SAC Week 10 Preview

November 6th, 2025 12:00am

Hard to believe it, but there are just two weeks left in the 2025 SAC regular season. This year has been one of the top to bottom most competitive I can remember in 18 years of following the league, with eight programs winning at least three conference games and four recently listed in the NCAA’s regional rankings. The chase for the title and automatic berth to the playoffs is on the line and could be decided Saturday down in “The Berry.” Here are the clinching scenarios:

1. Newberry
   1. can clinch the outright SAC championship and AQ in Week 10 with win over Carson-Newman. OR
   2. can clinch with a loss to Carson-Newman and a Carson-Newman loss to Tusculum next week due to head-to-head over Wingate.
2. Carson-Newman
   1. Can clinch with wins over Newberry and Tusculum

Wingate cannot earn the automatic bid, but with winning out and finishing 7-2 with Carson-Newman and Newberry can clinch a co-championship (if we even do those anymore).

Before we dive into the week ten slate, I wanted to take a moment and share something personal I posted on social media this week. Because it is important to remember that some things are bigger than football, but football can bring people together in great ways.

Many of you know our daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder and has had four surgeries since October 2024. This past summer, my wife and kids spent three months living in South Florida, where her specialist is, while she recovered from her big surgery, while I was back in Jefferson City and went back and forth when I could. If you want more details, please go and find my post on X and Instagram. Anyways, Catawba quarterback Hunter Sheppard reached out to me about buying some of the “Pray 4 Cathryn” wristbands we were selling to help our family offset cost of my family living in Florida, surgeries, etc. for Cathryn. Hunter gave them out to some of his teammates, and they have worn them in support of our girl, including fellow stud quarterback Preston Brown. It was great to meet up with these two impressive young men (and Coach Haines) after last week’s game and Cathryn was super excited. It has meant so much to our family to have all the support we have had from coaches and players at Catawba, Carson-Newman, and other SAC institutions, and we could not be more grateful for all of you in this D2/SAC community.

SAC Players of the Week

Offense: Reed Charpia (Newberry): completed 26 of 41 passes to nine different receivers for 310 yards and two touchdowns and led the fourth game winning drive on the team's final offensive possession of the season in the Wolves 24-21 victory at Anderson.

Defense: Jamar Blandin (Newberry): ten tackles including two and a half sacks and three quarterback hurries

Special Teams: Burke Nettles (Newberry): averaged 41.3 yards per punt on seven kicks placing two inside the 20-yard line, forced four fair catches, made all three of his extra point attempts and had three touchbacks on five kickoffs.

Standings after Week 9

Playoff Outlook

The NCAA has released their second iteration of the regional rankings for the season. Those ten are listed below, along with the “first four out” category based on InkBlot’s W% + SOS from his website. Remember, the top four is seeded and teams 5-8 can be moved anywhere within and outside the region to reduce flights.

Last Week: 4-0

Season: 44-10

***Lenoir-Rhyne is off this week***

UVA Wise Cavaliers at Mars Hill Lions

Location & Time: Mars Hill, NC / 1 PM

Massey: Mars Hill -14.5

SP+: Mars Hill 31.4, UVA Wise 19.1

Series: Mars Hill leads series 11-1. (Mars Hill won last meeting, 31-17, in 2024)

UVA Wise was off last week but struggled the week before to get much traction for most of the afternoon, ending the day with just a late 62-yard touchdown run by Andon Rogers (with 13 seconds left in the third quarter) as their only major break against a dominant Carson-Newman unit. The offense was stymied early, failing to score in the first half and turning the ball over at critical times. When they finally got on the board, the hole was too deep to climb out of. Despite a persistent effort, the Cavaliers could not match the Eagles’ tempo or physicality, and the defense was worn down as the game progressed. The Highland Cavaliers have had some moments this year of playing teams tough, but they just have not caught enough breaks to pull an upset off. Maybe Coach Bass and the guys get it this week?

Mars Hill jumped out to a 21-0 lead by halftime and held on for a 28-7 road victory over Tusculum. It was the first victory since September for Coach Barnette’s club. The Lions tallied 409 total yards, including 150 rushing yards as running back Jon Gullette ran 19 times for 108 yards. It was Gullette’s second consecutive game over the century mark and fourth of the year. Quarterback play helped as well, as JR Martin went 13 of 24 with three touchdown passes to Charlie Guinade and one to Javonte Sherman. Guinade has been the most explosive of the receiving core this year, leading the team with 623 yards and seven scores. Lions converted 8 of 9 third-down attempts. Defensively they forced early turnovers and limited Tusculum’s offense to just one touchdown late in the game. October is gone, so maybe the Lions can finish strong and get above .500.

