Trinity-Sewanee showdown
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The unlikely paths of the University of the South (Sewanee) and Trinity University cross this weekend in a showdown at Sewanee, Tenn. Sewanee, picked fifth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll, can earn its first conference championship since 1992 and claim an automatic bid to the NCAA III Football Playoffs with an upset of No. 2 Trinity.
The "Battle of the Tigers" features two teams that have reached the championship game by taking different roads. Sewanee (5-3, 4-1 SCAC) reached the championship game on the ground. They lead the SCAC in rushing offense with a 269.9 yard-per-game average and have 22 rushing touchdowns this season. Quarterback Max Fuller and fullback Brian Morrison have combined for more than 1,000 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
Trinity (8-0, 4-0 SCAC) vaulted near the top of the AFCA Coaches Poll with the arm of senior quarterback Michael Burton, but has remained atop the league standings with a balanced game featuring running back Damond Garza. Burton leads the SCAC with 2,053 passing yards and 21 touchdowns this season, while Garza leads the league in rushing with 770 yards and four scores.
Meanwhile, the American Southwest Conference race continues towards its probable climax next weekend when No. 8 Hardin-Simmons battles No. 24 McMurry. Hardin-Simmons (8-0, 5-0 ASC) won last season's league title with an overtime win against McMurry (6-1, 5-0 ASC). The two will enter a conference championship game next Saturday if both teams remained unbeaten in ASC play Saturday.
Last weekend's key South Region games:
TRINITY 45, RHODES 17: Trinity punched its ticket to this week's showdown at Sewanee with a convincing win against Rhodes in Memphis. Burton completed 25 of 35 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown, leading a 511-yard Trinity offensive attack. Garza rushed for 107 yards on 22 carries, while linebacker Todd Swint led the defense with 11 tackles and one fumble recovery.
SEWANEE 35, MILLSAPS 12: Sophomore running back Devin DeLaughter provided the offensive highlight with a 31-yard touchdown pass to David Witt in the fourth quarter to secure the Tigers' fifth win of the year. Linebacker Esau McCaulley added a touchdown on a blocked punt and tallied seven tackles including five tackles-for-loss.
HARDIN-SIMMONS 35, TEXAS LUTHERAN 26: Hardin-Simmons maintained its undefeated record in a closer than expected tilt against Texas Lutheran. Patrick Baca rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Cowboys to their school record 17th consecutive victory. Hardin-Simmons has kept the streak intact in style after being tied or behind at the half three times this season.
McMURRY 62, AUSTIN 41: McMurry rallied from a third-quarter deficit to remain undefeated against unheralded Austin. Senior quarterback Braxton Shaver through four touchdown passes to become the ASC all-time leading touchdown passing leader with 88. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.
Other south region games
DEPAUW 26, CENTRE 23: DePauw (3-5, 2-3 SCAC) held off Centre (4-4, 2-3) to earn a home conference victory in Greencastle. Senior Kurt Hare completed 14 of 30 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tiger offense. DePauw led 26-9 in the second half before the Colonels rallied to within three points. Josh Elliott led the Centre offense with eight catches for 127 yards and two scores.
ROSE-HULMAN 26, EARLHAM 12: Senior running back Ricky Arnold ran for a career-high 176 yards and one touchdown to lead Rose-Hulman (2-6) past Earlham in non-conference action. Senior quarterback Eric Hyten closed within 52 yards of becoming the all-time leading rusher for an Division III quarterback in the contest.
MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 12, HOWARD PAYNE 9: Sophomore fullback Jeff Shinn rushed for a career-high 114 yards and one touchdown to lift Mary Hardin-Baylor (4-4, 3-2 ASC) to an upset victory. Howard Payne (4-4, 3-2) entered the contest following an emotional defeat to Hardin-Simmons and struggled to maintain its offensive production.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 36, SUL ROSS STATE 20: Mississippi College (4-4, 1-4 ASC) snapped a four-game losing streak with a conference victory against Sul Ross State (2-6, 1-4). The Choctaws will battle a Texas Lutheran squad that nearly upset Hardin-Simmons on Saturday.
WASHINGTON U. 20, CHICAGO 3: Washington University (7-2, 4-0 UAA) kept its hopes for an NCAA playoff bid alive with a victory against archrival Chicago in St. Louis. The Bears defense held Chicago to just 118 yards of total offense on 64 offensive plays.
This weekend's games
TRINITY and SEWANEE battle for the SCAC championship in Tennessee (see above). ... MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR looks for another upset against HARDIN-SIMMONS. The Cowboys narrowly defeated Howard Payne two weeks ago, a squad that was defeated 12-9 by Mary Hardin-Baylor this weekend. ... McMURRY and HOWARD PAYNE hook up in a critical matchup at Howard Payne. McMurry must win to remain undefeated in ASC play and keep its hopes alive for an playoff bid, should they defeat Hardin-Simmons next weekend. ... WASHINGTON U. ends its season at COLORADO COLLEGE, with playoff hopes riding on the line.