Every week I type out "week 4,5, and now 6", and I just can not believe how fast the season goes by. We wait what feels like years for it to start and then the season is over in no time. But the reality of it right now, is that there are still six more games for all 8 SAC teams. We've seen some teams start to separate themselves and then there are some teams still hanging on with an outside chance to make a run. I know we always argue on the message board about what goals SAC teams have, through all sports. It is usually conference title, make playoffs and try to put together a playoff run. We all have hammered to death the opportunities our SAC schools have to win region titles and national titles. So much that the SAC office was tired of listening to us about it and lifted the cap. But the point being, the number one goal still for all eight SAC schools right now is to win a conference championship and the region rankings will take care of themselves and the next goals will arise. 50 SAC championships have been awarded all-time (including ties obviously) and number 51 is still very much in doubt. The region is an absolute mess right now. You can make a strong case for three SAC, two independent, three GSC plus the SIAC member. Thats 9 teams for six spots. This weekend will be an appetizer for the 19th and 26th which should be great. Here we go! (as always, in order of time)


Mars Hill (1-4, 0-2 SAC) at Brevard (1-4, 0-2 SAC)
1 p.m. - Brevard, N.C.

The Lions make the short trip over to Brevard in the battle of the NC mountain teams. The teams have identical records and reached them in some similar ways. One of the losses is to a D1 opponent where both SAC teams played well and the win is against teams that are both still looking for their first win of the season. Mars Hill was happy to welcome back starting quarterback Trent Miller despite the loss to the Eagles. The Lions faced a C-N team that proved they are very solid against the run but still have problems defending the pass. The passing game wasn't enough to overcome 400 yards rushing from Carson-Newman. Brevard ran into a Lenoir-Rhyne team that really showed off their defensive force by limiting BC to just 83 yards of total offense.

Mars Hill will be eager to reestablish the running game with Davis and it is no secret what the Tornados want to do on the ground. Mars Hill has given up the most rushing yards in the conference this year, at 245 per game, while BC ranks sixth in the league. Immediately you expect both teams to have plenty of success on the ground. On the other side, Mars Hill is #1 in pass yards allowed, while Brevard ranks third. Of course this has a lot to do with the opponents played but it means a lot in this game. Mars Hill has proven they can be multidimensional with Miller and Davis while Brevard is limited with their passing attack. The Lions also know whats ahead for them, in back to back home games against North Greenville and Lenoir-Rhyne. They must go into next week with a win. If Mars Hill can correct their red zone offense, they should be able to handle the Tornados. If they struggle to finish drives and BC gets their ground game going, it could be an exciting finish. Brevard will try to use the homecoming weekend as a boost but will come up just short.

Predicition: Mars Hill 31, Brevard 23


Carson-Newman (4-1, 2-1 SAC) at Shorter (0-5, 0-3 GSC)
1:30 p.m. - Rome, Ga.

Carson-Newman bounced back nicely on offense on Saturday against Mars Hill to stay one game back in the SAC standings, with games still to come against Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne who still have to play each other as well. Like I said, still a long way to go. The Eagles must continue to get better defending the pass if they want to avoid another bump in the road. They held Shak Davis to one of his lowest outputs and have proved they can definitely be a force against the run. That will be huge looking ahead to LR and Newberry but could be a problem against a Tusculum next week or Wingate team later in the year. The 400 yards rushing against MHU is a lot to be excited about. Especially on the road. Shorter is 0-5 and have played a brutal schedule already and it only gets tougher this week.

Doesn't seem like much in this game but another chance for the Eagles to continue to work on both sides of the ball. The Hawks are running the ball about 75% of the time this year so we will see much more of the CN run defense. The Eagles will look as well to slim the total defense numbers down. They rank last in the SAC in total defense but have been making up for it in a huge way in the turnover battle, ranking 5th in the country with 15 takeaways. Shorter has given it up 14 times, a bad combo for Saturday. Eagles take care of business and set up rivalry week with the Pioneers next Saturday.

Prediction: Carson-Newman 48, Shorter 14


Wingate (1-3, 0-2 SAC) at Catawba (3-2, 1-2 SAC)
1:30 p.m. - Salisbury, N.C.

Looking forward to the 75 minute trip up to the home of Cheerwine and Food Lion for what is always an interesting rivalry game. Last year in OT, 2011 had 92 combined points and 2010 featured Catawba giving Wingate their first conference loss, which would be their only on way to SAC title. Catawba couldn't back up their CN win at Tusculum, and have gone win-loss the past four weeks. They, like C-N, have been much better against run than the pass but unlike C-N have not been able to come up with many turnovers. That was case against TC. Wingate led 14-0 and 28-21 over Newberry but couldn't hang on in the fourth. The running game was better and helped Nallenweg throw for 350 and complete 69 percent. The offense hasn't scored in the fourth quarter over the past three games and must execute better in crunch time. Something else to consider: Wingate's three losses are to teams 13-1 combined.

