SCAC teams open in style
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Rose-Hulman SID
The South Region opened play this weekend with Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference teams showing balance by compiling a 3-1 record in non-conference action, including two victories against American Southwest Conference squads.
The SCAC league schedule opened with a minor upset in Greencastle, as Rhodes College upended DePauw University 33-14. Rhodes returns 20 starters from a 5-5 squad last season and utilized their experience to gain an opening day win against a squad predicted second in the SCAC.
Other SCAC schools gaining victories were Trinity University (28-13 over Mary Hardin-Baylor), Millsaps College (27-20 over Austin) and Sewanee (14-0 over Hampden-Sydney). Washington University defeated Rose-Hulman 25-13 in the only non-conference SCAC defeat.
Last weekend's key South Region games:
RHODES 33, DEPAUW 14 -- Rhodes (1-0) pulled away from a 10-7 halftime lead to earn a 33-14 victory at DePauw University (0-1) in the SCAC opener for both schools. Lynx quarterback Pat Williams completed 10 of 25 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the ground attack with 70 yards on 15 carries. Corliss Givens highlighted the victory for Rhodes with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown.
TRINITY 28, MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 13 -- The host Mary Hardin-Baylor Tigers (0-1) battled the number two ranked Trinity Tigers for much of the contest before falling by a 28-13 score. Trinity (1-0) was paced by returning Melberger Award winning quarterback Michael Burton, who completed 29 of 43 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 25, ROSE-HULMAN 13 -- Senior running back Larry Foster churned out 132 yards on 24 carries, while junior quarterback Greg Lake completed 15 of 26 passes for 186 yards to lead the host Bears (1-0) over Rose-Hulman (0-1). Defensive back Josh Hulett highlighted the contest for Rose-Hulman by returning an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
Other regional games
MCMURRY 50, SUL ROSS STATE 25 - A non-conference ASC game between two ASC schools. McMurry (1-0) battles Trinity (1-0) in next week's key contest.
MILLSAPS 27, AUSTIN 20 - Millsaps advanced the SCAC record to 2-0 against ASC squads. The Majors look to bounce back from a 3-7 campaign in 1998; Austin hopes to improve on a 4-6 mark.
HOWARD PAYNE 17, MIDLAND LUTHERAN 13 - Howard Payne, considered a dark horse for the ASC championship, opened its season with a 17-13 victory over NAIA Midland Lutheran.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 30, STILLMAN 7 - Stillman's first football game in more than 30 years ended in a 30-7 defeat to Division II Arkansas-Monticello. Stillman is reinstituting the program this year as an independent.
Next week's key games
Another ASC/SCAC battle emerges when MCMURRY (1-0) travels to TRINITY (1-0) for a 7 p.m. shootout in San Antonio.
HARDIN-SIMMONS, considered a key contender in the ASC race, travels to national power Wisconsin-Whitewater for its season opener.
SCAC league action continues when ROSE-HULMAN (0-1) hosts SEWANEE (1-0) in Terre Haute.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE opens its season at home against STILLMAN (0-1)
RHODES (1-0) looks to build on its momentum from the season-opening win at DePauw, hosting MARYVILLE (TENN.) in a non-conference contest.