Football Game Central, Oct. 2, 2010

South Atlantic Conference football game central for games on Saturday, October 2.

Catawba (2-1) at Wingate (2-1)

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Shuford Stadium and Kirkland Field, Salisbury, N.C.

Radio: WSAT 1280 AM. Buddy Poole (play-by-play), Dan Hogue (color analyst), Lance Poole (sideline reporter), Glenn Taylor (sideline reporter)
Internet Radio: http://gocatawbaindians.com/webcast.asp; http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/sports/2009/8/28/FB_0828090809.aspx?id=48
Internet video: http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/sports/2009/8/28/FB_0828090809.aspx?id=48 (pay per view)
Livestats: http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/sports/2009/8/28/FB_0828090809.aspx?id=48
The Series: Catawba leads 18-8.
Last meeting: Wingate won 42-7 at Catawba last year.

Game Notes: Catawba has been off since a 32-12 win over Shaw on Sept. 18. Senior Patrick Dennis threw for 296 yards and a pair of scores, while the Catawba defense recorded six sacks. Thomas Trexler was named the SAC special teams player of the week after kicking three field goals in the win. Wingate has been off since Sept. 18 as well, with a 28-23 victory over UNC Pembroke. Wingate University redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Week following the UNC Pembroke game. Woods rushed 21 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns versus UNC Pembroke. Woods is now the Bulldogs' all-time leading rusher with 2985 yards on 630 carries for his Bulldog career. This will mark the fifth time that Catawba has faced Wingate in a league opener. The Indians have won the other four times in 1989 (29-19), 1990 (22-6), 2000 (53-6) and 2001 (12-0). The Catawba-Wingate series dates back to 1926 before Wingate became a four-year institution. Including those meetings, Catawba holds an 18-8 edge in the all-time meetings. Catawba has won its SAC opener only twice in the last five years. Catawba's Brandon Bunn needs two TD grabs to tie school career mark of 25.

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Carson-Newman (2-2) at Brevard (3-1)

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Asheville High School Memorial Stadium, Asheville, N.C.

Radio: WRJZ-AM 620 (Knoxville) Zeke Beam (play-by-play), Jeremy Ball (color analyst); WSQL 1240 AM (Brevard) Dwayne Summers (play-by-play), Damien Luce (color analyst)
Internet radio: www.wsqlradio.com; http://www.cneagles.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-11/2010Gameday
Live stats: http://bctornados.athleticsite.net/livestats/fb/xlive.htm
The Series: Carson-Newman leads 3-0.
Last meeting: Carson-Newman won 77-7 last year. The Eagles returned four Tornado fumbles for touchdowns.

Game Notes: The Eagles will begin defense of their SAC title. The Tornados and the Eagles have met each other three times, with the Eagles holding the 3-0 advantage. Carson-Newman has outscored the Tornados 163-23 in the three contests. Brevard comes into the contest possessing the nation's leading rushing attack, averaging over 358 yards per game on the ground, led by SAC leader Kelvin Jeter's 500. Jeter, a freshman, leads the SAC in rushing per game with 125.0 yards and is averaging 10.9 yards per carry. Freshman Thadus Benton and senior fullback Neville Bryce have teamed up for another 527 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. Carson-Newman was a 2009 NCAA DII Semifinalist, but comes into the game possessing a 2-2 record overall and is coming off a loss to UNC Pembroke this past Saturday, 30-7. Brevard is coming off a record-setting game in Buena Vista, Va., as the Tornados defeated Southern Virginia, 69-7. Brevard gained 519 yards on the ground on the ground and nine touchdowns against the Knights. Three Tornados were selected as SAC Player of the Week this past week as Benton received Offensive Player of the Week, Trey Jenkins received Defensive Player of the Week and Eric Watts received Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The Eagles struggled last week against UNC Pembroke, turning the ball over four times and compiling a season-low 168 yards of offense.

Tusculum (4-0) at Mars Hill (2-2)

Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Meares Stadium / Ammons Family Athletic Center, Mars Hill, N.C.

