FB: Southern Athletic Association

Ron Boerger · September 28, 2022, 08:10:36 AM

News and notes from the conference office:

POTW:

Offense: Luke Macias / Rhodes / Sr. / Fort Worth, Texas Macias threw for 216 yards and a touchdown in leading Rhodes to a 56-6 win over Westminster. He hit on 14 of 17 passes, including a 26-yard TD throw in the third quarter to put the Lynx ahead 49-0. On the ground, Macias totaled three carries for 33 yards, including a 24-yard scramble.

Defense: Garrett Smith / Birmingham-Southern / Sr. / Mobile, Ala. Smith was all over the field for BSC in a 34-14 win over Point University. The senior defensive lineman totaled five tackles, including one for loss. In the fourth, he blew through the Westminster offensive line and recorded a strip sack to force a Point punt. Smith also filled the stat sheet with a pass breakup.

Special Teams: Zach Ford / Birmingham-Southern / Sr. / Calera, Ala. Ford was perfect on all six kicking attempts in the Panthers win over Point University. He was 2-for-2 in field goals, including a 22-yarder and career-long 42-yard bomb in the third quarter, to give BSC a 13-point lead. Ford also hit all four PAT attempts.

Notes:

Just three teams played last week with Rhodes and Birmingham-Southern getting wins to close the non conference season.
Excluding the 2021 spring season, Trinity has won 19-straight regular season games. The Tigers are one of just 39 unbeaten teams remaining in Division III.
Millsaps is one of 34 teams in the nation yet to lose a fumble.
Trinity boasts one of the nation's top overall offenses; ranking 27th in scoring offense at 41.3 points a game, 30th in passing offense with nearly 300 yards a game and sixth in completion percentage. On the other side of the ball, Trinity has the nation's fourth-best rushing defense and 32nd scoring defense at 12.3 points a game. They also lead the nation in kick-off returns at 42.50 yards a game.
BJ Stewart (Trinity) is 12th in the nation with 173 all purpose yards a game; leading the nation in kickoff return yardage. Teammate Tucker Horn is 12th in the nation, hitting 70 percent of his passes.
Jon Lewis (BSC) is seventh in the nation with 131 rushing yards a game.
Jack Colosimo of Centre is averaging one INT a game, the fourth best mark in the country.
In the polls; Trinity ranks No. 5 in the D3football.com poll and No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. Berry received votes in both rankings.

Ron Boerger · September 28, 2022, 10:02:05 AM

This week's games, all teams playing their SAA opener:

#5/#6 Trinity (3-0) at Hendrix (1-2) - on paper this doesn't look like it should be much of a game, but it is a 600-mile bus trip for the visitors. Hendrix, still smarting from giving up 119 to WashU and HPU on the road, hoping for a performance more in line with their 20-0 home opener against Austin (0-3). Trinity will try to get the passing attack back to last year's standard.

Centre (2-1) at Rhodes (2-1) - could be one of the better games of the week. Colonels will try to rebound from a disappointing performance at Trine (4-0) while the Lynx try to continue the momentum that has them on a two-game winning streak, albeit against teams with a combined 0-7 record.

Millsaps (1-2) at Sewanee (2-1) - Tigers could be favored to capture their first SAA win since 2018 against a Major squad with only a win against hapless McMurry on the plus side of the register this season. There's no doubt Millsaps has faced stiffer competition so far, as Sewanee's two wins were against teams with one win between them while the Majors have lost to Belhaven and UW-Oshkosh.

Berry (2-1) at Birmingham-Southern (3-0) - obviously the SAA Game of the Week; the loser will have to win all its remaining games and hope for help to win the SAA's Pool A. A second loss for Berry, who fared much better against UW-Whitewater compared to last year, would push them out of the Pool C conversation. A loss for either would force the team into a must-win situation at Trinity next month (tbh the same is true of the winner).

D3Navy · September 28, 2022, 12:02:08 PM

Great rundown, Ron. Thanks (and for the stat rundown as well)!

awadelewis · September 28, 2022, 10:04:34 PM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on September 28, 2022, 10:02:05 AM
This week's games, all teams playing their SAA opener:
...
Millsaps (1-2) at Sewanee (2-1) - Tigers could be favored to capture their first SAA win since 2018 against a Major squad with only a win against hapless McMurry on the plus side of the register this season. There's no doubt Millsaps has faced stiffer competition so far, as Sewanee's two wins were against teams with one win between them while the Majors have lost to Belhaven and UW-Oshkosh.

This game will be a good test of whether our team is finally starting to turn around a bit after last year's performance. Lot of the current senior class has put some effort into getting the head-space back into a competitive mode but they need a good win in conference to set that edge. I would feel better about it all if we had been more competitive against W&L.

