FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[BSCpanthers]

Those day games in September are brutal to the players and fans.  That turf just absorbs the heat and gets insanely hot.

[scottiedoug]

USASouth split. New conference info here:

https://www.mcscots.com/general/2022-23/releases/20220713lm1gj3

[BSCpanthers]

Football members will continue to play in USA South.  Will be interesting to see if the new conference does jump into the football business once the 6 team rule takes effect. 

[D O.C.]

Huntingdon vs. LINFIELD is just great for the Oregon program.
We aren't sure what we have but the LINFIELD name usually comes ready to play.

[Hawks88]

Football members will continue to play in USA South.  Will be interesting to see if the new conference does jump into the football business once the 6 team rule takes effect.

Would need 3 more football programs, 1 in the east and 2 in the west. I'm not sure any of the existing conference members would want to add football. Of course, twenty something years ago I never imagined Huntingdon would have football so I guess anything is possible.

[Hawks88]

Huntingdon vs. LINFIELD is just great for the Oregon program.
We aren't sure what we have but the LINFIELD name usually comes ready to play.

I've really been looking forward to this game. I always enjoy seeing how we measure up in these type games. 48 days!
Are you making the trip?

Go Hawks!

[Wild Horse Rider]

Well if I understand the new rules as they have changed over the last few years Belhaven and SoVa likely report to campus today and start camp tomorrow.  Everyone else likely reports tomorrow and starts camp on Thursday.  The new acclimation period is 6 days which puts the first day of full pads next Tuesday for the bulk of the teams.  Only 8 days of full pads prior to the first game.  This will make it tough for any team relying on youth on either line of scrimmage.  Don't get me wrong I am all for the safety of the kids but not sure I would have felt prepared as a player.  This could be an advantage to the teams that return the most experience as well as the teams that have the best teachers as coaches.  I can smell it in the air as the saying goes.  I hope all the teams have a safe and productive camp and do the dang thing in the OOC schedule.  I think we will learn a lot about:

Huntingdon- plays Linfield and BSU in OOC both ranked in the D3 pre-season poll
Maryville- plays Centre and Berry in OOC
NCWC- plays Randy Mac and Bridgewater OOC
Belhaven- plays Millsaps and Southwestern OOC

[Hawks88]

Huntingdon started classes on Monday so everyone is already reported to campus. I'm just waiting on an updated roster to be posted but I assume it won't be up until at least after the first practice on Thursday. The other fall sports seem to be updated but they've probably already started practicing as they mostly have games scheduled on 9/1.
We should have plenty of experience back and shouldn't have to count on too many of the first year guys to have to step in immediately. I know of 2 guys who were supposed to be coming back for their covid-5th year but won't know if there are more until I see the roster.

Definitely looking forward to seeing how we do those first two games.

Go Hawks!

[Hawks88]

Ask and you shall receive, I guess. New roster has been posted but not totally updated. New guys don't have numbers or positions listed yet but I see 165 total; 22 Srs, 27 Jrs, 39 Sophs, and 77 Fr. There are 3 likely transfers as 1 Soph and 2 Jrs are new and don't have numbers and positions.

I see three 5th year guys listed: Karl Dorn, LB, who I knew was coming back; Zack Self, H, who I thought I heard was coming back but not sure; and Cole Starr, PK, who was out with injury last year and I remember now was likely to come back. There's a fourth Sr who was listed as a Sr last year, Matt McCree, RB, who didn't see any action and isn't on any rosters before last year. I was told that Fred Flavors, DB, was coming back but he isn't listed. I don't know if he decided not to come back or if he was omitted accidentally.

[Pat Coleman]

Flavors has elected to take his extra year at Samford.

[Hawks88]

Flavors has elected to take his extra year at Samford.

Thanks, Pat. Obviously not aware of that. Hopefully he does well. Not sure why they have him listed as a junior? lol

[Wild Horse Rider]

I have started my deep dive into the preseason of the USAC.  I will start with my team.
Methodist finished 2021 7-2 (lost one game due to COVID) and sole place of second in the conference.  The outlook for 2022 looks pretty good in my opinion. 
Starting on offense the Monarchs return All-Conference QB Bullins who is a RS-Super JR.  He progressively got better as the season went on last year and I hope for similar growth this year.  He is joined in the backfield by returning all-conference/all-region JR RB Pete and SR RB Eaddy.  They are fortunate to have all 5 OL returning highlighted by a trio of SRs with the C Wiggins (all-region/all-conference).  The WR room takes a hit with the graduation of McNeil and I believe the SO Cooper didn't make it back.  That said there is still talent headlined by the SR WR/RET and reigning STPOTY Praylow. 
On defense the Monarchs will rely on their safetys led by Hill and Grady.  The LBers will be led by Supper-SR Christian.  The DL has two very talented bookends in Voyles and Boyd.  Returning at CB is the SO all-conference performer Grate.  There does not appear to be a ton of returning depth on that side of the ball. 
The Monarchs should be able to beat Shenandoah and Guilford but the W&L game is a toss up in my opinion in the OOC schedule.  We do have the advantage of hosting it in Fayetteville when it is still going to be 90 in the shade at kickoff.  We host 2 of the top 3 other teams in conference starting with Belhaven who I am going to have to learn more about as the season progresses.  That is followed by a trip to Brevard the next week.  Then the matchup of the two top returning teams in conference happens on Homecoming Oct 22nd in NC VS the Hawks. 

I think 7 and 3 is the lowest this team should finish baring injuries (at least on paper) and it shapes up for Methodist to compete for their first run at the playoffs in my opinion.  I believe this team will go as far as the strong right arm of their signal caller can take them.

I will try and look at the other teams as we inch closer to week one.

[BSCpanthers]

BSC scrimmaged at LaGrange today.  From what I've hear we "won" the scrimmage 7-6 for a half of play, then they went into a 7-on-7 play.  If any LaGrange people were there, let me know how we all looked.

[Hawks88]

The USA South preseason poll was released yesterday.

1.   Huntingdon* (6)   62
2.   Brevard (1)   51
3.   Methodist   49
4.   Belhaven (2)   48
5.   N.C. Wesleyan   34
6.   Maryville   33
7.   LaGrange   21
8.   Southern Virginia   17
9.   Greensboro   9

https://www.usasouth.net/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20220817hm1muc

[Wild Horse Rider]

Deep dive #2 - Huntingdon 1st in conference in 2021 (8-0) and represented the conference in the playoffs

The Hawks return a ton off of last years conference winner.  Most importantly is reigning OPOTY at QB Cotney.  He is joined in the backfield by a returning all-conference runner and the #2 and #3 rushers.  The all-conference HB/TE Self is back for what feels like his 10th season.  The best WR didn't make it back but other starters did.  Up front it looks like only 2 starters return but one was an all-conference performer.  The defense will be anchored by 3 starters at LBer.  Half of the secondary is back and 2 returning DL.  The K and P are back as well.

The Hawks have without a doubt the toughest non-conference matchups highlighted by Linfield and Birmingham Southern (the Hawks owe BSU for the 2 losses last season).  A split would be great but even 1-2 heading into conference play doesn't mean that the sky is falling in Alabama.  They get Belhaven and Brevard at home while having to travel to Methodist towards the end of October.  The bye falls right in the middle of the schedule and directly before the Brevard game.

Huntington has won at least a piece of 5 of the last 7 conference championships and there is no reason the expectations will not be the same in 2022.  I believe the worst case scenario is 7-3 and if they can catch the Wildcats by surprise in week one (I think Linfield is breaking in a new QB) then lookout for the Hawks this season.