SAC Week Seven Preview

October 16th, 2025 2:00pm

Week seven is already upon us. Conference title races are tightening like pants after Thanksgiving lunch, playoff races molding into shape, and some teams are looking to 2026 already. The schedule this week sees four outstanding games, including the heavyweight tilt of Wingate and Emory & Henry. Imagine what a Bulldog win would do to the title race? Or if Mars Hill knocked off Newberry as well! Or do the Wasps and Wolves put some distance between them and the rest of the league. Does Anderson knock out THE SAC historical heavyweight? Does UVA Wise stun Lenoir-Rhyne like they did a few years back, or do the Bears take out some frustration from this year on the Highland Cavaliers? Let the chaos reign!! The only guarantees are that Catawba and Tusculum go undefeated this weekend in preparation for their matchup next week.

Our crew is hoping to catch the Carson-Newman at Anderson game on our way home from West Palm Beach, but it should be yet another awesome weekend of South Atlantic Conference football. Stay safe out there everybody!

SAC Players of the Week

Offense: Bryson James (Anderson): 20 carries for 221 yards, two touchdowns.

Defense: Carter Wit (Anderson): ten total tackles, six solo tackles, interception and a pass break up.

Special Teams: Jake Snapp (Wingate): totaled 99 yards on returns, averaging nearly 20 yards on both punt and kick returns.

Standings after Week 6

Playoff Outlook

Purely for conversation until the first official regional rankings release, here are the top 16 teams in Super Region 2 based on InkBlot’s Bracketology and W%+SOS metric. Shoutout to our friend InkBlot Sports for all the arduous work he puts into the numbers for all D2 sports.

Last Week: 4-1

Season: 33-8

***Tusculum and Catawba are off this week***

Carson-Newman Eagles at Anderson Trojans

Location & Time: Anderson, SC / 1 PM

Massey: Carson-Newman -3.5

SP+: Carson-Newman 26.8, Anderson 22.0

Series: Carson-Newman leads series, 1-0. (Carson-Newman won last matchup, 28-7, in 2024)

Carson‑Newman entered the game as a ranked squad but couldn’t deliver in the end, falling short despite defensive resilience. Their D held Emory & Henry’s high-scoring unit to a season low, especially in the first half, giving them a chance to win. Quarterback Zane Whitson had flashes of effectiveness — he pushed the offense downfield early and connected with Jeremiah Carroll on a 50‑yard touchdown that put C-N ahead 13–5. However, the offenses fourth‑quarter struggles (and a total stall of 11 yards over four drives) doomed the comeback hopes. Whitson also added 33 rushing yards in the effort. Carson-Newman’s offense failed to finish drives when it mattered most, and their defense, though commendable overall, ultimately yielded in the final minutes against the SAC’s current leaders.

Anderson pulled off a gritty road win, rallying past Lenoir-Rhyne 35–28 in Hickory behind a dominant ground game and timely defense. Bryson James exploded for three huge rushes (2, 24, 73 yards) to power a 99-yard scoring drive and swung momentum in Anderson’s favor. Earlier, interceptions deep in LR’s territory set up two key Anderson touchdowns, allowing the Trojans to take a 21–14 lead into halftime. In the second half, Anderson struck on a 75-yard passing drive and later leaned back on the run, capping off the game with a 70-yard rush to put the game away. In the defensive clutch, Anderson’s pass rush harassed LR’s final drive, including a sack by Ramsey and a broken-up throw by Jerrod Woods to seal the upset.

Prediction: Eagles find a way, get it done on the road

Sometimes a bye week comes at the time when a team needs it most. Carson-Newman faced a daunting SAC schedule to start the year and was banged up and frankly needed a break. The Eagles defense has been outstanding since halftime of the Mars Hill game, and has kept the offense in games. The offense has shown glimpses of last years success but they’ve taken a step back. Sometimes when your back is against the wall is when it comes out and they will have to against an Anderson team who has made some great strides in year two, including being the better team last week against a Lenoir-Rhyne team I thought would win. Anderson has done a better job forcing turnovers this year, and both teams are top for least penalties committed. I think this comes down to which offense makes more plays.

Wingate Bulldogs at #22 Emory & Henry Wasps

Location & Time: Emory, VA / 1 PM

Massey: Emory & Henry -0.5

SP+: Emory & Henry 28.5, Wingate 24.3.

Series: Series tied 1-1. (Wingate won last matchup, 31-17, in 2023)

Wingate crushed Catawba 41–28 at home, breaking the Indians’ four-game win streak while racking up an imposing 527 total yards (281 rushing, 246 passing). Their offense was led by Xavier Pugh, who rushed 20 times for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns (along with 2 catches for 43 yards), and by Elijah Holmes, who threw for 246 yards with a TD and added 64 rushing yards and another score. The Bulldogs also got strong contributions from Jaylen Himes (7 catches, 105 yards, TD) and presence on defense – Eli Lipscomb recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles, while Mandjou Berte logged 1.5 sacks. Wingate’s balanced attack, dominant ground game, and disruptive defensive plays tilted the game decisively in their favor.

The Wasps came into Mars Hill’s home turf and delivered a dominant performance, walking away with a 48–23 victory to improve to 6–1 on the season. They jumped out early and never looked back — plating 7 in the first quarter, 17 in the second, and continuing to build momentum into the second half. Their offense was dynamic and balanced, and while individual statistical breakdowns are limited in the summary sources, Emory & Henry clearly made big plays and sustained drives. The defense also held firm: Mars Hill managed only 2 points in the second quarter and was unable to keep pace once Emory & Henry pulled away. The win underscored the Wasps’ depth, game control, and ability to impose their will on both sides of the ball. Minus a small part of the game, the Wasps looked the best they had all year when I watched the game back.

