Mars Hill Picked to Finish Sixth in SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C.- Mars Hill has been picked to finish in a tie for sixth place in the South Atlantic Conference by the league's coaches in a preseason poll released today.

The Lions along with Wingate earned 27 points in the poll to finish tied for sixth place. In 2014, Mars Hill posted a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 league mark to finish in fourth place.

Lenoir-Rhyne was chosen to win the league as the Bears recorded six first place votes and 55 points. Carson-Newman was chosen to be the runner-up with 51 points and two first place votes. Newberry was picked to finish third (39 points), followed by Catawba in fourth (37 points) and Tusculum in fifth (30 points). Brevard earned 14 points to round out the preseason poll in eighth place.

The 2015 South Atlantic Conference football season gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 3 with Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne in action.  The rest of the League's teams kick it off on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Mars Hill will open the season with road games at Western Carolina (Sept. 5, 7 p.m.) and Chattanooga (Sept. 12, 1 p.m.) before the home opener against Limestone on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.

Rk Team (first-place votes)                   Points

1. Lenoir-Rhyne (6)                                       55

2. Carson-Newman (2)                                  51

3. Newberry                                                   39

4. Catawba                                                      37

5. Tusculum                                                    30

6. Mars Hill                                                     27

    Wingate                                                      27

8. Brevard                                                       14