SAC Week 1 Preview

September 3rd, 2025 3:00pm

SAC Week 1 Preview

There was some excellent football last weekend, and some games.....maybe not so much. Should be some really good games this week, as a couple of schools dive into conference play already. The game of the week for me? Catawba at Emory & Henry. 

SAC Players of the Week

Offense: Jordan Jackson (Emory & Henry)- 26 carries, 226 yards, 1 TD.

Defense: Evan Simons (Catawba) – nine tackles, four tackles for loss, sack, forced fumble.

Special Teams: Caleb Bonesteel (Wingate) – 3/3 extra points, three field goals of 40+.

Standings after Week 0

Last Week: 7-1

Season: 7-1

Wingate is off this week.

Thursday’s Game

South Carolina Central Christian (0-1) at Carson-Newman (1-0)

Location & Time: Jefferson City, TN / 6 PM

Massey: N/A

SP+: N/A

Series: First Meeting Ever

The Gladiators of South Carolina Central Christian are in their 2^nd year as a program, competing in the New South Atlantic Conference with members such as The Apprentice School, Atlantis, John Melvin University (Louisiana), Lighthouse Christian College, South Carolina Central Christian College, and Westgate Christian University. John Melvin Christian College (Florida) is adding football next year. Last week, they kicked off their season with a 58-0 loss to NAIA Kentucky Christian.

Ashley Ingram and the Eagles had a slow start to the season, before hitting the gas and blowing out West Virginia State, 41-10. Carson-Newman rushed for 345 yards on 46 attempts in the game, led by a trio of quarterbacks (Tedros Gleaton, Mario Sanchez and Zane Whitson) running for a combined 166 yards on 18 carries. Preseason All American Jayden Sullins added another 67 yards on a light work day for him, and the Eagles totaled up 477 yards total. The defense gave up some yardage but buckled when it mattered. They also forced two turnovers and sacked Kaleb Jackson four times. (Jackson is going to be a problem in the MEC).

Prediction: This one is over after 15 minutes, maybe sooner.

With no disrespect to the Gladiators, this just won’t be pretty. But Coach Ingram and company will be prepared regardless.

Saturday’s Slate

Catawba (1-0) at Emory & Henry (1-0)

Location & Time: Emory, VA / 1 PM

Massey: Emory & Henry -10.5

SP+: Emory & Henry 34.9, Catawba 20.9

Series:

Coach Haines and the Indians started off the campaign in style, blowing out D2 newcomer Ferrum, 45-13. Taking a 35-6 lead into the intermission, Catawba coasted in the 2^nd half before finishing off the beating. Preston Brown failed to throw an incomplete pass, going 11 for 11, 202 yards and three touchdown passes. Kevin Lalin added 132 yards in his Catawba debut, and a healthy Bo Pryor had just two catches, but for 82 yards. The defense played well enough, holding the Panthers to under 250 total yards. If Catawba is going to finish higher than the preseason coaches’ poll had them, the offense must remain healthy, and the defense needs to continue to improve from last year’s disappointing performance.

Emory & Henry jumped out to a 17-0 lead against Glenville State last weekend before the Pioneers started to make things competitive in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters. Glenville State would get within a touchdown (24-17) early in the third quarter, before the Wasps and Charles Mutter III scored 21 unanswered points to put down the comeback. The story of the day though was Jordan Jackson, Emory & Henry’s star running back. He would finish with 26 carries for 226 yards and a touchdown. Averaging almost nine yards a carry, Jackson was nothing short of awesome. The Wasps defense looked alright (not great but certainly not bad) and picked right up from last year in the interception department, picking off Anthony Garrett twice.

Prediction: Emory & Henry escapes.

This is my game of the week and the hardest one to predict. I think the Indians high powered offense could give the Wasps troubles, especially when Preston Brown doesn’t tend to turn the rock over.

Erskine (0-0) at Anderson (1-0)

Location & Time: Anderson, SC / 1 PM

Massey: Anderson -20.5

SP+: Anderson 31.8, Erskine 14.0

Series: First Ever Meeting

Erskine did not play in week zero and is looking to build off a 2024 season that saw them go 1-8, 0-6 in the Gulf South. Luckily for the Flying Fleet, they are no longer in the vaunted Gulf South Conference and are now in Conference Carolinas. So the chance to better compete and win some games might be there for the sixth year program. They’ve gone 7-41 during the first five years, with four of those wins against D2 competition. Head Coach Shap Boyd has his hands full down in Due West, but the Flying Fleet are ready to takeoff!

Anderson dispatched Shorter last weekend, 34-7. It was a 7-7 game at the halftime break, as Tyler Wesley had his first rushing score to tie things up with :26 seconds remaining. Wesley would then go off in the 3rd quarter, as the Trojans scored 20 unanswered in the period to put the game out of reach before adding another score in the final frame. The Trojan defense was solid, holding Shorter to just 174 yards of total offense. Wesley had a big day, throwing for 88 and rushing for 81 to lead the offense. I thought this game would’ve been closer, and it was for a half. But Shorter’s offense struggled to get anything going and had just three drives get a first down.

Prediction: Anderson rolls to a 2-0 start.

Both of these programs are young (Anderson in year two, Erskine in year six) but they are in drastically different places. Without knowing what has changed for Erskine, Anderson just has too much talent on both sides of the ball for me to think Erskine even challenges them. Then again, I thought Shorter had a shot last week and missed big!