Prediction: Mars Hill wins again, gets to .500.

Feel like this game will be similar to last week’s outing for the Lions. Daniel Thomas has been stellar for UVA Wise this year as the league’s leading rusher, but he will have to have his best game this year for the Highland Cavaliers to pull off the road win. Mars Hill is more consistent on both sides of the ball, and I just cannot see JR Martin, Steven Reid, Sakarri Morrison and some of these other guys losing their last game at Meares Stadium.

Shaw Bears at Emory & Henry Wasps

Location & Time: Emory, VA / 1 PM

Massey: Emory & Henry -33.5

SP+: Emory & Henry 43.8, Shaw 10.1

Series: First Ever Meeting

Shaw is not having a season to remember, sitting at 2-7 right now after going 6-4 in 2024. They have lost three in a row, by an average 33.3 points. The Bears run the ball roughly 63% of the time, led by junior running back Trey Thorpe (96-350-4) and freshman back Fabian Diggs (84-303-3). Freshman quarterback Alexander Marsh has started most recently for Coach Lamar Manigo, who is in his first year as head coach. The Wasps offense will keep leading tackle Darry Felix busy this weekend.

Coach Hunter and the Wasps were off last week, allowing them to get ready for the two-week spring to the finish line. Emory & Henry came up just short in a hard-fought road loss to Newberry, 34-36, in their last game despite a productive day on the ground and in the pass game. The Wasps tallied 337 total yards on 55 plays, including 189 rushing yards on 41 carries and 148 passing yards. Their standout back, Jordan Jackson, continued his stellar season with a strong rushing outing. Yet turnovers at critical moments disrupted key drives and ultimately helped tilt the game toward Newberry. The Wasps still have an outside shot at making their first D2 playoff appearance, but they have to handle their own business first. Look for guys like Ean Rhea, the SAC’s leading sack man, to take off this week.

Prediction: Wasps blitz the Bears, win big.

Without being disrespectful, I just do not think the Bears are going to give the Wasps any trouble whatsoever, and the Wasps cruise by five or even six scores. The defense has taken a step back in 2025, but they certainly are not a bunch of bums. I expect a massive day by them and Jordan Jackson to put up video game like numbers against one of the CIAA’s worst rush defenses.

Carson-Newman Eagles at #18 Newberry Wolves

Location & Time: Newberry, SC / 1 PM

Massey: Carson-Newman -2.5

SP+: Carson-Newman 27.0, Newberry 20.2.

Series: Carson-Newman leads series, 34-24. (Carson-Newman won last meeting, 34-21, in 2023)

The Eagles rode a dominant ground game (188 rushing yards on 52 attempts) and an opportunistic defense to a 24-16 victory. QB Zane Whitson was efficient, completing 5-of-7 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. RB Jayden Sullins powered the offense with 20 carries for 68 yards and the game-opening touchdown run, while becoming the 22^nd member of Carson-Newman’s 2,000-yard club. Wide receiver Cade Meeks was found wide open and caught a 33-yard scoring strike from Whitson to build the lead in the third quarter. Defensively Carson-Newman logged five sacks for a total loss of 25 yards and held Catawba to just one rushing touchdown attempt. A late 1-yard dive by James Maddox out the Eagles up 15, and Isaiah Cane made one more massive play, picking off Preston Brown to seal it. The Eagles offensively have started to build some momentum, but the defense has been on a tear. Whatever was said at halftime of the Mars Hill game worked, because they have been a different unit ever since.

Newberry pulled out a dramatic 24-21 win over Anderson to secure a share of the conference title. Quarterback Reed Charpia (SAC leader in passing yards and touchdowns) passed for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns, guiding a last-minute 67-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Nettles with seconds left. Receiver DeAndre Coleman had 112 yards receiving, and Rico Dorsey Jr. caught the go-ahead touchdown from Charpia. On defense, Jamar Blandin logged 2.5 sacks, and the unit forced a key fourth-down stop at the Anderson 42 to set up the final drive. ‌Throw in a Charles Smith 72-yard pick six as well. The Wolves SWEPT the SAC Player of the Week honors, and continue to find ways to win ball games, by any means necessary.

Prediction: Eagles stun the Wolves at the Graveyard.

Game of the week and the showdown for the crown. Carson-Newman has won three of four against the Wolves but has not won two straight in the confines of Setzler Field since 2003 & 2005. Reed Charpia has been unbelievably clutch this season and should be the frontrunner for offensive player of the year. If he does what he does best, buy time in the pocket and extend plays, it could be a long afternoon for Coach Ingram’s defense. The difference in this game to me is the same as it was last week and the past few times these two have met: the Carson-Newman defense. The Eagles have come into this one with the 7^th best scoring defense in the entire nation and have given up just 12.6 PPG over the past six weeks.

