FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Hawks88]

Conference record 5-3
USAC vs ODAC 2-1
USAC vs SAA 1-1

1-7 weekend for the conference, not too good. Sorry we couldn't help a little.

[Wild Horse Rider]

It did not go well for the conference at all this past weekend.  SOVA gave up 7 passing TDs vs Wilmington.  Belhaven carried the flag for the conference.  14 penalties for 137 yards and 3 INTs killed Greensboro.  Very disappointed in the Monarchs in Fayetteville.  Did not run the ball well and did not protect the QB well.  I am going to try and stay positive and say that hopefully Shenandoah has improved.  It looks like Brevard did not return their QB (or he was hurt) and they could not run the ball against Shorter.  Marryville had a good showing against Berry as the game went down to the final seconds (allowing a 50 YD TD pass with 16 seconds left has to hurt though).  Randy Mac did about what I thought they would against NCWC.  I watched a fair amount of the second half of the Huntingdon game.  A few different bounces of the ball and the score could have been different.

I was way off in week one but I will stay positive until proven different
This week:
Greensboro vs Gallaudet- I'm banking on the Pride throwing less than 3 INTs and less than 137 penalty yards
Brevard vs Apprentice- The Ship Builders beat Averett last weekend.  Make it two in a row
SOVA vs Bridgewater- I think SOVA keeps it closer but ultimately starts off 0-2
LaGrange vs Berry- LaGrange has their first game of the season and Berry is coming off a close win
NCWC vs Shenandoah- Shenandoah is 2-0 against the USAC
Maryville vs Centre- I hope Maryville found the answer at QB and get the W this weekend
Methodist vs Guilford- Methodist wins a high scoring game under the lights in Greensboro
Huntingdon vs BSU- The Hawks are mad they let one slip away.  They rally the troupes for a big W
Southwestern vs Belhaven- Only 2-0 team in the league is the newcomer

Conference record week 2 hopefully 5-3
USAC vs ODAC 1-2
USAC vs SAA 2-1

[Ralph Turner]

Congrats Huntingdon, 38-35 winners over B-SC.

[D O.C.]

Way to go, Huntingdon

You did your job.

[BSCpanthers]

Just got home from the BSC-Huntingdon game.  For the first time in 4 years, Huntingdon took home the Wesley Cup, 38-35.  It was a back and forth game with Huntingdon getting the last score to take the victory.  It was a great crowd, BSC really needs to add on to our stadium. 

Congrats to Huntingdon, it's one hurt, but you guys earned it.

[Wild Horse Rider]

Closer last week on my picks but no cigar.  The Hawks and the balance they showed in the air and on the ground will be huge for them this season.  The DL Brown from Belhaven is clearly a monster and hopefully continues his dominance (except against the Monarchs on Oct 1st).  Here's how I see it in week 3:

Bridgewater over NCWC.  The Bishops go 0-3 against the USAC and the scoring margin is not close at all.
Methodist over W&L.  This is likely a homer pick but if the Monarchs can at least slow the General's ground attack I think they stand a chance.  This should be one of the closer games of the weekend.
Randy-Mac over SVU.  Again another lopsided scoring affair.
LaGrange over Ferrum.  I believe this is a tossup but LaGrange was close with Berry at half lase week before the flood gates opened.
Huntingdon over Guilford.  Long trip and a big win.
Shenandoah over Maryville.  I think the Hornets might be pretty good this year.  I would be happy of the Scotts proved me wrong though.
Hampden-Sydney over Greensboro.  Long season for the Pride
Averett over Brevard.  The Tornados look to have taken a step back this year.  I thought on D they would but I also thought the O would be better


Heading into conference play if I am correct (the first two weeks show I likely will not be) we will be looking at:

2-0 Belhaven
2-1 Huntingdon (1 quality win and 1 quality loss)
2-1 Methodist
1-1 LaGrange
0-15 for the rest of the conference

[Hawks88]

Looks as though we're doing the week 3 USAC/ODAC matchups again next year? Same teams playing each other with home field swapped.
I suppose we have to finish the contract but hopefully it's just a two year thing and we can get to the full round robin for conference play. I assume the mention of 2024 is a typo and should be 2023.

https://www.usasouth.net/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20220913mrexfb

[Hawks88]

This has started as the proverbial 'trap game'. Hawks not ready to play today. 3 turnovers in 1st quarter. 7-7 late first.

[Hawks88]

Hawks up 27-7 at the half. Still not playing well offensively with 5 turnovers and way too many penalties.
Defense is playing well. GCQ with 99 yds of offense. 75 of those yards were the TD on the first play of game.

Wishing someone would let the announcer know that we are the Hawks, not Red Hawks.

