October 24th, 2025 5:00pm
SAC Players of the Week
Offense: Elijah Holmes (Wingate): connected on 17 of his 28 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown and added a 17-yard rushing touchdown
Defense: Cruz Temple (Carson-Newman): nine tackles, a tackle for loss, part of a C-N defensive effort with 15 hurries.
Special Teams: Caleb Bonesteel (Wingate): Two for two on field goals; perfect three for three on point afters
Standings after Week 7
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| Overall | SAC |
1 | Newberry | 6-1 | 5-1 |
2 | Emory & Henry | 6-2 | 5-2 |
3 | Catawba | 5-2 | 3-2 |
4 | Wingate | 5-2 | 3-2 |
5 | Carson-Newman | 4-2 | 3-2 |
6 | Anderson | 5-3 | 3-3 |
7 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 4-4 | 3-3 |
8 | Mars Hill | 3-4 | 2-3 |
9 | UVA Wise | 1-6 | 1-5 |
10 | Tusculum | 1-5 | 0-5 |
Playoff Outlook
Purely for conversation until the first regional rankings release, here are the top 16 teams in Super Region 2 based on W%+SOS metric. Shoutout to our friend InkBlot Sports for all the arduous work he puts into the numbers for all D2 sports.
W% + SOS | |||
1 | Benedict-SIAC | 1.507 |
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2 | West Florida-GSC | 1.484 |
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3 | Albany State-SIAC | 1.445 |
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4 | Kentucky State-SIAC | 1.438 |
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5 | West Alabama-GSC | 1.387 |
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6 | Delta State-GSC | 1.359 |
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7 | Newberry-SAC | 1.351 |
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11 | UNC Pembroke-CC | 1.283 |
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First Four Out | |||
8 | Edward Waters-SIAC | 1.337 |
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9 | Wingate-SAC | 1.333 |
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10 | Emory & Henry-SAC | 1.333 |
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12 | Carson-Newman-SAC | 1.268 |
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Next Four Out | |||
13 | Catawba-SAC | 1.264 |
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14 | North Greenville-CC | 1.172 |
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15 | Lenoir-Rhyne-SAC | 1.068 |
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16 | Anderson-SAC | 1.050 |
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Last Week: 3-1
Season: 36-9
Lenoir-Rhyne Bears at Mars Hill Lions
Location & Time: Mars Hill, NC / 1 PM
Massey: Lenoir-Rhyne -3.5
SP+: Lenoir-Rhyne 27.6, Mars Hill 23.9
Series: Lenoir-Rhyne leads series, 26-24-1. (Lenoir-Rhyne won last matchup, 29-21, in 2024)
Lenoir-Rhyne | at | Mars Hill |
4-4, 3-3 vs. SAC | Record | 3-4, 2-3 vs. SAC |
23.4 (8th) | Scoring Offense | 24.7 (7th) |
24.6 (6th) | Scoring Defense | 28.7 (8th) |
370.9 (5th) | Total Offense | 374.9 (4th) |
134.0 (8th) | Rushing Offense | 116.1 (10th) |
236.9 (4th) | Passing Offense | 258.7 (2nd) |
390.6 (9th) | Total Defense | 364.7 (6th) |
171.0 (10th) | Rushing Defense | 149.1 (6th) |
219.6 (8th) | Passing Defense | 215.6 (6th) |
The Bears got off to a strong start on homecoming, opening with a 65-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Trey Brenton early in the first quarter. They extended the lead before halftime when Khamoni Robinson connected with Destun Thomas on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 left in the half. The Bears controlled the run game (140 rushing yards) and won the possession battle (36:16) while pressuring the Cavaliers. In the fourth quarter, Alex Boyd scored on an 11-yard carry to make it 21-3, and a defensive safety added two more points to reach 23-3 before allowing a late UVA Wise touchdown. Robinson finished 16-of-23 for 167 yards with one TD and two INTs. Thomas had four catches for 36 yards and a score; Boyd combined rushing yards and a touchdown on a big day. The Bears’ defense held UVA Wise to just 47 rushing yards.
Mars Hill battled back multiple times but couldn’t overcome Newberry’s early onslaught. The Lions scored in each quarter, including the first on a 75-yard drive late in Q1 to cut the lead to 21-7. Quarterback J.R. Martin mounted drives — including a 51-yard pass to Charlie Guinade that set up a rushing touchdown in the third — but turnovers proved costly. Mars Hill turned it over twice early (one interception returned to the 2-yard line) and their defense couldn’t stop Newberry’s big plays. They finished with under 400 total yards (approximately 386) to Newberry’s 485 and couldn’t close the gap in the fourth quarter despite a field-goal drive to cut the score to 31-24. Newberry jumping out to a 21-0 lead just five minutes in was too deep a hole on this day.