Newberry (0-0) at UVA Wise (0-1)

Location & Time: Wise, VA / 6 PM

Massey: Newberry -11.5

SP+: Newberry 30.1, UVA Wise 19.0

Series: Newberry leads 2-0. (Newberry won the last meeting, 37-14, in 2021)

Newberry was off during week zero, getting some extra practice time in before diving right into the conference schedule. Repeating what I said in the preview column, when Newberry is good and challenging for SAC titles, they have solid quarterback play. Raleigh Yeldell used to give people nightmares, Dre Harris too. Defensive coordinators prayed for the day those two left. Coach Knight has some guys back but who is going to take that step and be “the dude”? Izayah Whiteside and Reed Charpia had some moments last year but if the Wolves want to be back in the upper echelon, they need that to be solved in a hurry.

In the outcome that surprised me the most last week, UVA Wise found itself down 30-8 at half to former MEC rival Concord. The Cavaliers then had a furious rally, scoring 21 points in the second half and getting possession with time fading for a chance to go down and tie the game. But an incomplete pass from Jake Corkren resulted in a turnover on downs, allowing Concord to kneel out the clock and hold on, 37-29. Corkren was 20 of 47 for 160 yards and three total scores. But his three interceptions played a part in the loss. Ian Scammell ran for over 100 yards, but the defense gave up over 400 yards to Concord. Including 389 in the air. Yikes.

Prediction: Newberry begins the year, 1-0.

Even though we don’t know what to expect out of the Wolves, they have more talent and are typically less prone to turnovers than UVA Wise. Historically, Newberry wants to muck things up. If Corkren and company can limit the turnovers, they’ve got a chance at home.

#20 Lenoir-Rhyne (0-1) at Tusculum (1-0)

Location & Time: Greeneville, TN / 6 PM

Massey: Lenoir-Rhyne -14.5

SP+: Lenoir-Rhyne 34.3, Tusculum 19.4

Series: Lenoir-Rhyne leads, 17-11. (Lenoir-Rhyne won the last meeting, 37-23, in 2024).

Lenoir-Rhyne did not have the start to the season they probably wanted, getting blasted by West Florida, 48-21. After the Bears fumbled the opening kickoff, the Argos took a 7-0 lead just 1:12 into the game. Lenoir-Rhyne found itself down 21-0 after the 1^st, and 31-0 right before half. The Bears kept fighting and had a lot of momentum going midway through the third quarter before the Argos just put it down. This game was more about “great” West Florida, than “awful” Lenoir-Rhyne to me, even though I felt like the Argos offensive speed was just too much. The biggest bright spot for the Bears had to be Khamoni Robinson, who completed 24 of 35 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns. He had flashes in the game (when he was standing upright) and had his pass catchers made some tremendous catches.

Tusculum had an interesting ball game late Saturday against Bluefield State. After being up 21-7, Bluefield State outscored the Pioneers 16-7 over the remaining part of the first half to make it a 28-23 game at the half. The defense made some adjustments, and Coach Taylor’s ball club shut down the party in the 2^nd half on their way to a 49-23 win. The Pioneers ran the ball all over their opponents to the tune of 468 yards and had 562 yards of total offense. Quarterback Buddy Taylor was efficient, completing six of seven passes for 94 yards and a score, while also rushing 23 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Lex Dinwiddie (14-145-0) and John Celesting (13-121-1) also had monstrous days. There was a lot of good things to come out of this one for the black and orange.

Prediction: Lenoir-Rhyne bounces back.

Bears bounce back after a tough, long road trip and take out some frustration on their SAC foes. If Tusculum can run the ball as well as they did last week, and not have very many turnovers (which they unfortunately do in games versus the Bears), they may have a chance. It just feels like a get-right game and the Bears have more talent. I expect the Bears to also try and get the run game going as well.

Winston-Salem (0-1) at Mars Hill (0-0)

Location & Time: Mars Hill, NC / 6:30 PM

Massey: Mars Hill -12.5

SP+: Mars Hill 26.7, Winston-Salem 18.7

Series: First Ever Meeting

Winston-Salem fell in their season opener Sunday evening to Tuskegee in the Red Tails Classic, 20-17. The Rams took a 10-3 lead at the half time break, before the Golden Tigers outpaced them 17-7 in the second half. The final dagger was a late field goal by Tuskegee’s Lorcan Ryans with just over five minutes to play. Quarterback Daylin Lee completed just under 50% of his passes for 169 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Timothy Ruff II led the team in rushing with 81 yards, and the top two pass catchers (Mithcell and Deloatch) had five grabs for 139 yards. The Rams had a great 2024 and are looking to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Mars Hill did not play last week and is opening the Kevin Barnette era with a tough in state foe. It will be very odd for Mars Hill and SAC folks not seeing longtime coach Tim Clifton on the sidelines for the first time since before Jurassic Park premiered in theaters, but Barnette isn’t a new face and has been around forever as well. The Lions are looking to make just their 2^nd ever NCAA playoff appearance and are led by one of the best playmakers in the conference in quarterback JR Martin. As I said in the season preview, I think losing Rankin and Fitzpatrick on defense, and Laurent and DeBerry on offense are going to be tough to overcome this year, but anytime you’ve got Martin and Jon Gullette you still are a threat each week.

Prediction: Mars Hill starts 2025 with a win.

Even though the Rams have a game under their belt already, I’m going with the Lions at home. A loss would be a tough start, especially with Carson-Newman coming up next week. Mars Hill has better playmakers on offense and their defense will make enough plays to keep them in the game long enough for JR Martin to cause chaos.

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