[Hawks88]

47-7 final at Guilford. After a rough start by the offense we ended up with 573 yds to 150 for Guilford. Our defense played an awesome game after that first play.
Get home and clean up those 6 turnovers and get ready for a big one with Belhaven next week.

Go Hawks!

[Cowboy2]

Get home and clean up those 6 turnovers and get ready for a big one with Belhaven next week.

Go Hawks!

That should be a fun one to watch!

[Wild Horse Rider]

OOC is finished and here is how I believe the conference stacks up:

1. Huntingdon- The Hawks have picked up where they left off last season.  A close loss to a perennial playoff team to start the season followed up by two wins where the offense showed what a returning OPOTY at QB can do for you.  If they can beat Belhaven next week at home I would expect a 9-1 finish in the regular season and maybe an outside shot at hosting a playoff game

2. Belhaven- This weekend will be the tale of the tape for the conference newcomer.  If they can beat the Hawks in Huntingdon then I believe running the table will be a realistic option.  A 9-1 season would be nothing to sneeze at but with the OOC schedule and where the conference ranks nationally no at large bid will be available.

3-5. Then there appears to be a rather large gap till you get to the third best team and I believe there are 2 or maybe three teams that fit that bill.  You have Maryville (0-3) and Methodist (1-2) who might be ok.  I believe the best the Scotts and the Monarchs can do is play spoiler to either of the first two teaks on the list.  The crazy thing is that they do not play in the regular season so there will be no way to determine which team is better.  Lagrange is a team that is possibly in the running here and they are playing Methodist this coming Saturday.

6. Brevard- I still believe in the coaching for the Tornadoes so there is time to right the ship but there has been little to no offensive output for the first three weeks.

7-8 Both SVU and Greensboro are giving up about 50 PPG on defense but I think both offenses have the ability to score so they should have a punchers chance any given week.

9. NCWC- This looks like it's going to be a long season for the Battling Bishops.  They did play three very good ODAC teams but only scored 2 TDs in those three games to go along with allowing about 50 PPG on defense

I never want to say anyone's season is over after the first three weeks as teams are allowed to grow and improve but this is how I see it from the outside looking in.  With that being said what a matchup in Montgomery this weekend!

[Ralph Turner]

1. Huntingdon- The Hawks have picked up where they left off last season.  A close loss to a perennial playoff team to start the season followed up by two wins where the offense showed what a returning OPOTY at QB can do for you.  If they can beat Belhaven next week at home I would expect a 9-1 finish in the regular season and maybe an outside shot at hosting a playoff game

I agree.

Berry appears to be a strong contender now.

I can imagine these 1-loss teams in the South if these games fell this way.

UMHB (UWW - WIAC winner)
HSU (UMHB - ASC winner)
Hunt (Linfield - NWC winner)
TUTx (Berry - SAA winner)

Does Huntingdon host or go to Berry?  This should be fun.

Lots of season is left.

[Cowboy2]

I agree.

UMHB (UWW - WIAC winner)
HSU (UMHB - ASC winner)
Hunt (Linfield - NWC winner)
TUTx (Berry - SAA winner)

Does Huntingdon host or go to Berry?  This should be fun.

Lots of season is left.

Love these type of scenarios. The ASC will play out this weekend as will USAC.

But.....
Say HSU, Berry, Belhaven do all win.
Huntington could still have an outside chance if BSC finishes second in SAA 8-2, "if" they only lost to Huntingdon and Berry....as in BSC/Centre/Berry knock each other and Trinity out.

Huntingdon would then be going against an 8-2 UMHB team for one of the final at large bids.  Probably more realistic if BSC goes 9-1 and is the SAA winner. You'd have to consider Huntingdon at 8-2.

Berry and UMHB would need For sure need UWW to win out for strength of schedule in order to host.....Cause if they don't win the WIAC, Linfield has to then be ranked higher and that would help huntingdon at that point in the season. If not would a 9-1 Berry or 9-1 UMHB be shipped off to 10-0 belhaven or maybe to an 10-0 R-MC?

If HSU wins they would host a 9-1 Trinity. UMHB 8-2 would have to travel to 9-1 Huntingdon. 9-1 Berry gets sent Linfield....eliminates regular season match ups and conference 1st round match ups.

Who knows though. Every team controls their own destiny. I do commend all three conferences, ASC, SAA, & USAC for playing some good OOC games early on. I don't think the committee can neglect a 1 or possibly 2 loss runner up from any of these conferences now.

Now if Centre wins out, that could reshuffle everything because of their proximity to some of the northern teams.

[Inkblot]

Huntingdon is within 600 miles of Mount St. Joseph (HCAC favorite), Greenville (UMAC favorite), and DePauw (defending NCAC champion).