Prediction: Mars Hill tops their western North Carolina rivals
I’m possibly going to regret this one, but I’ve got Mars Hill in this ball game. Don’t get me wrong, I think Lenoir-Rhyne has some better talent in some places, and both of these teams have been kind of disappointing compared to pre-season expectations, but statistically speaking the Lions are a better team in that area. The Bears have won four straight in their series, and eight of the last eleven. Offenses are about even, but the Lions have a slight advantage on defense. It’ll be close, and could possibly be a great game. It’s going to come down to if Martin or Robinson can make more plays and do either’s run game show up to help.
Wingate Bulldogs at Anderson Trojans
Location & Time: Anderson, SC / 2 PM
Massey: Wingate -14.5
SP+: Wingate 31.1, Anderson 19.5
Series: First Ever Meeting
Wingate | at | Anderson |
5-2, 3-2 vs. SAC | Record | 5-3, 3-3 vs. SAC |
36.3 (1st) | Scoring Offense | 27.1 (5th) |
21.0 (4th) | Scoring Defense | 17.5 (2nd) |
433.3 (2nd) | Total Offense | 369.0 (6th) |
193.1 (4th) | Rushing Offense | 170.8 (5th) |
240.1 (3rd) | Passing Offense | 198.3 (7th) |
300.1 (3rd) | Total Defense | 259.9 (1st) |
89.1 (1st) | Rushing Defense | 119.1 (2nd) |
211.0 (5th) | Passing Defense | 140.8 (1st) |
Wingate rode a balanced offensive attack and timely plays to a 27-20 road win over Emory & Henry. QB Elijah Holmes completed 17-of-28 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown, and added a rushing TD. Running back Xavier Pugh logged 63 yards on the ground including the decisive 1-yard touchdown run with 1:50 remaining. On the receiving end, Xavier Jackson had 3 catches for 91 yards (including a 60-yard connection), Jaylen Himes hauled in 6 for 80 yards and a score, and Laron Warner caught 5 for 56 yards. The Bulldogs out-gained the Wasps 409 to 290 total yards, held the ball for 35:35, and scored on five of six red-zone trips despite surrendering the only turnover of the game
Anderson struck first with a 15-yard touchdown run by Tyler Wesley late in the second quarter, giving the home team a 6-0 lead after a blocked extra point. Wesley finished with 111 passing yards and 79 rushing yards and that early score. WR Zay Williams hauled in three catches for 49 yards, including a 22-yard reception. Despite totaling 270 yards of offense and generating solid runs and catches, the Trojans couldn’t convert enough in the second half. They were shut out after halftime and managed just one turnover on defense.
Prediction: Wingate continues their late season push
Wingate is playing better overall right now than Anderson and I think Coach Jordan’s club is on a mission to get back to the dance. Anderson can give them some trouble if Tyler Wesley get’s going, but I’m not sure Anderson has enough answers for the (suddenly odd to say) explosive Wingate offense. Wesley took a beating last week and may be in for a date with some IcyHot after this one too.
UVA Wise Cavaliers at Carson-Newman Eagles
Location & Time: Jefferson City, TN / 3 PM
Massey: Carson-Newman -23.5
SP+: Carson-Newman 38.0, UVA Wise 10.6
Series: Carson-Newman leads series, 5-1. (Carson-Newman won last matchup, 35-23, in 2024)
UVA Wise | at | Carson-Newman |
1-6, 1-5 vs. SAC | Record | 4-2, 3-2 vs. SAC |
20.9 (9th) | Scoring Offense | 25.2 (6th) |
33.4 (10th) | Scoring Defense | 14.5 (1st) |
367.7 (7th) | Total Offense | 333.0 (9th) |
146.1 (7th) | Rushing Offense | 237.0 (1st) |
221.6 (6th) | Passing Offense | 96.0 (9th) |
397.3 (10th) | Total Defense | 298.5 (2nd) |
152.6 (7th) | Rushing Defense | 127.3 (3rd) |
244.7 (9th) | Passing Defense | 171.2 (2nd) |
UVA Wise battled but could not overcome the early hole. Quarterback McCalan Beason completed 16 of 27 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, while fellow quarterback Jake Corkren went 3-6 for 72 yards. Receivers made plays: DJ Powell hauled in 10 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, and Peyton McClanahan had four catches for 72 yards. Despite out-gaining the Bears in total offense (358 to 307) and piling up 311 passing yards, the Cavaliers’ ground game was stymied (only 47 rushing yards) and key defensive stops by the Bears limited scoring to just a field goal in the first half, with the lone second-half score coming in the closing seconds via a Beason-to-Powell connection.
After a scoreless first quarter, Carson-Newman broke through in the second with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Zane Whitson to Nick Hester and carried that momentum into a dominant second half, outscoring Anderson 21-0. The Eagles totaled 378 yards of offense (245 rushing, 133 passing) and won the time of possession by more than seven minutes. Whitson orchestrated the attack with efficient passing and timely runs; a highlight was his 38-yard touchdown pass to Galen Washington early in the fourth quarter. The defense forced a turnover and held Anderson to just 159 rushing yards and 111 passing yards.
