A look at the region's dark horses
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In the ASC, it is a team with the surname of Hardin and a hyphen in it. The Crusaders of Mary Hardin-Baylor or Hardin-Simmons Cowboys have captured at least a piece of the conference crown in every season this decade and currently rank number three and four in the nation this season.
In the SCAC, it is usually the traditional power from San Antonio, the Trinity Tigers, winners of 14 titles since 1993. Or, as in two of the last three seasons, the Millsaps Majors.
But who are the dark horses? Is there a team or two in either conference that could challenge for a conference crown?
In the SCAC, it is hard to label DePauw a dark horse. Despite the fact they have struggled against Trinity and Millsaps in recent years, the Indiana Tigers have posted a 37-12 mark since 2004 and did share the conference crown with Trinity in 2005 (when a hurricane canceled the game with Trinity in San Antonio). They also return one of the most experienced quarterbacks and receiver corps in the nation. So it wouldn’t a big surprise to see the team from Greencastle, which returns 17 starters, finish atop the SCAC. In fact, some people figure that they’re due.
So despite recent improvement by Austin College, that really leaves Centre as the only dark horse in the SCAC. The Colonels return 17 starters and have posted winning seasons in three of the past four years, including a 7-3 mark last season.
In the their 34-20 come from behind win against Hanover last week, quarterback Tyler Osterman showed he may be one of the top duel threats in the country by passing for 324 yards and rushing for 104. The sophomore was the SCAC newcomer of the year last season, when led the Colonels to a 5-1 stretch to finish the season after starter Grant Conliffe went down for the season.
Conliffe is back for his senior year, but it appears that coach Andy Frye has decided to stay with the hot hand in Osterman. At any rate, it’s always nice to have experienced back up.
The offensive unit returns nine starters in all, including All-SCAC running back Jonathon Pinque and four-of-five starters from offensive line. Pinque did not play on Saturday against Hanover but senior Chase Porter picked up the slack with 79 yards on 17 carries.
On defense, the Colonels allowed just 34 rushing yards and senior linebacker Brian Sneed was named SCAC defensive player of the week. Sneed posted 14 tackles and his fumble recovery in the end zone in the final seconds sealed the victory.
Centre will have to knock off Maryville, who scored only 13 points in a loss to Huntingdon despite rolling up over 500 yards, this weekend before a big conference opener against DePauw. Last season, the Scots topped Centre 20-17 last year.
In the ASC, Mississippi and Louisiana Colleges appear to be the best bets to challenge UMHB and HSU. Both programs share the fact that their 2007 starter at quarterback returns to the field after missing last season.
For the Wildcats, junior Ben McLaughlin sat out last season with personal issues but passed for over 6,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in two previous seasons at the helm. The 6-foot-2 signal-caller was solid last week in his return completing 16 of 27 for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Louisiana College’s impressive 59-21 victory over Bacone. Both of McLaughlin’s scoring passes went to Jordan Rideaux, who is one of the top big-play threats at this level.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Wildcats' sixth consecutive win dating to last season was the way they ran the ball. After averaging just 78 yards a game on the ground a year ago, they rolled up 240 on Saturday. Five returning starters on the offensive line is a key factor.
The defense was among the best statistically in the ASC last season and allowed just 234 yards against Bacone while intercepting four passes. Linebacker Donovan Williams led the way with nine tackles, a forced fumble and interception to earned ASC Defensive Player of the week honors. The senior also ran in a 3-yard touchdown when inserted into the offense’s goal line package.
On special teams, the Wildcats also had a banner week. Rideaux and Detrick James combined for 219 punt and kickoff yards. That included a 95-yard kickoff return by James, who transferred from TCU a couple of years ago.
We should find out if Louisiana College is for real next week. After this weekend off, the Wildcats will travel to Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 19. They should be well rested to take on the Cowboys, who will be coming off two tough non-conference games and a long plane ride back from a west coast game against Linfield. A year ago LC was tied 20-20 with HSU at the end of the third quarter before the Cowboys pulled away to win 36-28.
