August 28th, 2024 3:00pm
Week 0 is here and while there are just four games on the South Atlantic Conference slate this week heading into Labor Day weekend, all four have potential to be excellent appetizers for the weeks ahead. Three of the four matchups are first ever meetings, while one is an in-state rivalry between teams looking to make a big leap in 2024. Below you will find the power rankings, which are based off the preseason coaches poll and will obviously fluctuate rapidly throughout the season, along with some game previews, which will get more in-depth as the season progresses.
Let’s get started with the 49th season of SAC football.
Week 0 SAC Power Rankings
Thursday’s Games
Reinhardt Eagles at Carson-Newman Eagles
Location: Jefferson City, TN / 6 PM
Line: Carson-Newman -13.5
Series: First Ever Meeting
We’ve got an Eagles vs. Eagles matchup in Jefferson City tomorrow night, as the Ashley Ingram era gets under way in Mossy Creek. There is a lot of excitement around the program and as Coach Ingram said in his press conference yesterday, the guys are ready to see someone else other than themselves after spring and fall camps.
Reinhardt isn’t your average-run-of the mill NAIA program by any stretch. The Eagles are ranked #18 in the national coaches poll, were voted to win the AAC for the ninth year in a row and have made the playoffs several times in a row. The Eagles haven’t lost more than 3 games in a season in nearly a decade and James Miller is one of the best coaches in all of NAIA. The key for the Carson-Newman defense will be to stop Jerdavian Colbert, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2023.
The Eagles offense will be what many are curious about heading into the season, as folks are less curious about the stellar defense. I believe the Eagles defense should be good enough to help them win some ball games and offset any growing pains the offense goes through. There are a lot of very talented players who have another year of seasoning under their belts, and that should pay dividends this year.
I am rolling with Coach Ingram and the home Eagles in this one. It should be a very competitive ball game, but I think Carson-Newman should get the job done, barring something silly like 5-10 fumbles.
#14 Delta State Statesmen at Mars Hill Lions
Location: Mars Hill, NC / 7 PM
Line: Delta State -15.5
Series: First Ever Meeting
Continuing the theme of first-time matchups is a stellar matchup between the 2000 D2 National Champions from Delta State, and the Lions of Mars Hill. This is an outstanding matchup featuring two of the most interesting coaches in the super region.
Delta State is ranked #14 in the D2Football.com preseason poll, and historically is one of the better programs year in and year out in the region since 2000. Coach Cooley’s squad had two players named to the Elite 100 watch list (senior running back Kelvin Smith, and senior offensive lineman Jaelon Brown). The biggest question mark folks have for the Statesmen, or Fighting Okra if that is what you prefer, is how on earth do you replace a stud like Patrick Shegog? Well, a senior who has been in the program certainly is helpful. It is Cole Kirk time in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Mars Hill returns a plethora of talent and is looking to shake off three consecutive seasons of late shortcomings. 2021, 2022, and 2023 didn’t end the way Tim Clifton’s crew wanted, so maybe the 4th time is the charm. JR Martin, Jon Gullete, Malik Laurent and the offense will have a tough test against a very solid Delta State defense. Matchup of the night though will be the Mars Hill defense against the Delta offense.
I don’t love this pick, but I’m rolling with Delta State by 10-17 points.
Saturday’s Games
Glenville State Pioneers at Emory & Henry Wasps
Location: Emory, VA / 1 PM
Line: Emory & Henry -3.5
Series: First Ever Meeting
Mike Kellar and Glenville State are coming off a 6-4 campaign highlighted by wins over Notre Dame and Frostburg State. The Pioneers finished in 6th place in the MEC in 2023 and were selected to finish in 5th place this year. Glenville State returns a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball (5th in MEC) and is hoping for the offense to catch up this year.
As I stated in the season preview column, Emory & Henry is under new leadership, and the Quintin Hunter era starts now. The Wasps led the SAC with 10 preseason all-division selections and are hoping that transfers to a team looking to finish above .500 after last seasons 5-6 record. The Wasps have a solid amount of very talented football players but are hoping the injury bug and inconsistency bug stay way away in 2024.
My head says to go with Glenville State due to consistency. Mike Kellar is in his 6th year at the helm and didn’t have the staffing turnover that Emory & Henry did after Curt Newsome’s resignation. I expect a close game, and am going with the Wasps to win by 2 late in the game.
Wingate Bulldogs at UNC Pembroke Braves
Location: Pembroke, NC / 6 PM
Line: Wingate -7.5
Last Meeting: Wingate 48, UNC Pembroke 38 (October 2019), Wingate leads the all-time series 8-3.
Two programs who are not strangers to each other, Wingate heads down to Pembroke to take on the Braves on Saturday evening. These in-state foes last played in 2019, and Wingate has won four straight contest in this series.
Wingate is led by their vaunting defense, including three first team all-division monsters on the defensive line headlined by SAC Defensive Player of the Year Marquise Fleming. Fleming had 22.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2023. The Wingate offense will need consistency to be able to compliment their defense in Rashaan Jordan’s rookie campaign as head coach. Brooks Bentley was a true freshman quarterback last year and was very impressive after taking over the starting roll from Noah Bell. Bell is a talented runner, whereas Bentley is a better passer.
Like Wingate, UNC Pembroke was picked to finish 2nd in the MEC after ending the 2023 season on a white-hot streak. 2nd year head coach Mark Hall rallied the Braves to wins in their final four games, finishing 7-3 in his first year in Pembroke. Hall has his own monster on the defensive line in Jamae Blank, who was named to the D2Football Elite 100 and was co-defensive player of the year in the MEC. The offense is led by the dynamite duo of quarterback Colin Johnson and running back Sincere Baines. Baines rushed 105 times for 797 yards and 11 scores in 2023, while Johnson was dynamic, passing and rushing for over 2,600 yards.
This game seems like a toss-up on paper, but I’m rolling with Wingate on the road in a one score game.
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