Prediction: Eagles cruise on homecoming.
This may be another get right game for the Eagles offense, who started to really wake up last week against the top scoring defense in the league. The Eagle defense should give the Cavaliers fits all day and I just don’t see the Cavaliers making enough stops or converting enough to keep up.
Emory & Henry Wasps at Newberry Wolves
Location & Time: Newberry, SC / 6 PM
Massey: Emory & Henry -6.5
SP+: Emory & Henry 29.4, Newberry 23.2
Series: Newberry leads series, 2-1. (Emory & Henry won last matchup, 27-7, in 2024)
Emory & Henry | at | Newberry |
6-2, 5-2 vs. SAC | Record | 6-1, 5-1 vs. SAC |
33.9 (3rd) | Scoring Offense | 32.3 (4th) |
18.0 (3rd) | Scoring Defense | 22.3 (5th) |
338.0 (8th) | Total Offense | 388.9 (3rd) |
156.6 (6th) | Rushing Offense | 120.0 (9th) |
181.4 (8th) | Passing Offense | 268.9 (1st) |
304.4 (4th) | Total Defense | 346.0 (5th) |
128.6 (4th) | Rushing Defense | 154.0 (8th) |
175.8 (3rd) | Passing Defense | 192.0 (4th) |
Emory & Henry fought back from deficits and tied the game at 20 late in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Trace Butcher (after a 9-play, 57-yard drive), but ultimately could not stop Wingate’s final drive. The Wasps finished with 186 passing yards and 104 rushing yards for 290 total, and converted all four red-zone opportunities. Quarterback Cole Lambert hit Cam Peoples for a 9-yard score earlier in the second quarter and their back Jordan Jackson broke free for a 23-yard rushing touchdown late in the third to pull within 20-17. But after their tying field goal, Emory & Henry’s final drive stalled at the Wingate 45 when the Bulldogs’ defense forced a turnover on downs
Newberry jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter behind a 56-yard touchdown run by Tyleke Mathis and an 82-yard pass from Reed Charpia to Quez Spells, and a defensive touchdown off an interception return by Jalen Stradford. Charpia finished 23-of-37 for 291 yards and one touchdown. Keith Desaussure hauled in 10 catches for 113 yards. The ground game also clicked, with the Wolves totaling a season-high 194 rushing yards as part of a 485-yard offensive output. After Mars Hill trimmed the margin to 24-20 early in the second half, Newberry responded with a 30-yard reverse TD by Rico Dorsey Jr. and later a 13-yard touchdown run by Jonah Norris with 5:45 remaining to clinch the 38-24 win.
Prediction: Newberry wins another thriller vs. the Wasps
Wasps fans will be thrilled that I am picking them to lose, because when I pick them to lose this year, they are 2-0. I believe Emory & Henry is top to bottom the better team, but as everybody knows nothing normal ever happens at Newberry at night. One thing that can make a difference is the E&H running game against the 8th ranked run defense in the league. The defense is stingy, and so is Newberry’s, but can they keep Charpia in the pocket and not let him do his thing. I’d like to mention again what I’ve said before: Newberry is a whole different team when they have a top 5 in the league QB. This will be the game of the week.
Tusculum Pioneers at Catawba Indians
Location & Time: Salisbury, NC / 6 PM
Massey: Catawba -11.5
SP+: Catawba 37.9, Tusculum 20.8
Series: Catawba leads series, 18-10. (Catawba won last meeting, 47-15, in 2024)
Tusculum | at | Catawba |
1-5, 0-5 vs. SAC | Record | 5-2, 3-2 vs. SAC |
19.7 (10th) | Scoring Offense | 35.7 (2nd) |
30.8 (9th) | Scoring Defense | 26.3 (7th) |
249.7 (10th) | Total Offense | 456.1 (1st) |
202.3 (3rd) | Rushing Offense | 228.0 (2nd) |
47.3 (10th) | Passing Offense | 228.1 (5th) |
377.7 (7th) | Total Defense | 387.6 (8th) |
128.8 (5th) | Rushing Defense | 168.7 (9th) |
248.8 (10th) | Passing Defense | 218.9 (7th) |
Both of these teams are coming off bye weeks, Tusculum their 2nd in a three-week span.
Prediction: Catawba rolls, setting up a huge old-rivalry matchup in Mossy Creek next week.
Catawba wins this one and wins rather comfortably. While the Pioneers did look more competitive after their first bye week against Newberry, I’m not quite sure they have enough offense in the tank to keep up with Preston Brown and the guys. Catawba’s balanced offensive attack should keep the defense on its toes, and I look for the Indians to take advantage of the leagues worst statistical passing defense.
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