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SAC in spotlight: Bob Eblen posted last week that he was disappointed with the first two national TV games on CBS Sports Network. He mentioned the only good press was Sparks winning game #300. I don't know about you but that was a pretty entertaining game on Thursday night. Plenty of offense in the first half. Plenty of defense in the second. Contrasting offenses, big plays and it didn't drag on. Just over 3 hours with 246 TV timeouts. No scuffles, both teams represented themselves well and C-N had a really nice turnout. All that said, it wasn't that hard to top first two games. Hope they come calling again next year.
The Cat out of the Bag: The answer we were looking for was answered Saturday in Mars Hill. Are the Lions as impressive as the two beat downs they posted vs BC & NGU? They pick up a 7 point win over Newberry to move to 3-0 in Division II play. Shack Davis is stepping right in for Lions run game, averaging 130 per game. Richt was only 11-26 and at 46% this season. Seems like the only concern because they continue to come up with big plays every game and the defense is stout.
Protect this house: I don't want to ruin my stat below but this has been a home field dominated season so far in SAC games. Home teams are winning at a 78% rate while the visitors at a dismal 20%. Home teams are 7-2 in SAC play so far, with both wins by Wingate, but they head home to face toughest test in Mars Hill. Keep an eye on home field advantage to determine SAC champ down the road.
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Red Meat Rankings:
Upcoming weekend marks the midway point already for the 2012 season, believe it or not. For the teams with 11 games, this is game six and the peak of the season. It is still too early to really decide who is the meat of the league but let's do it anyways:
Filet ("most tender of all cuts, prized for delicate butter-like texture")
Mars Hill, Wingate, Newberry. Who doesn't love a filet? The Lions already have a win over Newberry and head to Wingate this week plus still have to visit LR and C-N. Newberry has a loss but get Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne home. The Bulldogs have to play both teams in consecutive weeks but after that finish with three straight SAC games at home.
Porterhouse ("combination of both a finely textured tenderloin steak and a flavorful top loin steak")
Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and Carson-Newman. A little cut of two great steaks. The verdict is still out on LR. If Hayes is back at full strength they move up at a category. They get BC and TC next two weeks but have a brutal finish. Catawba still has to get better on offense but not much because of how much the defense can carry them. Carson-Newman has two SAC losses already and a loss at Catawba this week drops them down.
Flank ("thin, flat cut that is very flavorful but moderately tough")
Tusculum, Brevard. Still tastes good but not good to be tough. Tusculum's rush defense is still a huge issue and five straight against run first teams are ahead. Better get it turned around in a hurry. Brevard offense showed a ton of life last week and they get LR at home this week. Their defense as expected plays well against the option, nearly knocking off Bears last year.
P.S. - Hungry yet?
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Offensive Helmet Stickers:
Nestor Lantigua, RB, Wingate : (25 car, 140 yds, 3TD) Lantigua had his best game of his young career in the biggest stage. The sophomore more than doubled his career TD total in the win over C-N. His big run late in the game put it out of reach and put Wingate 2-0 in the SAC. Big test coming this week against one of the top d-lines in Mars Hill.
Wide Receivers : This was a crazy week for wide receivers in the SAC, maybe one of the best I can remember collectively in a long time. Take a look at these numbers: Chris Bowden, Wingate (9 rec, 146 yds, TD, LNG 75), Corey Washington, Newberry (10 rec, 124 yds, TD), Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill (3 rec, 182 yds, 2TD, LNG 92), Deunta Jennings, Mars Hill (4 rec, 103 yds, 2TD, LNG 52), Xzanvion Smith, Tusculum (6 rec, 149 yds, 2TD, LNG 51), Jarrid McKinney, Catawba (10 rec, 178, LNG 49), Nate Charest, Catawba (11 rec, 108 yds, TD). Unreal week. Seven helmet stickers in one post? Why not.
Ruben Haynes, QB, Lenoir-Rhyne : (10 car, 51 yds, TD, 4-5, (80%), 138 yds, 2TD) Haynes was welcomed back in a big win over a bad North Greenville team. This was a perfect situation for Haynes to come back in and respond from the concussion. The Bears still have to be considered contenders even though they are 0-1 in the SAC.
