RFC Small College Preview: USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)

USA South Athletic Conference (USAC)

2015 Football Standings--USA South Athletic Conference

Looking back: The best team of the 2015 football season in the USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) didn't come from Virginia, North Carolina, or even Georgia. It hailed from Montgomery, Alabama: the home of the Huntingdon University Hawks. They finished USAC play unbeaten at 7-0, while also finishing the regular season at 9-1 overall.

In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Hawks downed another postseason newcomer in Hendrix, 38-27, for their first-ever playoff win.  Their season ended with a 43-23 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round.

In a bizarre, ironic twist, every other team besides Huntingdon lost at least two games in conference play last season, with Maryville and North Carolina Wesleyan both finishing at 5-2, while the other five teams won just two league contests. That was only because two of those schools in that quintet played one less league game in 2015, as the Averett-LaGrange game was cancelled due to inclement weather. As a result, both teams finished USAC action at, you guessed it, 2-4.

Looking ahead: Can Huntingdon win back-to-back USA South titles? Or will Maryville or some other team step up and win all of the marbles?

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Huntingdon (10-2): The team to beat in the USAC until another team proves otherwise.

2. Maryville (8-2): But the Scots found themselves on the outside looking in after two blowout losses not only cost them an undefeated regular season, but also a sure playoff berth.  That's something they hope to change this fall.

3. North Carolina Wesleyan (5-5): The Battling Bishops will play one of the toughest schedules at the D-III level in 2016, as they'll face the likes of defending national champion Mount Union and rising powerhouse Stevenson, as well as USAC foes such as Maryville and Huntingdon, among others.

4. Methodist (4-6): Keven Williams will serve as the acting head coach for the Monarchs, following the sudden resignation of former head coach C.J. Goss earlier this year.

5. Greensboro (3-7): The Pride will get a new head coach this fall as well, as Greg Crum hopes to turn around a long-struggling program.

6. Averett (2-7): Take away the cancelled game against LaGrange, and the Cougars would have finished the 2015 season with a winning record had they not lost three straight games by a combined 12 points in late October. With that said, don't be surprised if they sneak up on a few opponents in 2016.

7. LaGrange (2-7): It was also a season of "what if's" for the Panthers from Georgia, as they not only lost their first three games by seven points or less, but also lost their last three games by a combined 59 points.

8. Ferrum (2-8): The 2015 season was one to forget for the Panthers from Virginia as well, as they look to move forward under new head coach Rob Grande.

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