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The South Atlantic Conference football coaches assembled at the Holiday Inn here Friday morning to talk up their teams — and to also talk up their league like they never have before.
It could very well be the most powerful season in SAC history.
Think about it. There’s Carson-Newman, the No. 1-ranked team in Division II. No surprise there. When isn’t Ken Sparks’ team not ranked No. 1 and thought of as a national championship contender?
But this season, the Eagles have company. Catawba is coming off an 11-2 season with losses only to Carson-Newman in 1999. The Indians made the national playoffs and gave the SAC two postseason teams for the first time in history.
David Bennett’s Indians have been ranked in every publication, as low as 21st in Lindy’s and as high as ninth in Street &Smith.
“We have 16 starters back and that’s good,” said Bennett. “But the bad thing about that is 2001. Most of these guys will be gone. So if we don’t get it done this year, I don’t know if we can get it done.”
Now comes the part that commissioner Doug Echols likes the most. Carson-Newman and Catawba aren’t the only ranked teams. Presbyterian is listed 22nd in Street &Smith, while Mars Hill is 24th in Lindy’s.
It’s an unprecedented stat: Four SACteams ranked in the preseason.
“I think it’s one of the toughest conferences in the country,” said Lenoir-Rhyne’s Bill Hart.
“There’s more parity and it’s highly-competitive,” said Bob Brush of Wingate.
That’s bad news for Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate. They were picked sixth and eighth in the preseason poll, chosen by league coaches.
But Sparks, who says he has the toughest schedule ever, remains cautious.
“Idon’t see a team that’s not going to be better,” he said. “There will be some upsets. Ican’t remember in a while having four or five teams that could win the conference. Idon’t see an easy game.”
Below are capsule looks at each team, in order of predicted finish:
CARSON-NEWMAN (12-3): The Eagles have a SAC-leading 10 preseason all-conference players, led by two-time All-American Montrae Ford, a defensive back.
William Hyppolite, a defensive lineman with 45 tackles last year, along with linebacker Ikie Curry, who had 48 tackles and seven sacks, lead the defense. Michael Bredwood, a defensive back, had 53 tackles.
Offensively, quarterback Leonard Guyton and running back Antwon Oliver return. Oliver led the SAC in rushing last year with 1,454 yards (7.9 per carry). Clay Clevenger leads the line.
“The biggest question mark on offense is that we need one lineman and one wide receiver,” said Sparks. “On defense, we have only one of three linemen back but we rotated six. Our kicking game is a concern.”
CATAWBA(11-2): Two names stand out for Bennett: quarterback Mitch Ellis and defensive end DeVonte Peterson. Ellis is second-team all-SAC, while Peterson, who led the league in sacks with 14.5, enters the season touted as the most prolific defender in the league. Street &Smith chose him as a preseason All-American.
Ellis passed for 2,900 yards or a team that averaged almost 30 points per game. He returns his backfield in Kevin McKenzie (first team) and Joe Hilliard, along with all of his receivers. Nick Means and Ryan Millwood (second team) expect top-notch seasons. Lineman Don Moore, a first-team selection, is a preseason All-American. Scott Faw made second-team All-SAC.
“With nine guys back on offense, we should put more points on the board,” said Bennett.
Defensive end Radell Lockhart is an All-SAC pick, along with Shawn Sanders. He and Shawn McBride anchor a tough linebacker corps that includes senior Jason Cross of South Rowan fame, and Todd McComb from Thomasville.
Catawba led the nation in rushing defense (52 yards per game) and led the SAC in scoring defense (12.4) and total defense (249.5).
PRESBYTERIAN (7-4): Daryl Dickey enters his fourth season saying two words over and over: “Todd Cunningham. Todd Cunningham.”
The junior is the preseason all-SAC quarterback. The Harlon Hill candidate passed for 236 yards per game.
“He’s one of the best players in the country,” said Dickey. He has tremendous instincts.”
Most of Cunningham’s throws will be directed toward Travis Smith, a first-teamer. Linebacker Chris Digby and defensive back Michael Scornavaaca lead the defense, while John Redding is one of the SAC’s top placekicers.
MARSHILL (7-4): Talk about going from the outhouse to the penthouse, Mars Hill did just that in 1999. The Mountain Lions were chosen last in 1999 and finished third. Now, they’re a ranked team with a Street &Smith preseason All-American in tight end David Cassell. He averaged four catches per game for almost 10 yards per.
Coach Tim Clifton, in his eighth year, said the strength is in the backfield, where senior Terrance Stokes (900 yards)and sophomore fullback Travis McFadden return.
Sophomore Khalid Abdullah is a preseason first-teamer. “He’s the best player we have,” said Clifton.
NEWBERRY (5-6):Coach Mike Taylor has a solid backfield returning in quarterback Dustin Coats and back Vic Gilmore.
A first-teamer, Gilmore was second in rushing in the SAC last year, averaging 96 yards per game. Coats is a third-year starter and already has almost 4,000 yards of total passing.
“He’ll own every passing record before he’s through,” said Taylor.
Josh Pierce is one of the fastest return specialists in Division II. Ed Lockhart and Payton Bennett are strong linebackers.
LENOIR-RHYNE (5-6): The Bears have two preseason first-teamers: offensive lineman Sam Luster and punter Chris Mayo.
Former South Rowan star Chris Kotish is second-team preseason.
TUSCULUM(2-9): Coach Frankie DeBusk talked more about his new coaching staff (“with tons of Division I experience”) and facilities (“second-to-none in the country”).
He did get around to saying that quarterback Caleb Slover was the “best quarterback I’ve coached in eight years. He’s a phenomenal drop-back passer.” And J.R. Wooten is a first-team wide receiver.
WINGATE(3-7): Shannon Dawson, a transfer from Mississippi College, will take over for departed QB Brian Baughman, who threw for 3,331 yards and 22 TD’s. Three of Wingate’s four offensive preseason picks are receivers.
“The program is down in numbers,” said second-year coach Bob Brush. “We lost 28 to eligibility last year.”
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