PLAYOFFS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS ?!?!

Thanks to Jim Mora, we will never say "playoffs" the same way. It's all about the postseason for three teams in the South Atlantic Conference. As we know, Mars Hill sits at the three spot, Carson-Newman fourth, and Lenoir-Rhyne sixth. As many ways as I looked at it over last three weeks, I thought SAC only getting two was best case. But the West Alabama loss changes things. Plenty of scenarios to consider. I think the entire wildcard in all of this is Fort Valley. If they beat Tuskegee then does that mean Miles still gets in and the loser of CN/MHC is out? What about West Alabama or UNCP getting back in over the loser of the CN/MHC game? The one thing not to worry about is conference strength of schedule. It doesnt matter for CN or LR or MH about what else goes on in the SAC. Regardless of winner in WU/TC and NC/BC games, the three playoff contenders will have a win and loss on schedule strength. CN should be worried about Glenville, LR about Concord and so on. League games always even out. But either way it is going to be very interesting. Here are a couple scenarios.

Valdosta stays #1
CN beats Mars Hill and jumps to #2 over an idle Miles.
Miles sits at #3
Fort Valley loses to Tuskegee and drops out

This is where things get complicated:

Lenoir-Rhyne beats Catawba and moves into #4 or 5 spot
Mars Hill drops to either #5 or #6
West Alabama win over UNA moves them back in to playoffs but where? Undefeated GSC season should be good enough for 4 or 5 right?

Another option is Fort Valley winning, which would knock out Mars Hill, if they lose to CN. That would make Fort Valley, LR, and West Al in the playoffs as 4,5, and 6. If Fort Valley wins, loser of CN/MH is out. Who knows where LR would wind up.

This is my prediction:

Valdosta and C-N get byes as 1 & 2.

Miles hosts Mars Hill in 3 vs 6 game
Lenoir-Rhyne vs West Alabama in 4 vs 5 game. I could see either at 4 spot, home field will probably determine that game.

In this scenario, I think C-N has to like being at 2 instead of 1, obviously outside of not hosting region championship. I would much rather get Miles or MHC than having to play red hot LR offense or GSC champs in West Al. I would really like to see a LR/CN rematch for the regional title. That would be so great for the SAC and could happen.

Should be an interesting three days. West Alabama plays Thursday night, SAC teams during day Saturday and Fort Valley at 8pm Saturday night.


Offensive Helmet Stickers:

Carson-Newman offensive line: (56 yds rushing, 9.5 yds per play): Fear....The....Veer. The Carson-Newman offensive line proved that anyone could run right at the Pioneers on Saturday with three players rushing for over 150 yds, becoming the first team to eclipse the 60 point mark this season. Baker, 9 yard avg, 4 TDs. Haywood, 8 yard avg, 1 TD. Hibbett, 7 yard avg, 2 TD. For good measure, Haywood threw two TD's as well. Unreal numbers once again for C-N offense, who did not punt once against TC. I continue to hear coaches tell me they want no part of the veer late in the year during a successful Eagle season and they are right. So many reps by this point of year makes it so tough to stop. Mars Hill played Lenoir-Rhyne tough so you have to believe they have a shot.

Reuben Haynes, QB, Lenoir-Rhyne: (118 yards rushing, 77 passing, 2 total TD): In a must win game on the road in a tough environment, the senior led the Bears to another big win. I think many would agree that Lenoir-Rhyne could be undefeated has Haynes not been injured early in the season. They will have a chance to the playoffs for the first time ever with a win at home against Catawba.

Bo Cordell, QB, Tusculum: (29-43, 323 yds, 4 TD, INT, 103 rush yards): Cordell had a solid game in the home finale against Carson-Newman. The Pioneers were blown out but it was a close game at halftime. Cordell threw four TD's to bring his career total to 85, 27 shy of the league's all-time mark. Something tells me with 12 more career games, Cordell will make that. He also rushed for his first ever 100-yard game, something that brings back memories of QB Corey Russell. He had 1,000 yards rushing his senior year with 12 TD's. And 37 passing touchdowns. In the same season. Yep.


(Just outside the huddle- Xzanvion Smith, WR, Tusculum, Xavier Bond, RB, Catawba, Jaquan Marsh, QB, Brevard)


Defensive Helmet Stickers:

Tanner Botts, LB, Lenoir-Rhyne : Another helmet sticker and another solid game for one of the Botts brothers. Tanner plays with his twin brother Tyler in the heart of the Bears defense and has Lenoir-Rhyne in position for another SAC championship. A week after picking off two passes at Wingate, Botts forced two fumbles at Newberry to go along with two sacks and another tackle for loss. He has much better numbers than teammate and reigning SAC defensive player of the year Demetrius Green, giving him a legitimate shot at taking over the title.

Corey Johnson, LB, Catawba: A guy that also has to be considered for defensive player of the year, Johnson continues to pour in tackles each week. He added 19 to his SAC leading total. Johnson has 121 with a game to play. For comparison, the leader last season posted 110. He is one of the bright spots in another disappointing season for the Indians.

Special Teams Helmet Stickers:

Curt Duncan, PK, Carson-Newman & Zach Neumann, PK, Lenoir-Rhyne: Duncan had two more touchbacks and made a 54 yard bomb at Tusculum while Neumann made all three FG attempts at Newberry. One of the best all-conference battles going on this year is gonna be the first-team kicker spot. Duncan leads the league in touchbacks but Neumann doesn't handle kick-offs for LR. Neumann has made 12-13 field goals but his longest is 39 yards. Duncan is 9-10 on field goals with two over 50 yards. Duncan is perfect on XP's while Neumann has missed just one. Two great seasons.

SAC Week 10 Pick 'Em Helmet Stickers

"CAT U FAN" (4-0 record): CAT U FAN running away with helmet sticker race after another perfect week. He nailed the Wingate/ NGU game to take the win.


12 Pack of Stats

33-27: Combined first half scores of the last three games for Lenoir-Rhyne

89-28: Combined second half scores of the last three games for Lenoir-Rhyne.

200: SAC wins all-time for Carson-Newman.

8-1: Catawba's record in their last nine games in Hickory.

53: Combined years of head coaching experience that will be on the field Saturday at Mossy Creek.

6,627: Rushing Yards in 2012 combined for Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne

6,514: Passing yards in 2012 combined for Tusculum and Wingate

4: Teams that have two players ranked in the top nine for receptions this season.

3: Teams that have picked up SAC defensive player of the week awards. LR with 6, Newberry and Wingate with 2.

2: SAC teams that finished above .500 in 2011. Wingate & Newberry can become 4th and 5th teams with wins on Saturday.

11-0: Mars Hill's SAC record the last two season against teams not named Lenoir-Rhyne.