Radio: Lion Sports Network. Cam Dowdle (play-by-play), Josh Pick (color analyst); WSMG 1450 AM (Greeneville) Brian Stayton (play-by-play), Joe Byrd (color analyst)
Internet Radio: www.pennatlantic.com; www.Redzonemedia.com
Internet Video: www.pennatlantic.com
Livestats: http://mhclions.athleticsite.net/livestats/fb/xlive.htm
The Series: Tusculum leads, 16-8-2.
Last meeting: Tusculum won 38-28 last year.
National rankings: Tusculum is ranked No. 13 in the AFCA coaches poll and No. 13 in the d2football.com media poll.

Game Notes: The No. 13 Tusculum Pioneers are off to their best start in eight seasons as they open South Atlantic Conference play this week as TC makes the short trip over the mountain to take on long-time foe Mars Hill. The Pioneers had to rally from behind in a 39-36 home win over Urbana two weeks ago at Pioneer Field. Tusculum jumped out to a 31-21 halftime lead, but the Blue Knights scored 15 straight points to take a 36-31 advantage. The Pioneers mounted a last minute 80-yard drive, which was capped off by the winning score coming on a six-yard TD reception by Calvin Britt with 24 seconds remaining. Mars Hill dropped a 28-14 decision at NCAA FCS Charleston Southern two weeks ago. Tusculum boasts the top offensive attack in the league, including the No. 3 passing offense in the nation, led by 2009 SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year Bo Cordell. Mars Hill will counter with a dangerous running attack, led by 2009 SAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in running back Jonas Randloph. This week will be the 27th recorded meeting betwee the cross-mountain rivals. The last time Mars Hill defeated Tusculum was in 2002. Tusculum leads the South Atlantic Conference in pass offense (393.5 ypg), total offense (448.8 ypg), first downs (86), sacks by (18) and PAT kicking (14-14, 1.00). Individually, five Pioneers lead the SAC in eight statistical categories. Bo Cordell leads the league in passing (393.5 ypg) and total offense (393.2 ypg). Kicker Gareth Rowlands leads the league in kick scoring (8.8 ppg), field goals (1.75 avg) and PAT kicking percentage (14-14, 1.00). David Little leads the league in sacks, averaging 1.25 per contest, while Boomer Brown is tops in the SAC in fumbles forced (0.50 avg).

Lenoir-Rhyne (3-1) at Newberry (1-2)

Saturday, 4 p.m.
Setzler Field, Newberry, S.C.

Radio: WKDK 1240 AM Jimmie Coggins (play-by-play), Brice Zimmerman (color analyst). WKVS 103.3 FM. Davy Crockett (play-by-play), Jack Huss (color analyst), Ju Ju Phillips (sideline reporter)
Internet Radio: www.wkdk.com; www.Redzonemedia.com
Internet Video: http://newberryathleticsite.com/article.asp?articleID=5194
Livestats: http://newberry.athleticsite.net/live/fb/xlive.htm
The Series: Lenoir-Rhyne leads, 39-29-7
Last meeting: Newberry won 24-21 last year.

Game Notes: Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry meet for the Bishop's Trophy. Newberry has won the last four straight Bishops Trophy games. Lenoir-Rhyne has earned the second-best rushing offense in the nation so far this season behind their "Bear Bone" offense. The wishbone variant has earned 316.2 yards per game on the ground, with 17 rushing touchdowns. The Bears are also ranked first in South Atlantic Conference in scoring defense (15.5 ppg), turnover margin (+1.75), fourth-down conversions (83.3 percent) and passing defense efficiency (91.1). Newberry has strung together five straight winning seasons and won its first-ever South Atlantic Conference Championship in 2006. Quarterback Bryan Ehrlich averages 231 yards passing per game while David Pressley averages 82.7 yards receiving per contest to go along with four touchdowns. This is Homecoming for the Wolves. Newberry safety Ron Parker is the 2009 SAC Defensive Player of the Year and has one interception in 2010.