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 09:34:17 AM

Big day for Trinity and the conference's chances at a Pool C bid for the second year in a row. All eyes on the Wheaton vs. North Central matchup to see how Wheaton fares. If they get blown out/its not close, Trinity not going to look near as good in the eyes of voters/NCAA Ranking Committee - although I still don't believe Trinity played its best against Wheaton or has fully hit its top gear offensively this season (homer view of course).

Obviously tons of football left to go this season, but both Trinity and the second-place SAA finisher (which obviously could end up being Trinity) could use a close game/Wheaton victory to hopefully result in a 1st round matchup against someone other than UMHB and a Pool C bid for the conference.

BSCpanthers · October 01, 2022, 12:11:14 PM

That second place will take a huge jump for whoever wins in Birmingham between BSC and Berry.

Ron Boerger · October 01, 2022, 12:17:35 PM

Freaking Hendrix charges for their broadcasts? *&~%$~~!!

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 01:59:40 PM

14-0 Trinity at the half. Very sloppy first half on both sides of the ball. Special teams also not great - blocked a Hendrix FG at the beginning of the 2nd, but next Hendrix possession a tiger gunner got hit in the backside on short punt to give it right back. No clue on the numbers for either team because the stats that Hendrix made me pay for as part of the video package aren't working.

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 02:31:25 PM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on October 01, 2022, 12:17:35 PM
Freaking Hendrix charges for their broadcasts? *&~%$~~!!

If you're going to charge $10 to watch the game, at least have someone actively handling the camera. Anytime the play goes out of the frame, we have no clue what is happening because they are only moving the camera every 1/4 section of the field. The stats not being put up is also annoying, because you have to pay just to view those too. Pretty frustrating.

Trinity's D-line is manhandling Hendrix' O-line, but the cornerbacks are not playing well with penalties/giving up plays.

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 02:48:15 PM

Chaos brewing in Arkansas. 14-7 Trinity with 2:48 left in the 3rd. Hendrix has had the ball almost the entire 3rd quarter. Trinity doing absolutely nothing on offense or through the air. Defensive line for Trinity continuing to allow pretty much nothing, but the secondary and penalties continue to hurt the Tigers.

Good teams are allowed to have bad games, but I wasn't expecting the offense to be able to look this bad against a defense that gave up 67 last week.

D3Navy · October 01, 2022, 02:56:28 PM

Thanks for the updates, tigerguy! Really appreciate it.

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 03:11:30 PM

21-7 Trinity with 6:30 left in the 4th. Trinity's BJ Stewart broke a 40ish yard screen for a TD. Trinity's secondary continues to have major issues covering plays across the middle. Can't tell if its the same DB that they keep picking on, but its a major issue. Despite how amazing the D-line has played, they have at least 4 offsides/neutral zone penalties today that have also kept several drives going for Hendrix. Trinity's D just came up with an INT, and are currently driving inside hendrix' 30 after just picking up a 4th and 4.

Edit: Trinity scored right after I posted this (catch and run) 28-7 Tigers, 5:37 remaining.

tigerguy · October 01, 2022, 03:29:14 PM

28-7 is the final in Arkansas. I really couldn't tell from the broadcast, but based on how short the kickoffs were going (even for D3), I'm inclined to think there was some wind that was causing issues. Hendrix was 0/3 on field goals with one blocked.

Trinity has got to figure out their passing game. Hopefully the key is getting back Austin Bertness, who hasn't played since the first game against Sul Ross. But right now, our pass game is limited to short catches and runs. Horn also hasn't looked himself in the pocket, despite the line giving him ample time. Secondary has some major things to look at after this week. Tons of penalties on both sides of the ball as well.

albatross · October 01, 2022, 03:32:25 PM

honestly seems like an improvement for Hendrix after their last two games. hopefully they can turn a corner and make some noise in the league.

Quote from: tigerguy on October 01, 2022, 03:29:14 PM
28-7 is the final in Arkansas. I really couldn't tell from the broadcast, but based on how short the kickoffs were going (even for D3), I'm inclined to think there was some wind that was causing issues. Hendrix was 0/3 on field goals with one blocked.

Trinity has got to figure out their passing game. Hopefully the key is getting back Austin Bertness, who hasn't played since the first game against Sul Ross. But right now, our pass game is limited to short catches and runs. Horn also hasn't looked himself in the pocket, despite the line giving him ample time. Secondary has some major things to look at after this week. Tons of penalties on both sides of the ball as well.

Ron Boerger · October 01, 2022, 03:43:08 PM

I hope Hendrix didn't pay the clod who was supposedly handling the camera, must have missed a dozen or two plays due to their lack of attention. Enjoyed the broadcasters. Did not enjoy zero live stats. Wish there was a way we could charge fans of other teams who charge us to watch their broadcasts.

Trinity does have some things to figure out on both sides of the ball as TG points out. Our deep passing game has been lacking and the defense took 'bend but not break' to an extreme today. Can't bend that much against better teams. Running game looked good, Michael Jewett was everywhere.

Funny game. UMHB was only up 10-7 on Austin after the first quarter (now 17-7 early Q2).