Eagles picked second in SAC preseason poll

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Posted: Aug 03, 2015

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For just the fourth time in 28 years, Carson-Newman's football team hasn't been picked to win the South Atlantic Conference.

Four-time defending SAC champion Lenoir-Rhyne was picked by the league's coaches to win the league for a fifth straight year with six first place votes and 55 points overall. The Eagles finished four points behind the Bears with two first place votes and 51 points.

This season joins three other occasions where the Eagles weren't picked first were 1986, 2011 and 2012. C-N won the conference title in 1986, one of 14 in the years since. However, the Eagles haven't won a SAC title since 2009, the longest conference title drought in the Ken Sparks era.

Carson-Newman returns six of 11 starters offensively, including four of the five members of its offensive line and De'Andre Thomas (Milledgeville, Ga.) a three-year starter at quarterback.

Defensively, the Eagles have a greater hill to climb with just four starters returning, three of which come in the defensive secondary.

Carson-Newman had the third best rushing offense in the country last year averaging 357.5 yards per game. However, the Eagles will need to find a replacement for the bell cow of that offense in Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist Andy Hibbett.

Lenoir-Rhyne turned in an 11-1 overall record and a 7-0 mark in South Atlantic Conference play to win their fourth-straight SAC title during the 2014 season. The Bears finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Super Region II and No. 8 in the nation. Lenoir-Rhyne boasted the nation's top-rated rushing offense a season ago as it totaled 416.3 yards per game, while its defense was No. 7 in Division II as it allowed 15.6 points per game.

At No. 3 in the poll was Newberry. The Wolves posted a 5-6 overall mark and a 3-4 League record to finish the 2014 season tied at No. 4 in the League standings. The Wolves' air attack connected on 19 passing touchdowns to lead the League, while the Newberry defense ranked No. 22 in the nation in total defense at 298.9 yards allowed per game. In the return game, Newberry led the South Atlantic Conference with a kickoff return average of 22.1 yards per return. The Wolves picked up 39 points from the voters.

The Catawba College Catawba Indians were voted No. 4 in the poll. The Catawba Indians finished the 2014 season tied for No. 4 in the League with a 3-4 record to go along with an overall record of 6-5. Catawba led the Conference through the air with 217.4 yards per game as it totaled 2,391 total yards on the season. Defensively, the Catawba Indians ranked No. 1in the South Atlantic Conference with 11 fumble recoveries. Catawba earned 37 points from the League's head coaches.

The league's head coaches voted Tusculum at the No. 5 slot. The Pioneers finished third in the South Atlantic Conference standings a season ago with a 4-3 record and a 6-5 overall mark. The Tusculum defense was stiff in the red zone as it ranked No. 19 in the nation with opponents scoring just 66 percent of their time in the red zone. Wide-out Justin Houston led the South Atlantic Conference with six receptions per game to go along with a pair of kickoff returns for a score. The Pioneers collected 30 points from the panel.

Mars Hill and Wingate each finished with 27 points from the panel to tie for the No. 6 slot. The Lions turned in a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 League record as it finished tied for No. 4 in the SAC standings last season. Mars Hill ranked No. 2 in the League last season with 215 passing yards per game. Wingate closed out its 2014 campaign at 6-5 overall and 3-4 in SAC play to also tie for fourth-place. The Bulldog defense led the South Atlantic Conference with 16 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns during the 2014 season.

Brevard rounded out the poll at No. 8 as it received 14 points from the group. The Tornados ranked No. 3 in the country in red zone offense during the 2014 season as it scored in 93 percent of its trips to the red zone. Brevard also ranked No. 2 in the nation in time of possession as its veer offense controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes per game. The Tornados finished the 2014 season at 1-10 overall and 0-7 in the League.

Carson-Newman kicks off its 2015 schedule Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against the University of the Cumberlands.

Rk Team (first-place votes) Points

1. Lenoir-Rhyne (6) 55

2. Carson-Newman (2) 51

3. Newberry 39

4. Catawba 37

5. Tusculum 30

6. Mars Hill 27

Wingate 27

8. Brevard 14