The 2015 SAC football championship picture apparently had Lasik surgery over the weekend. The race for league supremacy is becoming crystal clear in my opinion. Wingate and Catawba are tied for first place (3-1 in SAC play) after securing impressive wins last Saturday. The Bulldogs dominated all phases of the game against (4-2) Lenoir-Rhyne in a 24-14 victory, while the Catawba Indians subdued Mars Hill by a 29-10 margin.


Only two other teams in the SAC, Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman, are still in contention for the conference crown and an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Bears were mauled by Wingate running back Lawrence Pittman for over 200 yards in last weekend's loss. To make matters interesting, Lenoir-Rhyne will travel to (2-5) Mars Hill for a 1 PM kickoff, where the Lions would love to avenge a painful loss to Catawba.


Could a mid-season exhibition contest against Faith two weeks ago loom large for Lenoir-Rhyne's playoff chances? I highly doubt it as their season finale at Catawba on November 14th will decide who makes the playoffs and who stays home drinking hot chocolate. Both teams must continue winning until this potential war is waged.

North Greenville has played spoiler against many SAC teams this season, including Lenoir-Rhyne in the early part of 2015 and most recently the (3-4) Tusculum Pioneers. In the Crusaders' 35-24 victory, running back Ashton Heard ripped Tusculum for 314 yards on only 31 carries. Three interceptions by Luke Lancaster and overwhelming ball control by North Greenville gave the Pioneers their fourth loss of the season. Under no scenario could the Pioneers reach the postseason.


The same goes for (3-4) Newberry, who was edged by Carson-Newman on the road 27-20. Under no scenario is it possible for the Wolves to make a playoff run after suffering three straight SAC losses. I must say I watched Newberry play earlier this season and was left very impressed with their intensity on every play. Injuries, a tough schedule, and some bad luck have all factored into the reason Newberry has dropped three consecutive league losses by a total of 14 points.


Perhaps this past weekend's most thrilling game took place in the North Carolina mountains when Brevard battled Limestone into double overtime late into the night. Sure, Appalachian State is hosting Georgia Southern this Thursday night in a "Game of Thrones" style matchup at "The Rock", but how about Brevard's valiant 22 point fourth quarter showing?


Although the Tornados dropped the contest 28-25, quarterback Tyler Gregory's new nickname is "Braveheart" in my book. Two clutch fourth quarter touchdowns by the freshman helped send the game into the first extra period. However, Gregory eventually fumbled the ball in the second overtime, ending the game shortly after Limestone's 20 yard field goal.


Week 8 Predictions


A mediocre 3-2 showing last week in my pick 'em has me sitting at 30-11 overall. It's not shabby by any stretch, but my 73% winning percentage doesn't exactly have me perched in a penthouse suite either.


You will notice that no SAC team is ranked heading into Week 8 of the Division II football season according to Tuesday's D2Football.com Top 25 Poll. I have no doubt that Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and Carson-Newman are within striking distance of earning a spot in this poll depending on this upcoming weekend's outcomes.


(4-2) (2-1 SAC) Lenoir-Rhyne: 44 (2-5) (1-2 SAC) Mars Hill: 38


An upset could be in the works if the Lions can get their running game in full swing. Strong running back play has been the Achilles heel for the Lenoir-Rhyne defense against North Greenville and Wingate. (Both games were double digit losses.) Shaikel Davis did rack up 115 yards against Catawba, and Jamel Harbison added another 72 yards. However, neither talented running back reached the end zone.


Bear quarterback Evin Sims is normally the only source of offense in their option game. He has held up quite well despite being hit on almost every play. The Lions do surrender their fair share of rushing yards per game, ranking as one of the country's worst rush defenses by surrendering over 271 yards per contest. I am aiming for Kristaan Ivory to help out his counterpart Sims with a at least two rushing scores on the afternoon.


