Hawks Picked to Finish First in USA South Preseason Poll
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The USA South Athletic Conference's football coaches have released their 2023 preseason poll and have picked the Hawks on top!
Huntingdon was placed atop the rankings thanks to receiving 61 total points and six of the possible nine first place votes. The Hawks finished last season with a 7-0 Conference record, making the second consecutive year without dropping a Conference contest. Huntingdon claimed their seventh league title in the last eight years in the 2022 season.
Since the first Conference preseason poll in 2003, the Hawks, who joined in 2013, has been picked to capture the title six times, following through on that prediction five times. The team picked first in the preseason poll's history has grabbed the Conference crown 11 out of 19 years.
Head Coach Mike Turk says, "The preseason poll means nothing as far as how the season will turn out. We are thankful that our program is viewed as a contender for the championship this year, but understand that we will have to earn it on the field. That being said, the bullseye is squarely on our chest, but as I told our guys, I don't want it to be anywhere else."
The 2023 USA South Coaches Preseason Poll is as follows:
1. Huntingdon (6) 61
2. Belhaven (3) 55
3. Maryville 52
T4. Brevard 40
T4. Methodist 40
6. N.C. Wesleyan 31
7. LaGrange 17
8. Southern Virginia 15
9. Greensboro 13
In the last 10 seasons, the Hawks have accumulated a 58-10 record with an 85.3 winning percentage. After four consecutive Conference titles, head Coach Mike Turk looks to continue the winning tradition.
Offensively, Kahari McReynolds returns for the Hawks and says, "I fell like we are the most experience we have ever been since I have been here and I feel like anything you want us to do such as passing the ball or running we can do it all, so pick your poison."
The Geneva, Alabama native had 1133 total yards last season that included 12 touchdowns. Averaging six yards a carry the number one on his chest represents the Hawks well with the ball.
All-Region player, Casey Peppers is hunting down the all-time tackle record with 265 so far. He says, "I have never been more excited for football season in my career. We have a lot of guys with the same mindset as we move towards week one."
"Coming off a season ending injury, I felt like I did not get to go out the way I wanted to, and I still have something to prove. Defensively, we are hungry and eager to play together as one unit and be the best defense in the country!" says Peppers.
The Linebacker out of Panama City, Florida, averaged 9 tackles a game in his seven games played and had a career-high 5.5 sacks.
The Hawks travel to Rome, Georgia for their first game of the season on September 2nd to take on the Vikings of Berry College in non-conference play.
Season Outlook:
Huntingdon has received 27 votes in the Top 25 Poll by D3football.com and barely missed jumping into the ranking.
Last season the Hawks had an overall winning percentage of 81.8 after only losing two games and falling to no conference opponents.
Offensively – The team averaged almost 454 yards a game with 254 passing yards and 200 rushing yards. On kick returns the Hawks averaged almost 20 yards on each possession and scored 77% of the time in the Red Zone.
Defensively – With 18 interceptions, the Hawks defense is no stranger to causing turnovers. Last season, the defense accumulated 643 tackles and 30 sacks with one touchdown. Huntingdon allowed 23 points a game for their opponents and only averaged 16 points again on the home turf.
The Hawks lost three starters on each side of the ball from last season but look to make the another run in the USA South.