A look around the Big South Conference as conference play continues. No change at the top, but plenty of changes 2-7.
1. Stony Brook 6-1, 2-0
Stony Brook survives their first challenge in conference play as they go down to the beach and hold off Coastal Carolina 27-21. The rest of the league, particularly Liberty, should feel more confident this week since the score was so close. Coastal proved Stony Brook can be beaten. Now SBU will coast through their next 3 league matchups (vs Gardner Webb, @ Presbyterian, vs VMI) before the regular season finale in Lynchburg. Stony Brook will definitely be in the top 10 and maybe the top 5, barring any surprises, for their trek into Williams Stadium.
This week: vs Gardner-Webb 4:00
2. Liberty 2-4, 2-0
Liberty jumps to #2 in our power rankings with their record setting performance at Presbyterian. Yes, Presbyterian is awful, but in the past 6 quarters this Liberty team is starting to look like the Liberty team under Danny Rocco. Completely dominating conference competition.This week the Flames step outside of the conference to face Division 2 Concord. This should be a final tuneup before the big clash on October 27 at Coastal Carolina.
This week: vs Concord 3:30
3. Coastal Carolina 2-4, 0-1
Coastal drops to #3 after dropping a home game to conference favorite Stony Brook. The game went back and forth, but Miguel Maysonet and Stony Brook’s rushing attack proved too much. In order to win this conference race you can not lose, especially at home. Coastal now has to hope for a repeat of 2 years ago when they won the 3 way tiebreaker after Coastal lost to SBU, Liberty lost to Coastal, and SBU lost to Liberty. Coastal should take care of VMI this week although it does set up as a trap road game between two huge home games (Stony Brook and Liberty).
This week: @ VMI 1:30
4. Charleston Southern 2-4, 1-1
Like we said last week, teams 4-7 in the conference are really difficult to choose from. The edge this week goes to the Buccaneers from Charleston Southern after they defeat VMI 32-14. CSU has a chance to notch its 2nd consecutive conference win this week as they host Presbyterian.
This week: vs Presbyterian 1:30
5. Gardner Webb 1-5, 0-1
Gardner-Webb had to come from behind to get their first win of the season against NAIA MidAmerican Nazarene 30-28. Good luck this week as the Runnin Bulldogs head to Long Island to take on Stony Brook.
This week: @ Stony Brook 4:00
6. VMI 2-4, 1-1
Wow, VMI loses to Charleston Southern 32-14?! A loss is one thing, but to lose by 18 to a team who hasn’t won a Division 1 game in 2 years?! VMI had the opportunity to go 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005, but were unable to. They now return home to Lexington to await the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina.
This week: vs Coastal Carolina 1:30
7. Presbyterian 2-5, 0-2
Presbyterian has scored 7 points or less in 4 of their 7 games this season. This team got manhandled by Liberty, and looked just completely over-matched. Now the Blue Hose head across state to take on a confident and hungry Charleston Southern team.
@ Charleston Southern 1:30