#23 Wingate Bulldogs at Tusculum Pioneers

Location & Time: Greeneville, TN / 2 PM

Massey: Wingate -27.5

SP+: Wingate 40.7, Tusculum 10.4

Series: Wingate leads series, 17-10. (Tusculum won last meeting, 23-21, in 2023)

Wingate erased an 18-point deficit to stun Lenoir-Rhyne in overtime thanks to QB Elijah Holmes, who completed 23-of-36 passes for 350 yards, 4 TDs (and 3 INTs) while running for an additional 50 yards. His favorite target was superstar freshman Jaylen Himes (8 catches, 134 yards, 2 TDs), supported by Xavier Jackson (5 catches, 107 yards, TD) and Carlos Estronza (6 catches, 49 yards, TD). On the ground, Xavier Pugh added 74 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs piled up 507 total yards (157 rushing, 350 passing), converted 7 of 13 third downs, scored on four of five red-zone trips, and then punched in the overtime score and stopped LR’s two-point attempt to seal the 38-37 victory. Weeks ago, some were wondering if (as Pat McAfee would say) the Bulldogs were DEAD. But Coach Jordan and the guys have been hot ever since the back-to-back losses and are positioning themselves for another playoff run.

Tusculum’s Homecoming game turned into a struggle: the Pioneers managed only 18 first downs and despite being at home could not get their offense on track, finishing with a lone fourth-quarter score. The Pioneers’ offense failed to establish the run early and mustered only minimal success through the air and on the ground, enabling Mars Hill to dominate time of possession and control the game’s tempo. Lex Dinwiddie rushed for 87 yards on 14 carries, and Teryntino Brown-Freeman rushed for 69 on 10 carries (and a score), but that was the only bright spots offensively. The Pioneer defensive struggles have overshadowed a really talented player in Rashad Watson, who once again had double digit tackles for the fifth game in a row.

Prediction: Bulldogs take a bite out of the Pioneers, roll to 8-2.

Wingate’s offense has been so fun to watch this season, and while the defense has not been bad by any means they certainly are not the same unit they were the past few years when Marquise Fleming was anchoring things down. Holmes, Pugh, Estronza (now healthy), Himes, and Jackson are a solid grouping and will have a field day against a Pioneer team currently ranked last in scoring offense, and next to last in scoring defense. Unless Wingate just does not take Tusculum seriously at all or the Pioneers have some tricks up their sleeve, they should cruise in this one.

Anderson Trojans at Catawba Indians

Location & Time: Salisbury, NC / 6 PM

Massey: Catawba -6.5

SP+: Catawba 29.7, Anderson 22.1

Series: Catawba leads series, 1-0. (Catawba won last meeting, 44-41, in 2024).

Without star quarterback Tyler Wesley, Coach Lamb turned to redshirt sophomore Wilson Edwards. Edwards played very well, and Anderson came within a whisker of upsetting league-leader Newberry before falling short on a field goal with less than a minute remaining. In his first collegiate start, Edwards threw for 196 yards and a touchdown, while RB JB Seay ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run to open the game. Receiver Zay Williams hauled in 82 receiving yards and the early TD strike from Edwards. Despite the hot start, Anderson’s offense stalled in the second and third quarters and the defense could not hold Newberry’s late surge. ‌It was a tough loss, but the Trojans still have a chance at finishing above .500 in just their 2^nd season with a win in this week’s finale.

Despite gaining 308 total yards and securing more first downs (17 vs. 15), Catawba fell 24-16 in Jefferson City. QB Preston Brown completed 13-of-25 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception. RB Kevin Lalin led the ground attack with 41 yards, and WR Nick Venezia hauled in a career-best 5 catches for 92 yards and a TD. Kicker Bryson Sims was perfect on field goals (20, 32 and 26 yards). Defensive end Braylon Baker posted a career-high 14 tackles including a sack-fumble. The Indians were held to only 104 rushing yards and just 4-of-14 on third downs, while their lone sack of the game could not tilt the momentum. Coach Haines crew kept fighting and even had the ball with a chance to go down and tie things up with a score and 2-point conversion before Brown was picked off. It was a tough loss, but the strides Catawba have made are starting to show.

Prediction: Catawba keeps playoff hopes on life support.

Catawba would need a lot of things to go their way if they wanted to somehow get into the playoffs for the first time since 2015, but it starts with putting away an Anderson team that puts up a good fight and plays really good football. If Tyler Wesley is healthy and available, I think the Trojans can get the win because their defense has been really good this year and kept them in a lot of games (i.e., last week). Catawba has not lost at Shuford Stadium this year and that gives them enough of an edge to pick up win #7.

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