Prediction: Wasps set up massive showdown in Newberry next week, top Bulldogs.

IF Wingate finds a way to win this game, #OneDog nation will never let me live it down. Wingate definitely has the talent to win, especially if they are healthy and play like they did last week. Holmes and Pugh are a deadly tag team. And the defense looked better than it did previously. The Wasps lead the league in forced turnovers, and the game is going to come down to who forces more mistakes and who can be more disciplined. Wingate leads the league in penalty yards per game (76.7). It’s just so tough to go to Emory and win the past two years and I think that win streak extends for another week. A year ago I’d think it’d be like that LSU/Alabama game that finished 9-6 due to these two defenses but it may be higher scoring.

UVA Wise Cavaliers at Lenoir-Rhyne Bears

Location & Time: Hickory, NC / 3 PM

Massey: Lenoir-Rhyne -26.5

SP+: Lenoir-Rhyne 36.0, UVA Wise 19.5

Series: Lenoir-Rhyne leads series, 3-1. (Lenoir-Rhyne won the last matchup, 56-3, in 2023)

UVA Wise put on a dominant display in their October 11th game, blanking South Carolina Central Christian 65–0 at home. They scored on nearly every full possession, with big contributions from several skill players: Jake Corkren hit Rico Thomas Jr. for a 38-yard touchdown on his lone pass, McCalan Beason went 4-for-4 for 131 yards and a score, Parker Burke added a touchdown pass and a rushing score, while the ground game was well distributed with Evan Kennedy, Josh Penn, and Markel Summers each finding the end zone. Defensively and in special teams, Wise was similarly relentless, forcing turnovers (an interception, a fumble recovery) and adding a safety to seal the shutout. Coach Bass got to play a lot of different guys and get a lot of guys who will be important to the program later some game reps.

Lenoir-Rhyne entered the game with momentum and showed flashes of dominance, especially on offense, but critical mistakes and turnovers ultimately undid them. The Bears methodically chewed up time on their opening drive, going 15 plays to score via Zion Agnew, and later connected on a big 55-yard pass from Khamoni Robinson to Agnew to extend their lead. However, two interceptions in the second quarter each led to 99-yard Anderson scoring responses, turning a tight contest into one favoring the Trojans. Even as LR battled back in the second half and took advantage of Anderson scores (including the 70-yard counter after Anderson’s go-ahead), the Bears’ inability to protect the ball and withstand Anderson’s late surge proved costly.

Prediction: Bears bounce back and take some frustration out on the Cavs.

I am rolling with the Bears in this one because despite their inconsistency and struggles, I still believe they have the components of a good football team. Some things to keep an eye on though is the defense has been surprisingly disappointing if you’ve grown use to the stout defenses the Bears have had over the years. Lenoir-Rhyne is dead last in rushing defense, giving up nearly 190 yards per contest. This smells like a fat steak dinner for UVA Wise workhorse back Daniel Thomas, who has had 3 games with 160+ yards this year. But Thomas has struggled at times as well. 21 is the magic number for both teams in this game: When Thomas carries the ball less than 21 times, he hasn’t hit above 60 yards rushing. When the Bears score 21 or under? They are 0-3.

Mars Hill Lions at Newberry Wolves

Location & Time: Newberry, SC / 6 PM

Massey: Newberry -1.5

SP+: Newberry 27.3, Mars Hill 25.4

Series: Mars Hill leads series, 34-13. (Mars Hill won last meeting, 34-9, in 2024).

Losses always sting, but losses on homecoming or senior day always tend to sting a little bit more. Coach Barnette and Mars Hill certainly had a disappointing homecoming last weekend, getting smacked by Emory & Henry, 48-23. The game was marked by flashes of fight but ultimately outmatched by a superior opponent who was playing exceptional on this day. Mars Hill managed to match Emory & Henry in the first quarter, scoring 7 and briefly leading, but were stymied in the second while their opponent put up 17 points. They clawed back somewhat in the second half, putting up 14 points, but Emory & Henry’s consistency and big-play ability kept the gap firmly in favor of the visitors. On offense, Mars Hill struggled to keep up, and defensively they were unable to contain Emory & Henry’s balanced attack. The result brought Mars Hill to 3–3 for the season and 2–2 in conference play, leaving them with much to correct as they move forward.

Newberry pulled off a gritty comeback in Greeneville, edging Tusculum 35-28 after Jonah Norris punched in the game-winner from one yard out with 1:37 remaining. The Wolves tallied 422 total yards, including 305 through the air, with Reed Charpia completing 25 of 33 passes and throwing two touchdowns. Quez Spells gashed the Pioneer defense for 129 yards on 10 carries, including an explosive 84-yard score that ignited Newberry early. Receiver Keith Desaussure hauled in 11 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown, helping sustain key drives. Newberry’s defense and pass rush sealed the win late, applying pressure and forcing Tusculum to fail on the final drive.

Prediction: Wolves win again, setting up massive showdown with Emory & Henry.

Mars Hill has won two in a row in this series and five of the last six. However, that one loss was the 2022 SAC Championship game. Consistency has been the problem for the Lions, who have lost two straight contests after starting 3-1. The defense has given up 90 points in the past two weeks and the offense (minus the first half against Catawba) hasn’t looked up to potential since the first half of the win over Carson-Newman. The Lions are also the most penalized team in the conference and giving up second and third opportunities to opponents is not the recipe for success. I like Newberry in the game, at home, and they’ve been playing better recently.

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