newberry (5-4, 3-3),
7:00 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 52 degrees, sunny, 6 MPH wind, and 0% chance of
precipitation.
Point Spread: Newberry (-14.5)
Who would have ever imagined Brevard boasting a
3-3 conference record and a 7-3 overall record into the last week of the regular
season?
The Tornados are coming off of a big win at
home in the mud to Catawba in which they blocked a punt and returned it for the
go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter.
Newberry comes into the final week of
conference play fresh off of a come-from-behind win at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Newberry should not have a problem in this
matchup. Motivation will definitely not be a problem for Brevard. The Tornados
are playing for an unbelievable eight win season and a winning record in
conference play.
Newberry is not playing for a whole lot other
than pride. Senior quarterback Brandon Gantt was the leading candidate for
conference offensive player of the year until some close setbacks closed the
door on that opportunity.
The passing game of Newberry was not able to
take off in the weather last week. The conditions will be terrific for Gantt to
find big targets Brandon Bostick, Kelton Tindal, and all of the Davids.
Brevard's Michael Crumbaker's thumb condition
is worrisome. He wore a protective garment on the thumb against Catawba last
week. Newberry's rush defense will seal off the BC option attack. Newberry's
defense kept Lenoir-Rhyne off of the scoreboard in the second half to notch the
win. L-R only mustered four yards of offense in the third quarter.
Too much speed for Newberry at home with great
senior offensive weapons.
Newberry: 34 Brevard: 21
Lenoir-Rhyne (4-6, 1-5) at Catawba (4-5,
1-5), 1:30 PM ET
Forecast at Kickoff: 61 degrees, sunny, 6 MPH wind, and 0% chance of
precipitation.
Point Spread: Lenoir-Rhyne (-6)
While Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne have similar
records, they have not had similar seasons.
The Bears have lost five games by seven points
or less while Catawba was blasted at home by Wingate and Newberry.
Catawba's defense put up great statistics
against Brevard, but the weather was a major factor in that.
Lenoir-Rhyne's option attack may give Catawba
some problems early on with quarterbacks Justin Sanders and Major Herron running
the show. The Indian defense will be tested by the Bears' physical offensive
line.
Catawba's offense will be in the hands of
junior quarterback Pat Dennis. The running game for Catawba has been lacking all
season, and this is game where not having one is going to hurt. With an early
score or two, the ball control Bearbone offense will pressure Catawba to throw
more than it wants.
Byron Darby has been on a tear lately and I do
not see that changing.
This one is a real toss up. It is senior day at
Shuford Stadium with this game coming after two previous blowout home losses.
Can Catawba really lose three in a row at
Shuford Stadium?
Catawba: 20 Lenoir-Rhyne: 17
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