(Just outside the huddle- Dominique Lesine, RB, Brevard, John Richt, QB, Mars Hill, Bo Cordell, QB, Tusculum)
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Defensive Helmet Stickers:
Troy Harris, DL, Mars Hill : Harris had a team high 13 tackles and even though only 2 were solo, he was in on a lot of plays. He added a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and four quarterback hurries. Harris wins a third helmet sticker and has his Lions in first place. The Lions were the first team to sack Newberry QB Murden all year.
Michael Green, DB, Lenoir-Rhyne : Green picked off a pair of passes in the blowout win over North Greenville. The pre-season All-SAC performer posted eight tackles and a tackle for loss. The Bears defense has given up only 36 points in their three non-conference games. Green and company head to Brevard to face an improving BC offense that almost upset LR in Hickory last year.
Wingate 2nd Half Defense : The Wingate defense dominated the Eagles in the second 30 minutes for the second straight game in Jefferson City. In 2010, C-N scored 28 in the first half but no offensive points in the 2nd half and OT. In 2012, the Eagles put 24 on the board in the first half but are held scoreless once again. Carson-Newman had a paltry 98 yards of offense in the 2nd half, with 60 of those coming on one play. Great adjustments by WU DC Bobby James and his staff. They have hands full again this week with Mars Hill.
(Just outside the huddle - Tanner Botts, LB, Lenoir-Rhyne, Marvin Lawson, DL, Brevard, Lamarcus Thicklin, DL, Mars Hill)
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Special Teams Helmet Stickers:
Xzanvion Smith, KR, Tusculum: Smith pulled off a rare and incredible feat on Saturday at home against Brevard. He caught a TD pass, then returned consecutive kick-offs for touchdowns. For good measure, he caught the next Tusculum TD. Four scores, all in the first 20 minutes of the game. The kick-off returns were from 79 and 83 yards. Maybe BC was trying to kick it short to keep it out of his hands. This just in: it didn't work.
JoJo Morris, P, Newberry : He was busy on Saturday in Mars Hill, punting 7 times for an average of 43 yards. Three punts were inside the 20 while another pair went for touch backs. Thanks in part to Morris, Newberry won the field position battle but came up short on the scoreboard.
(Just outside the huddle - Andy Rosseti, P, Tusculum)
Coaches of the Week
Joe Reich, Wingate & Tim Clifton, Mars Hill: Reich had his team ready to play on national TV Thursday against the Eagles. The Bulldogs did not turn it over and only had two penalties. Both of the losses for WU this year have been dominated by mistakes, but that wasn't the case in the spotlight. Clifton posted two impressive wins over BC and NGU and had their toughest D2 test in Newberry. The Lions moved it on the ground and in the air and looked like a complete team. Oddly enough, they play each other this week in a battle of unbeatens.
SAC Week 4 Pick 'Em Helmet Stickers
"ironcheftvdinner" (5-0 record) : Most impressive week through the first five pick 'ems in my opinion. WUvsCN and NCvsMH were really tough ones to call. Iron picks up another helmet sticker to take the overall lead.
(Just outside the huddle - Everyone else that finished 4-1)
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An 12 pack of Stats:
15-4: Home record of all 8 SAC teams combined
4-16: Road record of all 8 SAC teams combined
46: The number of yards TC quarterback Bo Cordell needs to become the SAC's all-time leader in pass yards.
17: The number of games Cordell has left in his career. At an average of 350 per game, he will throw for 5,950 more yards, and become all-time leader in D2. He also has 13 career 400+ yard games, 7 away from record for all divisions.
127: The number of points SAC teams have hung on North Greenville through three games.
2/9: Catawba's turnovers in last two wins / Catawba's turnovers in last two losses.
0: The number of interceptions gained by Carson-Newman in 2012
17: Games since the Newberry offensive line gave up more than one sack in a game, a streak broken Saturday at MHC.
3: Straight wins for Wingate over Carson-Newman, after losing 21 out of 22 all-time to the Eagles.
415: Number of rushing yards for Brevard at Tusculum, the most by any SAC team in conference play this year.
12: The number of plays in Mars Hill's first touchdown drive against Newberry.
18: The number of plays in Mars Hill's final four touchdown drives.
-Ryan ( @RyanBrown_PxP )