David Bennett said he knew he was back on Tobacco Road Tuesday morning.

After celebrating an impressive nonconference victory over SIAC opponent Miles in football-crazy Birmingham, Alabama Saturday, the Indians head coach was ready to toast his players with some kind words during his weekly press conference at Western Steer.

But no newspaper reporter showed. Even his sports information director skipped it. Why? They were covering the South Atlantic Conference’s Operation Basketball press conference in Hickory.

“I said, ‘Dadgum, I’m back in North Carolina where basketball is king,”’ Bennett snorted.

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ESCORTSERVICE: Bennett and his team got a dose of football fever in Alabama before the 20-6 win over Miles. When it was time to go to the stadium, Catawba’s bus had a police escort.

“We didn’t stop for a single red light,” Bennett said. “There were cops on each side and in front. It was a treat for our kids to see the tradition and heritage that football has down there.”

“In Alabama,” added offensive coordinator Jamie Snider, ” football is king. We were treated very well.”

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THE RANKINGS: You’d think the Catawba coaches would be elated that the Indians moved from No. 7 in the South Region poll to No. 5. (The top four ranked teams in the region go to the national playoffs).

Carson Newman (8-0) is No. 1, followed by Fort Valley State (8-0), Southern Arkansas (6-1) and West Georgia (6-2).

Bennett doesn’t like polls and he doesn’t like how they are chosen by four athletic directors. West Georgia, with two losses, one to Presbyterian, a Catawba victim, is still ahead of Catawba.

But when both teams win, they remain in their spot. There is no leapfrogging, according to Carson-Newman AD David Barger, who is on the regional committee.

“We’ve got to win out and hope Fort Valley, Southern Arkansas or West Georgia loses,’ Bennett said. “It’s just more motivation for our kids.”

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NATIONAL RANKINGS: Catawba moved into the prestigious NCAA Division II poll at No. 20, another honor.

“There are only a few teams in Division II with one loss and we’re one of them,” Bennett said.

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ALVIS IS SPECIAL: One play usually doesn’t make a player of the week but for senior Alvis James, that’s all it took against Miles to win Catawba’s special teams award.

In the third quarter, a Miles returner appeared on his way to taking a kickoff back for a touchdown. James not only ran him down but stripped the ball. Catawba recovered.

“Alvis made the play that changed the momentum of the game,” praised Bennett.

“I was talking junk to him as he was running,” laughed James. “I told him I had more speed. I told him he wasn’t going to outrun me.”

If anyone has the right to talk junk, it’s James, who signed with Mars Hill after leading Jack Gaster’s Albemarle High team to a 12-1 record as a senior.

James didn’t like the mountains, however, and went to the Catawba coaches with some film. They took him on and now, four years later, he is a starter for the first time.

“Alvis worked harder than he ever had before,” Bennett said. “He said, ‘I’m going to be a part of this team in more than a back-up role.”’

“The Mars Hill coach was bad-mouthing me, saying I’d never help this team out,” James said with a big grin. “I’ve beaten them three times in a row and they hate me for that.”

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STEEL CURTAIN: James has made his presence felt on defense as well. He had six tackles against Miles. He had a key interception against Presbyterian. And he blocked a field goal against Tusculum that Corey Reese took in for a touchdown.

“I could’ve scored,” James said, “but I let my buddy pick it up and I blocked.

James has 30 tackles and is loving every minute of this season.

“I wouldn’t want to play on any other defense in the world,” said the cornerback. “I compare it to Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain of the ’70s.”

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STRUGGLING: While the defense was overpowering, the offense had problems in the first half against Miles but led 7-6 at halftime, thanks to two safeties. The offense moved into the red zone four times in the first half and came away with one field goal.

“As long as we were moving it, we felt OK,” said Snider. “We just had to settle down. It was a combination of things — a long bus ride, a different environment and not knowing what to expect.”

In the second half, Catawba had drives of 70 and 95 yards.

“When we relax and play, we’re OK,” Snider said.

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KEVIN’S BACK: Kevin McKenzie made a triumphant return to the backfield after two weeks off due to a high ankle sprain. He finished with 111 yards (the team had 154) and a pair of second-half scores. The offense didn’t know how impressive those 154 yards were until after the game.

“We didn’t tell them Miles was fourth in the nation in rushing defense,” said Bennett. “That was the first pre-game meal that was tough for me to eat. But McKenzie had a great day. He broke 11 tackles.”

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CASMUS’ CASUALTIES: A trip to trainer-extraordinaire Bob Casmus uncovered the good and bad of the injury situation.

While McKenzie is about 90 percent, Scott Boyles is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Ryan Millwood’s hand bruise won’t keep the receiver out Saturday.

Shawn Crump is out. Casmus said that against Presbyterian, Crump complained of a turf toe and mentioned his hand hurt. It turned out to be a broken bone.

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STRIKE UP THE BAND: The Miles band got the attention of Catawba during pre-game.

“Their band was second to none,” Bennett said. “They had such good-looking majorettes — all 6-foot girls — that our coaches and players were all staring at them. I told them they better pay attention and get warmed up for the game.”

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SAC REPORT: This week’s games include Lenoir-Rhyne (3-2, 5-3) at Carson-Newman (6-0, 8-0), Tusculum (0-7, 1-7) at Gardner-Webb (2-3, 5-3), Mars Hill (3-3, 4-4) at Virginia-Wise and Presbyterian (2-3, 5-3) at Wingate (2-4, 3-5). ... Wingate quarterback Brian Baughman was named SAC Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 38-of-55 passes in a 38-13 win over Tusculum. ... Geoff Christian of Wingate was named SAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He was 5-of-5 on extra points and added a career-best 56-yard field goal.

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