Lions Picked to Finish Fifth in Preseason Poll, Six Players Named to All-SAC Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Mars Hill has been picked to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference by the league's coaches in a preseason poll released today. Additionally, six Lions were named to the Preseason All-SAC team

The Lions picked up 25 points in the poll, placing them between Wingate (31 points) and Catawba (21 points. Mars Hill begins the 2014 campaign on the road Saturday, September 6 against West Georgia at 2 p.m.  League play begins on Saturday, September 27 as the Newberry Wolves visit Meares Stadium and Ammons Family Athletic Center for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Last season, Mars Hill went 3-8 overall with a 1-6 mark in the league.

Mars Hill placed four players on the Preseason All-SAC First Team Offense in senior wide receiver Dimitri Holmes, senior running back Shaikel Davis, redshirt junior offensive lineman Denzel Goode and redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Allison. In 2013, Holmes set a single-season school record with 1,591 receiving yards while hauling in 15 touchdowns. Davis was the league leader with 1,274 rushing yards, while Goode earned a spot as a first team offensive lineman last season. Allison was an All-SAC honoree for the third consecutive year in 2013.

Senior defensive lineman Johnny Maxey earned Preseason All-SAC Second Team defensive recognition. Maxey was eighth in the league with 5.5 sacks a year ago and was fourth on the team with 60 tackles. Senior linebacker Jasper Mason joins Maxey on the All-SAC Second Team.  Mason missed the majority of the 2013 season due to injury.

The league's coaches selected Carson-Newman as the preseason favorite as the Eagles recorded 46 points and received four first place votes. In 2013, Carson-Newman went 10-3 and finished in a tie for second place in the league.

2013 National Runner-Up Lenoir Rhyne trailed Carson-Newman by one point for first place, tallying 45 points with four first place votes. The Bears went 13-2 overall and posted an unblemished 7-0 league record.

Newberry was the third place pick with 36 points. The Wolves went 9-3 last season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Wingate came in fourth after finishing 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the league to tie for fourth place in 2013.

Trailing Mars Hill was Catawba (21 points), Tusculum (13 points) and Brevard (7 points).

The 2014 South Atlantic Conference football season begins on Thursday, September 6 as Carson-Newman and Tusculum are in action at home at 7 p.m.

Rk Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Carson-Newman (4) 46
2. Lenior-Rhyne (4) 45
3. Newberry 36
4. Wingate 31
5. Mars Hill 25
6. Catawba 21
7. Tusculum 13
8. Brevard 7

2014 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference football teams

All-SAC First Team Offense 
QB - W.T. Murden, Newberry
RB - Shaikel Davis, Mars Hill
RB - Jarrod Spears, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB - Isiah Whitaker, Lenior-Rhyne
WR - Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
WR - Justin Houston, Tusculum
WR - Deon Hicks, Tusculum
OL - Denzell Goode, Mars Hill
OL - Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Taylor Fender, Catawba
OL - Will Poteat, Wingate
OL - Nick Allison, Mars Hill
TE - Wesley Powell, Tusculum
LS - Dusty Nance, Carson-Newman
P - Kyle Clark, Newberry
PK - Patrick Smith, Wingate

All-SAC First Team Defense 
DL - Blake Baker, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL - Javaris Neal, Carson-Newman
DL - Nick Napolitano, Wingate
DL - Jonathan Jean, Catawba
LB - Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB - Edmond Robinson, Newberry
LB - Michael Gruber, Brevard
LB - Jason Taylor, Catawba
DB - Eien Jacob, Carson-Newman
DB - O'Neil Blake, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB - Jon Jimenez, Wingate
DB - Dante Thomas, Carson-Newman
RS - Andre Overholt, Brevard

All-SAC Second Team Offense
QB - De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman
RB - Kelvin Jeter, Brevard
RB - Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman
RB - Cary Littlejohn, Catawba
WR - Jordan Berry, Wingate
WR - Anthony Eubanks, Carson-Newman
WR - Byron Dickerson, Newberry
OL - Landon Martin, Newberry
OL - Robbie Ignagni, Carson-Newman
OL - Evan Sobocinski, Newberry
OL - Billy Munker, Tusculum
OL - Mathu Gibson, Wingate
TE - Brandon Ellington, Wingate
LS - Andrew Smith, Newberry
P - Charlie Ray, Carson-Newman
PK - Kyle Clark, Newberry

All-SAC Second Team Defense 
DL - William Alderman, Carson-Newman
DL - Johnny Maxey, Mars Hill
DL - Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
DL - Steven Jacobs, Wingate
LB - Rodney Singleton, Lenior-Rhyne
LB - Jasper Mason, Mars Hill
LB - Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
LB - Wayne Soliai, Tusculum
DB - Joe Anderson, Lenior Rhyne
DB - Jakeem Polk, Wingate
DB - LiRonta Archie, Tusculum
DB - Lance Richardson, Newberry
RS - TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman