Lions Tabbed to Finish Fourth in Conference

ROCK HILL, S.C.—Mars Hill's football team was picked to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference by the league's coaches in a poll that was released Monday.

The Lions tallied 39 points in the poll, which placed them between third-place Wingate (48) and Newberry (34). MHU is coming off a season in which the Lions finished 6-4 overall and tied for second-place in the SAC with a 5-2 league record. Mars Hill opens their season Sep. 7 when they host West Georgia at 1:00 p.m. in Meares Stadium. League play opens Sep. 28 with an evening road date at Newberry.

Mars Hill will return five of seven all-conference selections from a year ago, led by SAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Troy Harris. The rising-senior defensive end totaled 84 tackles last season, including a team-high 12 for loss. He is the Lions' only returning defensive all-conference selection from a year ago. Harris has already been tabbed a Preseason All-American by BSN.

On the offensive side of the ball, MHU returns three First-Team All-SAC selections in wide receiver Dimitri Holmes, offensive lineman Nick Allison and running back Shaikel Davis. Holmes caught 71 passes for 992 yards and scored eight touchdowns last season. Allison was part of an offensive line that opened up holes for Davis, who rushed for 1,173 yards on 236 carries.

Second-Team All-SAC wide receiver Deunta Jennings also returns to help form an experienced and dangerous wideout tandem alongside Holmes. Jennings led the conference in averaging 18.8 yards per catch as a sophomore and totaled 866 yards receiving last year.

Key players that will have to be replaced include All-SAC defensive members Mam Nyang and Rudy Cabral, as well as three-year starting quarterback Jon Richt.

2012 NCAA Football Championship quarterfinalist Carson-Newman was tabbed by SAC coaches as the favorite to win the conference title in 2013. The Eagles finished 9-3 last season, falling to eventual champion Valdosta State in the quarterfinal round. C-N received four first-place votes.

Lenoir-Rhyne also received four first-place votes, but finished four points behind Carson-Newman in the poll. The Bears won the SAC Title last season and ranked second in the nation in rushing offense.

Wingate followed with 48 points in third-place. The Bulldogs finished 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play last season.

Following Mars Hill and rounding out the poll were Newberry (34), Tusculum (26), Catawba (19) and Brevard (8). The preseason poll is listed below.

2013 SAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

Place. Team- Points (First-Place Votes)

1. Carson-Newman- 59 (4)
2. Lenoir-Rhyne- 55 (4)
3. Wingate- 48
4. Mars Hill- 39
5. Newberry- 34
6. Tusculum- 26
7. Catawba- 19
8. Brevard- 8