SAC Week 3 Preview

September 19th, 2025 3:00pm

Crazy how fast the season is already going by. Week three is here, and some teams are already fighting for their playoff lives. Thankfully, unlike in the past, if you find a way to win the conference you receive an automatic bid! Week three is also the first week where the schedule has nothing but conference games, as most everyone has completed their non-conference circuit. This week’s menu consists of the following: Anderson travels to Mars Hill in what should be an excellent matchup. Can the Trojans stay undefeated, or will the Lions play spoiler up on the mountain again? Lenoir-Rhyne has owned Carson-Newman since 2010. Can Lenoir-Rhyne continue their dominance over Carson-Newman, or will the Eagles finally break the streak? Can Daniel Thomas and the UVA Wise offense find breathing room and stun Wingate? Or will the Bulldogs defense smother them. Tusculum caused many Wasps fans to start having heart issues in 2024, so will the Pioneers do the same this year or did the Wasps decide that is enough of that? And the day closes with two old SAC members doing battle at the Graveyard. Can Catawba end its struggles against the former Indians, or will the Wolves put down their rivals again? Lots of great storylines this week!

SAC Players of the Week

Offense: Preston Brown (Catawba): 25 of 29, 372 yards, three touchdowns. Eight carries, 35 yards, and two touchdowns.

Defense: Sakarri Morrison (Mars Hill): 12 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, and a crucial sack in overtime.

Special Teams: Elijah Swett (Anderson): 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts and converted all three of his extra points to account for 12 points.

Standings after Week 2

Last Week: 5-1

Season: 17-3

Anderson Trojans at Mars Hill Lions

Location & Time: Mars Hill, NC / 1 PM

Massey: Mars Hill -9.5

SP+: Mars Hill 25.5, Anderson 23.2.

Series: Mars Hill leads series, 1-0. (Mars Hill won only meeting, 31-16, in 2024)

While questions still surround Coach Lamb’s Trojans, they are doing early on what good football teams do: beat those to whom you are supposed. The Trojans have spanked Shorter and Erskine, and last Saturday took the lumber to Tusculum, 30-0. Tyler Wesley was great, again, putting up 288 yards of total offense by himself. Jalon Warthen-Carr (6-68-0) had his highest catch total of the young season. You cannot give him any space, as he is one of the most underrated pass catchers in the SAC. The story of the day, and year early, has been how suffocating the Trojans have been on the other side of the ball. They have allowed just 167.7 yards per game and have given up a total of 14 points. Again, the competition may not be what Pittsburg State of the MIAA has faced, but they have handled business. Also, a quick shoutout for receiving votes for the first time in the young history in the Coaches Poll. That is such a neat accomplishment.

Mars Hill looked unstoppable for the first 30 minutes against Carson-Newman last weekend. JR Martin made play, after play, after play and could not miss. He went 11 for 14 for 117 yards and two scores in the first half and the Lions defense held the Eagles to 104 yards. It was 21-0 at the break, after Coach Barnette’s crew stopped the Eagles as the half went down. The second 30 minutes was a different movie, as the Lions started to get stuffed and the Eagles stormed back to force overtime. In OT, Martin and the offense made one more play, while Sakarr Morrison made yet another one on defense, and Mars Hill held on to win the “Gladwin Bowl,” 31-24. It was a tremendous game, and the Lions showed why they are always a tough out.

Prediction: Mars Hill ends Anderson’s undefeated start.

Anderson has had a hot start to the season, and the 2^nd year program has taken a big step forward. But they have not played a team as talented as Mars Hill. The biggest challenge for the Trojans defense is to stop JR Martin. The Lions go as he goes and if you can stop (or limit) him from extending plays and creating something out of nothing you have a chance. I feel like the home squad is the better team and winning at Mars Hill is a tall task.

Lenoir-Rhyne Bears at Carson-Newman Eagles

Location & Time: Jefferson City, TN / 1 PM

Massey: Lenoir-Rhyne -6.5

SP+: Carson-Newman 27.9, Lenoir-Rhyne 22.8.

