Bishop Football Picked to Finish 5th in USA South Preseason

Bishop Football Picked to Finish 5th in USA South Preseason
Posted: Aug 23, 2022

The USA South Athletic Conference's football coaches have released their 2022 preseason poll. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. Additionally, the USA South will once again feature nine football-playing institutions this season as the League welcomes Belhaven Univ. (Miss.) into the Conference with the departure of Averett.

Huntingdon (AL) was placed atop the rankings thanks to receiving 62 total points and six of the possible nine first place votes. The Hawks finished last season with a perfect 8-0 regular season Conference record and claimed its sixth League title in the last seven years. Brevard, who was second in the poll, grabbed 51 total points and one first place vote. Methodist rounded out the top-three with 49 points while newcomer Belhaven (Miss.) grabbed the final two first place votes and placed fourth with 48 points. 

The Battling Bishops then followed coming in 5th place with 34 voting points, just one ahead of 6th Maryville (TN).

Since the first Conference football preseason poll in 2003, the Huntingdon program, who joined the USA South in 2013, has been picked to capture the title five times, following through on that prediction four times. The team picked first in the preseason poll's history has grabbed the Conference crown 10 out of 18 years. Conversely, the team picked second has won the Conference championship four times.

https://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20220817hm1muc

 NCWU PREVIEW:

The 2022 NC Wesleyan University football team, led by 10th year coach Jeff Filkovski, will now compete at their brand new turf field, "Don Stallings Field at Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Stadium." 
 
Wesleyan returns Conference Rookie of the Year, RB Trevon Crank, as well as WRs Chase Corey and Sean Washington. There will be a quarterback battle as well between sophomores Chaz Hirschman and Zachary Marquis for the starting QB gig this season.
 
Wesleyan also returns all-conference O-lineman Chris Hatch and Elijah Broach to further enhance the running attack led by new Offensive Coord. Matt Keith.
 
The Bishop defense then brings back senior DE/LB Charles Sias and senior nose tackle Noah Roberson up front while senior safety RJ Carter and sophomore safety Korey Hunter will both patrol the deep part of the field. Senior LBs Luke Moorhead and Deante Lucenti also return to add stability in the middle while junior CB Benyon Williams will also look again to lock down opposing WRs this season again.
 
The team will be led by their strong running game and balanced defense this season as they open Sept. 3 on the road at 6pm at Randolph-Macon. Wesleyan will then head to Shenandoah for a night game on the 10th before The Bishops will christen their brand new field on Sept. 17 at Noon when they host Bridgewater College.
 
Homecoming will be Oct. 1 at Noon vs. LaGrange while their first game under the lights at home will be Oct. 15 vs. rival Methodist. Wesleyan will then complete their home schedule with a senior day game Nov. 5 at Noon vs. Huntingdon.

 

2022 USA South Coaches Preseason Football Poll
Rank Institution (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Huntingdon* (6) 62
2. Brevard (1) 51
3. Methodist 49
4. Belhaven (2) 48
5. N.C. Wesleyan 34
6. Maryville 33
7. LaGrange 21
8. Southern Virginia 17
9. Greensboro 9
*Defending Champion