SAC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: https://www.thesac.com/sports/fball/2019-20/schedule
HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne University, coming off a 12-win season and South Atlantic Conference (SAC) title, is the favorite to repeat as the league’s football champion in 2019.
2019 LRU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: https://lrbears.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=209
In a vote of conference head coaches released by the SAC via a press release, LRU gained five first-place votes and 68 points to sit atop the predictions.
Wingate got three first-place votes and 64 points to earn the No. 2 spot.
LRU beat Wingate 31-24 last season in the regular season and 21-17 in an NCAA Division II second round playoff game at Moretz Stadium.
The Bears won their eighth SAC title in head coach Drew Cronic’s first season, going 12-2 after winning three games the year before.
Carson-Newman was picked to finish third with Tusculum getting the final first-place vote and predicted to finish in fourth place.
LRU opens its 100th season of football on Sept. 7, playing St. Augustine’s at 6 p.m., and the Bears’ league opener is Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. against Newberry, S.C.
The Bears are ranked No. 3 by College Football America Yearbook head into the season.
The SAC football season begins on Sept. 5 (a Thursday) with Carson-Newman, Newberry, Tusculum and Wingate each scheduled to play. The other league teams start play on Sept. 7.
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALLPRESEASON POLL
(Voting by conference head coaches)
LENOIR-RHYNE: The Bears had one of the most potent offenses NCAA Division II last season, ranking ninth in the nation in scoring (41 points per game) and 10th in rushing offense (268.1).
QB Grayson Willingham returns to lead the offense after a record-breaking season with 26 touchdown passes.
LRU ranked second in fumbles recovered (17) last season and in interceptions (21), with the 38 turnovers second-best in the country.
The Bears did not allow a 100-yard rusher last season.
Starting defenders Jaquan Artis and Sherrod Williams are among the top defensive returners, combing for 19 sacks, seven forced fumbles and three interceptions in 2018.
Wingate: The Bulldogs are coming off their second straight NCAA Division II playoff appearance after going 9-4, 5-2.
They averaged 32.5 points per game and were second in the league in fewest points allowed (20.1) and fewest total yards allowed per game (311.5).
Wingate returns RB Nijere Peoples, last year’s SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Carson-Newman: The Eagles (7-4, 4-3) tied Tusculum for third last season, averaging 32.4 points and 347.4 rushing yards per game.
Antonio Wimbush, who ran for 1,206 yards and eight TDs, led the SAC in rushing a year ago.
Tusculum: The Pioneers return 17 players from a 5-5, 4-3 team.
Eight players return on a defense that ranked second in the SAC last season in scoring allowed (219 points) and Tusculum allowed 312.9 yards per game.
Nelson Louis, last year’s SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year, had 53 tackles (11 for lost yards) and had six sacks.
Newberry: The Wolves (5-6, 3-4) allowed 285 yards per game, lowest in the SAC last season, and gave up 17.3 points per game.
Newberry returns six defensive starters, including all-league DB David Vereen (31 tackles, two interceptions, 13 pass break-ups).
Catawba: The Indians (4-7, 2-5) return 14 starters, including All-SAC players Jeremiah Ferguson (LB), Cris Page (DB) and Will Sweeper (WR).
Mars Hill: The Lions (4-6, 3-4) are led by consensus All-American WR Craig Rucker, who led the league in TDs (16), receiving yards (1,549), yards per game (123.4) and catches (82).
He was in the top five in NCAA Division II in yards per game (first), yards (fourth), catches per game (fifth) and receiving TDs (fifth).
Limestone: Associate member of the SAC, going 0-10, 0-7 last season. Will have a new head coach, Brian Turk.
Wise-Va.: Newest member of the conference, joining after six seasons in the Mountain East Conference.
The Cavaliers (4-6) return senior DB Marcus Tarrer, who had 78 tackles (49 solo).
— Reported by SAC and LRU Sports Information.