NEXT:Representing the league begins this Saturday when West Georgia visits Shuford Stadium for a 1 p.m. Division IIfirst-round playoff game. The Gulf South Conference power won its first 10 games before losing to Valdosta State in its last game 45-35.
A preview of the game will appear in the Post Saturday morning.
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LUCKY13: Catawba placed 13 players on the all-South Atlantic Conference team.
Radell Lockhart, a senior defensive end, was named Defensive Player of the Year And Bennett was named Coach of the Year.
A story on all-conference will also appear in Saturday’s Post.
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DON’TTHINKTWICE: When Bennett decided to put quarterback Mitch Ellis and his bad knee in the Lenoir-Rhyne game trailing 14-6 with 11 minutes left, he had to think twice — and even three times.
“I wanted to get our orthopedic surgeon’s OK. And I wanted our trainer’s OK,” he said. “I was just double checking, triple checking, just to be sure. You don’t want to put anyone’s health in jeopardy.”
The only ones in jeopardy were the Bears, who allowed 5-of-6 passing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
If baseball coach Jim Gantt needs another assistant, Bennett may be his man after the way he handled the Ellis situation.
“It’s like bringing in a relief pitcher,” Bennett said. “You’ve just got to figure out what inning to bring him in.”
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HOWISHE? Ellis is expected start this week.
“He was 80 percent last week and we hope he’s 90 percent this week,” Bennett said.
All-American defensive end DeVonte Peterson is out with a small fracture in his fibula.
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BIGPLAY: One of the turning points in Saturday’s game was freshman Jermonte Battle blocking a punt that led to a score.
“The call was to go get it,” beamed the diaper dandy from Rocky Mount during the postgame celebration. “This is unbelievable. It still hasn’t dawned on me yet.”
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BETCHADIDN’TKNOW:Defensive lineman James “Mac Daddy” McDowell was the player of the year in his conference at East Rutherford — in basketball. The 6-3, 315-pound McDowell, a Catawba sophomore, was 10th in the state as a senior with a 22-point average. He grabbed 10 rebounds per game.
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YOU’RESTARTING ... REALLY: Bennett saw Brian Roberson in class the other day and told him to get ready. He would be the starting punter Saturday against West Georgia, replacing Danny Jenkins.
“Roberson’s a nut,” Bennett said. “He told me, ‘Yeah, coach, I’ve heard that before.’”
Bennett did convince the junior that he had earned it. After Jenkins punted for an average of 20 yards on three punts, Roberson averaged 43.7 on his three.
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STAYINGPUT: Hart is only 11-22 at L-R but reportedly, got a one-year contract extension.
He has been successful elsewhere. While coaching in Pennsylvania at Bloomsburg State, he was 113-52.
Bennett said Hart was the main reason his Indians ran for just 84 yards.
“Give credit to Bill Hart and Lenoir-Rhyne,” said Bennett. “They played their hearts out. “We knew we’d get their best shot and we dadgum did.”
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THIRDDOWNS:Bennett couldn’t believe how many third down conversions Lenoir-Rhyne had Saturday.
Bennett marveled at one play. Quarterback Dave Robbins was tackled before he reached the chains. But he fumbled and it was recovered beyond the sticks for a first down.
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SACPLAYERS:The Ryans have it.
Receiver Ryan Millwood won the South Atlantic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week after catching five balls for 97 yards. Defensive back Ryan Norman won the league’s defensive award after blocking a field goal and breaking up five passes.
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CATAWBA’SOFFENSE:Ellis won the team’s offensive award after going 5-of-6 for 82 yards and two scores in the last 11 minutes of the L-R game.
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CATAWBA’S DEFENSE: Peterson won the team award with five tackles before leaving in the second quarter with the fracture.
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HE’SSPECIAL:Battle won the special team award for blocking a punt that led to a score and had two tackles on kickoffs.
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AROUNDTHESAC: While Catawba won the cane for its victory over L-R, Presbyterian (6-1, 8-2) claimed the Brown Derby with a 34-27 win over Newberry (1-6, 4-7). It was a disheartening loss for Newberry, who tied the score with two minutes left, only to see Todd Cunningham pass to Terry Meng with 26 seconds left to win it. ... Presbyterian finished 9-2. Had Valdosta State lost to West Georgia, the Blue Hose would’ve gotten into the national playoffs. ... Tusculum 4-3, 7-4) claimed “The Rock” in the Mountain Border War as the Pioneers beat Mars Hill 20-7. The Lions lost their final two and finished 3-4, 5-5)... Wingate (0-7, 1-10) dropped its ninth straight game, falling 31-30 to Tennessee-Martin on a 19-yard field goal with 10 seconds left.
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TRIBETIDBITS: Catawba has won 16 straight regular season games. ... The Indians have beaten Lenoir-Rhyne six straight times. ... Bennett (51-14 in six years)ranks third nationally among active coaches. ... Todd McComb and Anthony Spencer were named to the Academic All-District IIIteam. McComb has a 3.60 GPA, Spencer a 3.35. Both will advance to the national All-America ballot. ... Catawba is still ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (8.3 points per game). ... Catawba’s foes this year had a combined record of 41-63. ... Matt Gross led Catawba in scoring with 71 points. He is 11th in the nation in kicking with 12 of 14 successful field goals. ... Linebacker MCComb is the team’s leading tackler with 83, 22 better than runnerup Shawn McBride, also a linebacker.
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