Football picked seventh in preseason SAC poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Mars Hill football team has been picked to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference by league coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The Lions picked up 26 votes.

Mars Hill returns 11 starters from 2010, including two preseason All-Americans in tailback Jonas Randolph and middle linebacker Rudy Cabral. Randolph has led the league in rushing for two consecutive seasons, while Cabral led the South Atlantic Conference with 104 total tackles in 2010.

Mars Hill opens the 2011 campaign hosting the University of Charleston (W. Va.) on September 3. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

Defending South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the 2011 SAC title. The season officially gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 1, with conference play starting Sept. 17.

Stay engaged with SAC football all season long on Facebook and Twitter. The preseason All-SAC team will be released Thursday.

Team Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Wingate 52 (4)
2. Carson-Newman 49
3. Lenoir-Rhyne 42 (2)
4. Tusculum 40 (2)
5. Catawba 38
6. Newberry 33
7. Mars Hill 26
8. Brevard 8