Series: Carson-Newman leads series, 44-22. (Lenoir-Rhyne won last meeting, 24-7, in 2023)

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one last weekend against fellow playoff contender Emory & Henry and would eventually take a 28-3 lead at the intermission. That is when things go a little interesting. Lenoir-Rhyne would give up 25 unanswered to allow the game to get tied, and starting quarterback Khamoni Robinson would suffer an injury and not return. In stepped Wells Bettenhausen, the first-year quarterback, who led the Bears down the field where Daniel Deneen Jr. would kick the walk off winner, giving the Bears a 31-28 dub. Robinson was the star in this one, doing it all with 334 yards of total offense. Songa Yates and Zion Agnew had good days, doing what they normally do. I am still trying to figure out why a Bears team with as many weapons in the backfield has struggled to run the ball outside of Robinson, but I assume Coach Socha will get that figured out.

The first part of last weekend’s game did not go Coach Ingram and the Eagles way. Despite their best efforts, the defense was just a half step constantly behind JR Martin and the Mars Hill offense, and the Eagles offense struggled to get going. After falling behind 21-0, Carson-Newman would outscore the Lions 24-3 in the second half and nearly pulled off a second incredible comeback (and would have if not for the tackle that stopped Rich Mellien’s interception at the end of regulation). The second half defense was outstanding, making clutch stop after clutch stop. The Eagles were able to get the ball to Jeremiah Carroll finally and he scored. Jayden Sullins carried the ball 21 times for 76 yards, but the Lions were determined to not let him beat them. Despite the loss, Tedros Gleaton was outstanding and showed why he can be a dude for the Eagles. Gleaton was 5 of 8 for 91 yards, while also rushing for 118. It was a tough loss, but you have to love the fight they showed.

Prediction: Eagles eek out a win in a classic.

For three decades, this was not a rivalry. But ever since Lenoir-Rhyne broke the streak in 2010, they have had Carson-Newman’s number. The Bears have won six straight in this series, and 11 of 12. And unfortunately, it has not been competitive either, as the Bears have won by an average of three scores. But something will have to give, as the Eagles have not lost at home under Ashley Ingram. If Khamoni Robinson is 100%, that is massive for the Bears. If he is not, that is a big advantage for the Eagles. The Eagles struggled with getting to the quarterback last week, and if they do not get to Robinson they have a plethora of ways to burn you. But if the Eagles can avoid putting themselves in the early hole and control the game, I think they win. C-N’s ability to run the ball may be the difference in this game.

It will be an emotional day for both teams, as the family of former Eagle and Bear Colt Sinor will be there doing the coin toss. Both teams have sported decals this year to honor his memory and C-N has kept the #65 jersey unworn for the season.

Emory & Henry Wasps at Tusculum Pioneers

Location & Time: Greeneville, TN / 2 PM

Massey: Emory & Henry -13.5

SP+: Emory & Henry 35.0, Tusculum 16.8.

Series: Emory & Henry leads series, 15-4. (Emory & Henry won last meeting, 23-21, in 2024)

Coach Hunter and the Wasps seemed dead in the water in the first half last weekend, falling behind 21 points after one and 25 after two. In the second half, the Wasps got going and were giving Lenoir-Rhyne supporters flash backs to last year’s crazy game. Cole Lambert would throw for 225 yards, Jakari Mozelle (3-91-0) and Parker Prioleau (3-80-0) would step up and Jordan Jackson would add a pair of scores to help the Wasps roar all the way back to tie things up at 28 with just under six minutes remaining. They would not see the ball again. It was a tough loss for the gold and blue, but there is a lot to hang their heads on for fighting back from such a big deficit against a top 20 ranked team in the country. They just could not get them this time.

After two weeks of having some success running the ball, the Tusculum offense had extraordinarily little last week against Anderson. The Pioneers were held to a whopping 88 total yards, 14 in the air and 74 on the ground, and shutout for the first time since 2016. Nobody could get anything going against the suffocating defense, not Hunter, Celestin, Dinwiddie, Hagans. Quinton Brandon had more yard’s punting than the Pioneer offense put up! The defense did play better in the second half, limiting Anderson to six points but the game was over before then. The Pioneers put the ball on the deck three times but did not lose any. Against a defense like Emory & Henry this week, that cannot happen.

Prediction: Wasps rebound.

I like the Wasps in this one simply because I expect their defense to suffocate the Tusculum offense, putting pressure on the Pioneers defense to make stops. Last year the Pioneers almost pulled off the upset, but Emory & Henry nailed a field goal to win. If Tusculum can move the ball like they did against Bluefield State and Lenoir-Rhyne they would have a chance, but I just do not see that happening against the Wasps.

Wingate Bulldogs at UVA Wise Cavaliers

Location & Time: Wise, VA / 6 PM

Massey: Wingate -28.5

SP+: Wingate 41.8, UVA Wise 11.9.

Series: Wingate leads series, 5-0. (Wingate won last meeting, 33-0, in 2024)

Elijah Holmes completed 12 of 16 passes for 203 yards and five touchdowns, Xavier Pugh carried the ball 11 times for 115 and three scores, as Wingate just shellacked Bluefield State on Saturday, 72-7. Coach Jordan’s team had 444 more yards of offense, forces two turnovers, and held the Big Blue scoreless until the 4^th quarter of the game. Even though there is a significant gap in talent level in the two programs currently, a dominant performance on both sides of the ball like this is still impressive, as the Bulldogs scored at least 10 points in each quarter, including 49 in the first half of the contest. A great tune up before conference play for sure.

UVA Wise had a lot of things going in their favor against Catawba last weekend: 3-0 against the Indians; had an excellent first half where they put up 34 points and had a two-touchdown lead; Daniel Thomas had over 230 rushing yards. Then the second half took place, and those things changed in a hurry. Thomas was held under 20 yards for the second half; the Cavalier defense gave up 24 unanswered points; and the unbeaten streak ended. Despite totaling 482 yards of offense, it just was not enough as Coach Bass and the guys lost yet another heartbreaker, 44-34. The same issues from a year ago seem to be lingering around early: UVA Wise can score with the best of them, but the defense has struggled mightily. Going to be challenging this week.

Prediction: Wingate cruises to 3-0.

The Cavaliers have never beaten the Bulldogs, and I expect that to stay the same after the weekend. UVA Wise has a fun offense that has been putting up some points, but they have not faced a beast like Wingate’s defense yet. I am not sure, even if their offense has an average day, that the defense can make enough plays to stop the Bulldogs. Holmes has been excellent, and a heavy dose of Xavier Pugh seems on the docket. Wingate’s offense also has some extra pep this season early on. Give me the defending league champions.

Catawba Indians at Newberry Wolves

Location & Time: Newberry, SC / 7 PM

Massey: Newberry -7.5

SP+: Newberry 32.1, Catawba 23.9

Series: Newberry leads series, 30-21. (Newberry won last meeting, 27-21, in 2024)

Catawba led 20-14 in the second quarter, before UVA Wise scored 20 straight to take a 34-20 lead into halftime. UVA Wise workhorse Daniel Thomas was gashing the defense, and they just did not seem to have an answer. Whatever adjustments were made in the locker room were outstanding, and it was a truly a tale of two halves. Catawba pitched a second half shutout and scored 24 unanswered of their own, edging out UVA Wise 44-34. It was quite the day for the offense, as Catawba put up 660 yards of offense. Preston Brown threw for 372 and three scores; Bennett Galloway and Kevin Lalin combined for 30-244-1 (Brown added two rushing scores as well), and the trio of Amari McArthur, Bo Pryor, and RJ Jackson were running loose. Catawba has an elite offense if they are going, but the defense needs to play with some more consistency if they are going to make a return to the upper echelon of the conference.

The Wolves made a quick snack of the Skyhawks last Saturday, pounding them to the tune of a 49-0 win to start the year 2-0. Reed Charpia was excellent, again, completing 19 of 21 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns. He is completing an incredible 86% of his passes through two games and has failed to turn the ball over yet. This is a great sign for Coach Knight’s ball club, because as I said in the preseason, Newberry is at it is best when they have a difference maker under center. Newberry’s defense was also outstanding last game, despite Point being a subpar opponent. Anytime you get to the quarterback six times and hold someone to 90 total yards of offense, it is a good day at the office. I still want to see some more out of the offense, but the defense looked good early on.

Prediction: Catawba ends the losing streak.

Newberry has won seven straight in the series, and eight of the last nine. But that ends on Saturday (maybe)! Last year the Wolves won 27-21 when Quez Spells scored a touchdown with just under a minute remaining. However, Catawba was not healthy last year. No Preston Brown, no Bo Pryor. And while Hunter Sheppard played well enough to keep the game close, Catawba when healthy is more explosive. The question for the Indians though is can the defense make enough stops and keep the momentum going they have from last week’s 2^nd half shutout. Reed Charpia has also vastly improved from last year in my opinion and brings a new element to things for the Wolves.

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