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2022 CARSON-NEWMAN VS TUSCULUM
An upset-filled Week 5 sends the South Atlantic Conference
into Week 6 with some surprise contenders, and favorites in need of a rebound.
Oct 5,
2022 by Kyle Kensing
Hurricane Ian forced changes to the South
Atlantic Conference's Week 5 schedule — and that has hardly the only upheaval
on the docket.
Beginning with the Thursday doubleheader
moved up from the weekend, Week 5 created chaos in a SAC championship race
that's only just begun. Limestone went into Mars Hill and beat the Lions at
their own style of game, winning a 17-14 defensive struggle.
Tusculum, which had been posting some of
the more impressive offensive numbers in the SAC, was left standing in a 14-13
grinder against Barton. But the most chaotic development of Week 5 came on
Saturday, when Carson-Newman stunned reigning conference champion Newberry,
24-14.
The weekend of upsets leaves just two teams
undefeated in conference play — and they just happen to face off in Week 6,
highlighting the slate of potentially pivotal SAC games.
Limestone
at Lenoir-Rhyne
2022 Limestone vs Lenoir-Rhyne
Limestone's reversal under coach Mike Furrey this season is nothing short of remarkable. The Saints' only loss came Week 1 against FCS opponent Gardner-Webb; since, they've won four straight (a program record) and three in-conference. That matches Limestone's SAC win total over the 2019, spring 2021 and 2021 seasons combined.
Tre Stewart's been outstanding as the
engine driving a much-improved Limestone offense. Stewart is averaging 153.6
rushing yards per game, fourth-best in Div. II, and has accrued 768 yards on
the ground to rank second nationally.
Stewart's 10 total touchdowns (nine
rushing, one receiving) also set the pace for a Limestone bunch scoring almost
36 points per game. The Saints' approach isn't conventional, but playing both
John Seter and Dustin Noller at quarterback has proven effective.
The two-quarterback approach presents an
interesting test for a Lenoir-Rhyne defense that has improved its yield nearly
every week. Since losing Week 2 to reigning national champion Ferris State, the
Bears have held opponents (all in-conference) to 20, 13 and 10 points
Lenoir-Rhyne has also won those game going
away, none with a margin of less than 21 points.
Defensive tackle Andre Jefferson has been
outstanding, racking up 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three quarterback
hurries through Lenoir-Rhyne's first five games.
Running back Dwayne McGee has stepped up
his production on the other side of the ball after an underwhelming first two
games, rolling up more than 300 yards with five rushing touchdowns in the
Bears' three conference wins.
