State college football game-by-game preview
COASTAL CAROLINA AT FURMAN
When: 7 p.m.
Players to watch: Coastal Carolina: RB DeAngelo Henderson scored the last of his three touchdowns in double overtime to clinch the Chanticleers’ 37-31 win at Furman last season. Furman: QB Reese Hannon is 9-3 as the starter over the past two seasons. Conversely, the Paladins are 2-12 with Hannon on the shelf.
Outlook: Coastal has dominated the series, winning five of the six meetings. There is no reason to suspect a change in course this time.
PRESBYTERIAN AT MIAMI (OH)
When: 3:30 p.m.
Players to watch: Presbyterian: CB Ed Britt had 72 tackles and three interceptions during an All-Big South campaign in 2014. He also scored three defensive touchdowns. Miami (OH): WR Rokeem Williams (Williston-Elko High) led the RedHawks with 35 receptions for 682 yards last season.
Outlook: It’s a big game for the host FBS Mid-American Conference RedHawks, who have gone 2-22 over the past two seasons.
DAVIDSON AT THE CITADEL
When: 6 p.m.
Players to watch: The Citadel: Talented sophomore Cam Jackson is a rising star with game-breaking ability at running back, quarterback, and receiver, as well as on special teams. Davidson: WR William Morris finished with a single-season school record of 1,224 receiving yards a year ago.
Outlook: Looks like an easy win for The Citadel in the first meeting of the teams in 30 years. Davidson is 1-22 in two seasons under coach Paul Nichols.
LIVINGSTONE AT BENEDICT
When: 4:30 p.m.
Players to watch: Benedict: WR Okechi Ntiasagwe (Ridge View) had a solid rookie season with the Tigers – catching 19 passes for 286 yards (15.1 average) and four touchdowns. Livingstone: WR Jalen Hendricks grabbed 71 passes for 1,084 yards and 11 TDs last season and should team up with quarterback Drew Powell for big numbers again.
Outlook: Both teams are looking for fresh starts at the Palmetto Capital City Classic. Benedict, with 27 freshmen, has more questions to answer than the visiting Blue Bears, who are coming off a much-improved 5-5 season.
NEWBERRY AT FLORIDA TECH
When: 7 p.m.
Players to watch: Newberry: QB Raleigh Yeldell gets his first chance at being the No. 1 man after serving as an effective change-of-pace performer for two seasons behind former Airport star W.T. Murden. Florida Tech: QB Mark Cato is back after passing for 2,926 yards and 32 touchdowns as the Panthers finished in the black – 6-5 overall. Tech was 3-4 in the highly competitive Gulf South Conference.
Outlook: Newberry kicks off its 103rd season of football in the Sunshine State against a Panthers squad that is coming off its first-ever winning season. The Wolves beat Tech in the first meeting of the teams in 2012.
S.C. STATE VS. ARK-PINE BLUFF
When: 3:30 Sunday (Orlando)
Players to watch: SC State: RB Jalen Simmons earned All-MEAC honors with a 1,090-yard rushing season with nine touchdowns in 2014. Arkansas-Pine Bluff: QB Ben Anderson is the SWAC preseason offensive player of the year after passing for 2,473 yards and running for 623 more a year ago. He has thrown for 7,606 yards and 53 touchdowns during his Golden Lions career.
Outlook: SC State is favored in the televised MEAC-SWAC Challenge game, but Anderson gives the improving Golden Lions a shot at an upset.
John Devlin