FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Hawks88]

BSC was a very solid looking team when they beat us so that loss to LaGrange is hard to comprehend. They must have made a great deal of improvement from game 1 to game 2.

[Wild Horse Rider]

I think you have to chalk up Birmingham's week one loss to being week one.  They had 3 turnovers to LaGrange's one.  They also had 120 penalty yards.  Birmingham held Huntingdon to it's worst offensive output of the season.  If you look at from the comparative scoring side (which I think is more for fun than actually being able to determine something about a team) you have this:

Birmingham loses to LaGrange 29-14
Birmingham beats Huntingdon 45-13
Birmingham loses to Hendrix  34-24
Birmingham beats Berry 28-15
Berry beats Hendrix 27-9
Berry beats Maryville 31-10
Berry beats LaGrange 34-9
Huntingdon beats Maryville 45-35
Huntingdon VS LaGrange 11/16
Maryville VS LaGrange 10/26

SO.....
Birmingham is clearly better than Berry and Huntingdon but worse than Hendrix and LaGrange
Berry is clearly better than LaGrange, Hendrix, and Maryville but worse than Birmingham
Hendrix is better than Birmingham but worse than Berry
Huntingdon is better than Maryville but worse than Birmingham (TBD on LaGrange)
LaGrange is better than Birmingham and worse than Berry (TBD on Huntingdon and Maryville)
Maryville is worse than Berry and Huntingdon (TBD on LaGrange)

You could also throw Centre in this mix who has wins against Maryville and Hendrix on the season to go along with three close losses by a total of 17 points.  Centre also has games pending against Birmingham and Berry.  I don't know if any of this actually helps sort anything out but it was interesting to me.

[Hawks88]

Yeah, you can get a headache trying to make anything from all that. There's really not much comparative scoring between Averette and HC since the three conference teams we have played are the three they are yet to play and vice-versa. The closest I can find is we beat Guilford by 26 who lost to Randolph-Macon by 13 who beat Averette by 3. Whatever you can take from that, all I know is that we need to get the W to keep our fate in our own hands since I don't see Averette losing two out of three to Maryville, Brevard, and Methodist.

[Wild Horse Rider]

It is tough to judge the "Western Division" of the USAC vs the "Eastern Division" since there is typically not as much crossover in the non-conference opponents.  It seems like now you get the Maryville/Huntingdon/LaGrange VS the SAA and the Greensboro/Averett/NCWC/Methodist VS the ODAC.  Anyone can pick up a game against Apprentice if needed.  So far it looks like Brevard will take anyone that will play them.  I can't imagine Guilford or Huntingdon will be excited to keep that series going due to the travel for a OOC game.  I think someone said earlier this season on the boards that E&H is done playing Maryville which is a shame since they are relatively close to each other and should have shared recruiting areas.

[AU12345]

In regards to our of conference games. I've heard rumors that Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon both are dropping Averett from their non-conference schedule. Rumors also say that we will now play Christopher Newport (who was a former USA South school) and Top 25 Salisbury. So two new faces the cougars will face in 2020. I feel like CNU should be a win for us and Salisbury will rn the better of the two match ups.

[MRMIKESMITH]

In regards to our of conference games. I've heard rumors that Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon both are dropping Averett from their non-conference schedule. Rumors also say that we will now play Christopher Newport (who was a former USA South school) and Top 25 Salisbury. So two new faces the cougars will face in 2020. I feel like CNU should be a win for us and Salisbury will rn the better of the two match ups.

That is awesome. I'm elated with that as that would get us back to 10 games as long as the MAC/NJAC challenge remains. Would be a nice touch-up to boost your name recognition and SOS.

Also, I would have to check with the ODAC board on why the change. Is it a private vs. public issue?

[AU12345]

A lot of interesting matchups this week. Here are my predictions.

1. Methodist @ Greensboro (Methodist wins 35-10)
Even though Greensboro kept it close in the first half with Lagrange, i still don't think they get the job done. The freshman duo for Methodist is playing very well and their run game is hitting their stride. Methodist wins this one easy.

2. Brevard @ NC Wesleyan (Wesleyan wins 24-20)
Brevard had Huntingdon on the ropes last week but gave the game away late as they let a run go for 85 to the house on a 3rd & 5 with 3 mins left in the game. Wesleyan's running attack is one of the best in the league with their two headed change-of-pace backs with Curley and Black. If Brevard can jump on them early in the pass game it may be a different ball game but I think Wesleyan wins in a close one at home.