(6-1) (3-1 SAC) Wingate: 20 (5-2) (3-2 SAC) Carson-Newman: 18


No longer can I pick against the Bulldogs with the type of season they are having in 2015. Any team who can storm into Hickory and knock off Lenoir-Rhyne most certainly has the country's attention. Sure, the Bulldogs aren't ranked in the D2Football.com poll, but doesn't Coach Joe Reich cherish their absence by the media? What great locker room material he can point towards with his players.


Lawrence Pittman has all but solidified his placement on the All-SAC first team for his remarkable play thus far this fall. He enters Saturday's contest with 967 yards and seven touchdowns. More importantly, his best efforts have come at the hands of big road wins at Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne. Pittman will not be the only running back in this game to likely eclipse the 1,000 yard mark. Carson-Newman's legendary rusher Damian Baker is currently sitting at 892 yards and possesses a SAC leading 14 rushing touchdowns.


(5-2) (3-1 SAC) Catawba: 34 (4-2) (0-0 IND) UNC-Pembroke: 13


Catawba's offense came to life in the fourth quarter against Mars Hill last weekend. David Burgess and Mike Sheehan each recorded 30-plus yard runs in the game's final fifteen minutes. As much as the offense did enough to win convincingly on Saturday, it was again the defense that ruled the day. Linebacker Kyle Kitchens raced 90 yards on an interception return for a second-quarter touchdown. I would find it hard to believe that Kitchens would not make some postseason All-America teams after his week-in and week-out production.


Speaking of production, UNC-Pembroke's playmakers Rontonio Stanley and BJ Bunn are enjoying fantastic seasons statistically. The Braves are fresh off of a behind the wood shed whooping to the hands of North Alabama, 62-28. The score was 48 to 14 at halftime, just to keep the final score in perspective as to how out of hand it got early on. Stanley broke loose for an 84 yard touchdown scamper on the first play of a first-quarter drive. Receiver BJ Bunn collected a career-high dozen catches against Catawba last season. It is important to limit these two players production.


(3-4) (1-3 SAC) Newberry: 21 (0-7) (0-3 SAC) Brevard: 10


I might be losing my marbles at the tender age of 27, but could it be fathomable for Brevard to sneak up on Newberry? The Wolves are in a bit of a free fall in terms of their conference schedule as of late, and the Tornados are in a desperate need for a win before they start life after Division II football next season. A formula for a possible upset is forcing turnovers against Newberry, which will be difficult for Brevard to accomplish. The Tornados have only recorded two sacks on defense all season and I feel this stat must change should they pull the unthinkable upset.


The return of quarterback Raleigh Yeldell spelt success with a capital 'S' on Saturday in their 27-20 loss to Carson-Newman. He completed 26 of 39 pass attempts for 262 yards and rushed for a pair of late first half touchdowns. Braxton Ivery is as tough as nails, and he no longer was asked to play quarterback due to Yeldell's return. Ivery caught seven passes for 66 yards. Wolves' punter Kyle Clark will look to be a huge asset as he averaged over 46 yards per punt last week.


(3-4) (2-2 SAC) Tusculum: 35 (2-4) (0-0 IND) Limestone: 32


The thrill of the chase has virtually evaporated for Tusculum's SAC title hopes, and this could lead to an opportunity for Limestone to steal a victory. On the face of this matchup, it seems to be a bit top-heavy in terms of who could put up points. The Pioneers have demonstrated on multiple occasions this year that they will not shy away from a shootout. Of course, many interceptions have plagued Tusculum and potential scoring drives. Playing under lights at the Reservation in Gaffney, SC, isn't exactly honeymooning in Hawaii.


Limestone certainly will not be able to match Tusculum's passing prowess. Luke Lancaster is close to eclipsing the 2,000 yard mark on the season with 18 scores. Running back Isaac Robinson is no longer an unknown commodity in the SAC, much less the Pioneer backfield. Robinson has played in six games so far this season and is averaging well over 100 yards per game. Matthew Harkness' breakout game came against the Catawba Indians around two weeks ago has made him a mainstay as their signal-caller. His impressive scrambling abilities showed his contrasting style to that of refrigerator sized quarterback Bo Whitney. Like Lee Corso has always said, this will be closer than the experts think.