RFC Summer Semester: USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: Three teams finished in a three-way tie for the USA South Athletic Conference (USAC) title in 2012.  But in the end, it was Christopher Newport that won the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  The Captains were crushed in the first round by Mount Union, 72-14.
  
Looking ahead: The race for the 2013 USAC crown should come right down to the final week of the regular season.  Meanwhile, Huntingdon College out of Montgomery, Alabama joins the conference for the first time this fall.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Ferrum (7-3):  Panthers will try to dethrone the Captains under third-year head coach Dave Harper.


2. Christopher Newport (6-5):  The Captains will try to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the 10th time in the program's 13-year history, in 2013.


3. Maryville (6-4):  Scots will open 2013 with three straight road games.  Their home opener won't be until September 28, when they host Methodist in the first of just four home games.

4. Methodist (5-5):  Monarchs hope to build last year's 4-3 conference mark.

5. LaGrange (3-7):  Panthers face tough task in trying to notch only their second winning season in the program's eight-year history (program debuted in 2006).

6. Greensboro (5-5):  Pride begin their second season under Head Coach Bill Young.

7.  North Carolina Wesleyan (3-7):  Battling Bishops look to start over under new head coach Jeff Filkovski.

8. Huntingdon (6-3):  Hawks face a tough task in a tough conference.

9. Averett (1-9):  Cougars hope to put the misery of 2012 behind them.

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