Meanwhile, Adam Shaffer showed why he was the ASC Preseason Offensive Player of the year in 2008 against Millsaps on Saturday. The senior led the Choctaws to a thrilling 47-44 victory in double overtime after sitting out the last eight games of a year ago with his second season-ending knee injury in three years. Shaffer completed 26 of 33 passes for 236 yards and touchdowns to four different receivers. The victory over a program that earned a high seed in last year’s playoffs could show that Choctaws are ready to challenge.
Shaffer will look to lead the Choctaws past NAIA opponent University of the Cumberlands this week before starting conference play. Last season, Shaffer threw seven interceptions against and injured his knee. A three-game stretch against the ASC’s top contenders begins against Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 26.
Quick Hitters
• ASC Offensive Player of the Week Justin Feaster will lead fourth-ranked Hardin-Simmons against 2004 National Champs Linfield. The senior quarterback accounted for six touchdowns (four passing and two rushing) last week in the Cowboys' 48-31 come-from-behind win against Whitworth.
• East Texas Baptist also has a long trip as the travel to California to take on preseason SCIAC favorite Redlands on Saturday. The Tigers have to be disappointed in their 28-13 loss to UW-LaCrosse. After leading 6-0 at the half, ETBU turned the ball over four times in the second half. Those turnovers led to 21 Eagle points. In order to win this week, the Tigers must execute better on offense. They gained just 200 total yards with their only offensive touchdown coming on a 69-yard scoring pass from Sed Harris to Trevor Cavness.
• The defending regional champion UMHB Crusaders open their season on the road against Southern Nazarene. According to the Temple Daily Telegraph, Bryson Tucker, who rushed for nearly 700 yards in six games last season is moving back to the defensive side of the ball. Tucker had switched during midseason 2008 to boost a running back corps that lost Quincy Daniels and several others to injuries. With Daniels, who rushed for nearly 1,600 yards in 2007, back along with transfers Desmond Mays and Rickie Williams it made sense to move Tucker back in order to get the best athletes on the field. One concern heading into the game is the indefinite suspension of defensive end Brenson Bristow and kicker Alan Munoz. Bristow’s weakens a unit that was probably the most inexperienced on the team entering camp and Munoz is one of the top kickers on the D-III level hitting 8-of-9 field goals from 40 to 49 last year.
• There are two games which feature the ASC vs. the SCAC this week. McMurry, which nearly pulled off a huge upset of Trinity last week, will hosts SCAC Austin (1-0). Could this be the week that the “Indians” pick their first win since 2007? Quarterback Jake Mullin made Hal Mumme’s debut a memorable one by setting a school record with 479 passing yards. McMurry will have to avoid turning the ball over after giving it away five times (four in the fourth quarter) in the 31-26 loss. Austin, who defeated SW Assemblies of God 34-7 last week, beat McMurry 21-14 in overtime last season. Trinity will play a ASC team for the second straight week in traveling to Texas Lutheran. The Tigers have six straight regular season wins against the ASC, including last season’s 24-0 win over the Bulldogs. It is the season opener for TLU. Who will step up at quarterback for Trinity? Jeremy Staska (6-of-14, 96 yards, one TD) and Robert Davidson (4-of-10, 77 yards, one TD) both played last week.
• The two independents covered by Around the South both posted victories in their openers. Josh Stripling’s last second field goal gave LaGrange a 30-27 win over the SCAC's Birmingham-Southern, while Huntingdon defeated Maryville 31-13. Despite giving up over 500 yards, the Hawks used four turnovers and held the Scots to just 2-of-6 in the red zone.
Contact Me
This week, I celebrated my 40th birthday. I want to thank all those who took the time to send me birthday greetings. My travels this week will take me to North Greenville, S.C., to broadcast the Wesley game against the Division II Crusaders. I am flying out of Philadelphia early Saturday morning for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. You can drop me comments at jason.bowen@capital.k12.de.us, on Facebook (www.facebook/jasonbowen3) or on D3boards. I go by my middle name, Conrad, on Post Patterns.