A couple of big contrasting numbers that will determine a lot on Saturday. First, Catawba defensively has been lights out on third down this year, giving up just 26% to opponenets, good for 11th in the nation. Wingate is 7th in the SAC on third down conversions but were 9 of 20 on 3rd and 4th last week against Newberry and must produce those numbers again this week. Secondly, Wingate is last in sacks allowed and CATU has generally been strong on the defensive line. Nallenweg is number one in the NCAA in completion percentage and this offense can be explosive given the protection. Wingate has been very good in the secondary as well, ranking in top 10 in pass defense. All of Newberry's big plays last week were short passes that turned into big plays because of missed tackles and NC players just making plays. Lastly, Wingate Catawba are at top in kickoff returns and at bottom of kick return defense. Haven't seen Catawba yet this year but Wingate has been very close to breaking one for a score. LJ McCray has a 50-yarder for CATU this year as well. Someone will break one for a TD and change the game.

Prediction : None

Lenoir-Rhyne (4-1, 3-0 SAC) at North Greenville (4-1, IND)
2 p.m. - Tigerville, S.C.

Second biggest game as far as region play is concerned takes place in Tigerville on Saturday. The Bears really showed off their stout defense against Brevard on Saturday, keeping the Tornados under 100 yards of total offense. LR's only loss, Concord, is 4-1 on the season and will be huge for LR for them to keep winning as far as region rankings are concerned. This LR team has really flourished since week one and seems to be in the same spot as the past two seasons when they won SAC titles. North Greenville is still in a great position after the loss to D1 CSU. This will be their first true test of the season in region play.

Lenoir-Rhyne begins a very tough, very important stretch of football. NGU, Newberry, at Mars Hill and then CN over the next four weeks. Must take it one game at a time, and that starts at NGU. The Crusaders finish the season with six straight SAC opponents. All standing in their way of a possible playoff opportunity. The Crusaders, like UNCP, are very much in the mix. They control their own path. UNCP plays at Charlotte this weekend, a game they will win but won't matter. UNCP schedule strength is through the roof right now and if they can make it through rest of way with only one loss, they should be in. Will a 7-2 or 8-1 D2 record for NGU be enough? We will find out. This game will come down to the NGU front seven against Miles Freeman and company and the Bear defense against Nelson Hughes, who has been picked off just twice this year with both against the 2 D-1 opponents. How can you pick against LR the way they've played over the past four games? I think if it was any offense other than LR then you give NGU a much better look at winning. But Brevard ran for 411 against the Crusaders and the option is much tougher to game plan for than a balanced offense like someone like Newberry. NGU will benefit from having the Brevard film to relate to but not enough. Still think NGU could finish 8-3 or 9-2 but one of those losses comes to LR this weekend.

Prediction: Lenoir-Rhyne 28, North Greenville 20


Tusculum (3-2, 1-1) at Newberry (5-0, 3-0 SAC)
3 p.m. - Newberry, S.C.


Tusculum heads down for their longest SAC trip of the year fresh off their first SAC win of 2013. Credit the Pioneers for great adjustments at half time against Catawba. They dominated the second half, outscoring CC 20-0 until the final minute. The Pioneers have two losses but to teams 8-1 in D2. They are still a team that can make a run but three out of next four are on road at 5-0 Newberry, 4-1 C-N and 4-0 UNCP. If they wanna have a chance for that, it starts this weekend at Newberry. The Wolves still are unranked and a bit under the radar, even at 5-0. LR and CN were the preseason favorites but Newberry rallied at Wingate to remain perfect. The Wolves, like the Pioneers, have a brutal finish. After this weekend, four of five remaining opponents (not including Brevard) have a 16-3 combined record. Both TC and NC need this game to keep pace. Newberry has found a way to win games in many different ways, something that will be huge down the stretch.

Wingate last week was able to have plenty of success against the Newberry secondary until the fourth quarter when the physical NC defensive line started to wear down Wingate front five. Tusculum has to be thrilled to have the Wingate/ NC film to get ready for this match-up but sit at 7th in the league in sacks allowed. The Pioneers will need to establish the run early and hand it over to Cordell to make things happen. Newberry's offense is as multidimensional as the SAC features. They can run with Murden at quarterback, are loaded at tail back and have many play makers at WR. TC can not game plan for one area. Newberry can beat you many ways and believe it or not, punting is one of those ways. Newberry is #1 in the nation in punt return defense and punter Kyle Clark is the best in the league. He changes many drives and games thanks to field position battles. There seems to be a theme with 3rd down efficiency and red zone in the match-ups this week. That is no different in this game and maybe the biggest range of comparisons. Newberry is last offensively and the Pioneers are number one on third down. The Pioneers are first in red zone offense while NC is number one in red zone defense. Sustaining long drives thanks to converting third downs and then finishing them off with six in the red zone. Tusculum is the number one scoring offense, Newberry the number two scoring defense. So many good stat matchups to settle out on the field. Have to worry about Newberry looking ahead to next week at LR but it seems like the Pioneers are dangerous and strong enough to have the Wolves attention. It's also Homecoming at Setzler and Newberry doesn't lose much there. This series has been very close over the years and I really think Tusculum can win this game and won't be the least surprised if they do. But I'll stick with the Wolves at home.

Prediction: Newberry 34, Tusculum 30