3. Lagrange @ Maryville (Lagrange wins 17-10)
Lagrange's front 7 is somewhat underrated, their nose guard is one of the best in the conference and they have speed everywhere. Maryville won their first game against Methodist last week but they need to establish an air attack to win games. This game is going to be close all game but Lagrange pulls away late.

4. Averett @ Huntingdon (Averett wins 35-17)
Last but not the least, the game most will be keeping their eye on this week. Both teams are undefeated in conference play so someone will go home with a loss. We take the 8 hour bus ride down to Montgomery to play a good Hawks team. Otis Porter is the key to the game. If he has a big game, the Hawks win, if we can limit his impact, we can come out with a win. Averett's running game finally got going with getting a RB over 100 in a game for the first time this season, so look for us to get that going early. It'll be a battle of the two best passing offenses in the Conference, it comes down to the secondary, which one will get a stop first?  Not sure what the weather will be like but I'm looking
forward to a great game.

Good luck to everyone and their respective teams

[Hawks88]

4. Averett @ Huntingdon (Averett wins 35-17)
Last but not the least, the game most will be keeping their eye on this week. Both teams are undefeated in conference play so someone will go home with a loss. We take the 8 hour bus ride down to Montgomery to play a good Hawks team. Otis Porter is the key to the game. If he has a big game, the Hawks win, if we can limit his impact, we can come out with a win. Averett's running game finally got going with getting a RB over 100 in a game for the first time this season, so look for us to get that going early. It'll be a battle of the two best passing offenses in the Conference, it comes down to the secondary, which one will get a stop first?  Not sure what the weather will be like but I'm looking
forward to a great game.

Good luck to everyone and their respective teams

80% chance of rain with a chance of a thunderstorm. High near 79.

By the way, last week Otis Porter became Huntingdon's career leader in receiving yards, currently at 2,675 yds.

Go Hawks!

[Wild Horse Rider]

That's what everyone is looking forward to in late October is a wet, hot game in Alabama.  The only thing I request is no lightning delays.  See what you can do about that Hawks

[Hawks88]

Here you go. 

(removed the outdated attachment/pc)

[Hawks88]

I guess it didn't take. The possible thunderstorm is back. 

[Wild Horse Rider]

The Monarchs are going to go into half with a 2 score lead but it could be so much more. Almost 100 penalty yards in the first half and an under thrown INT

[DGPugh]

I watched it on the computer
Great game either way. The Hawks came out on top, but AU is a really good team with no quit.
I hope AU wins the rest of the season, and we can play well at Greensboro

Go Hawks

[Hawks88]

Terrific football game between two evenly matched teams. Windy first half and rainy second half. Otis Porter with another big game, 10 catches for 194 yds and 2 tds. I especially liked the one in the 4th quarter when the DB tried to go ahead and tackle him in the end zone before the ball got there and he stayed up and caught it anyway.
Coach Adams has done a really good job building up that Averett program and I can see them being a tough foe to deal with for a long while.
Hawks just need to win 2 of the last 3 to get the AQ. I didn't want to say it until we got this one behind us but if we can go ahead and get the AQ I sure would like to see the rematch if Birmingham-Southern can win out.

Go Hawks!

[MRMIKESMITH]

Terrific football game between two evenly matched teams. Windy first half and rainy second half. Otis Porter with another big game, 10 catches for 194 yds and 2 tds. I especially liked the one in the 4th quarter when the DB tried to go ahead and tackle him in the end zone before the ball got there and he stayed up and caught it anyway.
Coach Adams has done a really good job building up that Averett program and I can see them being a tough foe to deal with for a long while.
Hawks just need to win 2 of the last 3 to get the AQ. I didn't want to say it until we got this one behind us but if we can go ahead and get the AQ I sure would like to see the rematch if Birmingham-Southern can win out.

Go Hawks!

I don't think they would do a rematch first round, however since you are only 95 miles apart and you aren't conference members, it seems likely if they beat Trinity. Otherwise, you'll most likely be stuck in the travel pod with Redlands, Chapman, UMHB, NWC Champion, SAA Champion.