The Newberry College football (0-1) takes on defending NAIA champion and #1 ranked Keiser (1-0) at Setzler Field Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.

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Inside the Wolves:  The Wolves are in the midst of a stretch in which they host three home games in the first four weeks to start the season.

Saturday's Carolina Concrete Rock Solid Player was sophomore quarterback Izayah Whiteside (Irmo) who ran for 84 yards and a score on 12 carries and completed 7 of 11 passes for 50 yards. Whiteside, a graduate of Irmo High School, in his first year with the Wolves after transferring from Norfolk State.

Junior running back Dwayne Wright (Fort Dorchester) also had a solid night against #5 Valdosta State, rushing for 61 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.  In his third season, Wright has rushed for 1,225 yards and ten touchdowns.

Tight end Tommy Washington (Spartanburg) made a successful return to the Wolves football program last week after missing the entire 2023 season with an injury.  He caught three passes for 23 yards last week to lead the Wolves.  As a junior, he caught 21 passes for 284 yards and four scores including the game winning touchdown catch on fourth and five from the Mars Hill 10-yard line with 2:45 remaining in the fourth quarter in the Wolves' SAC Championship game win in 2022.

Senior transfer linebacker Ky'heim Bethea (Marion/Louisburg College) led the Wolves with 10 total tackles while recovering a fumble off a sack by senior defensive end Colby Taylor (Summerville).

Saturday's loss to #5 Valdosta State was the Wolves' first season opening defeat since 2019.  The program has not lost its first two games to start the season since that same season.
This is the first game Newberry has played against a non-NCAA D2 foe since defeating the University of Lynchburg (Va.) in 2018.  

This is the third time the Wolves have faced a defending national champion during Todd Knight's tenure as head coach and Newberry is 2-0 in the previous games, defeating #1 and defending national champion Valdosta State 20-9 in Valdosta, Ga. on August 20, 2008 and #3 and defending national champion West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. in the first round of the NCAA Division 2 playoffs on November 20, 2021.

Inside the Seahawks:  The Seahawks were 12-2 last year and beat four top 15 teams in the playoffs, including #1 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) 31-21 in the title game to win the program's first national title in just sixth year of intercollegiate football.

Keiser opened the season with a 23-20 overtime victory at North Greenville, the program's first win over an NCAA Division 2 program.
The coach that led the Seahawks to their national title a year ago, Doug Socha, is now the head coach at SAC rival Lenoir Rhyne.  Myles Russ, who has been a member of the program since its inception was elevated to head coach. During his time with the Seahawks, Russ served as the assistant head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator.

Head Coaches:  Todd Knight is in his 16th year at the helm of the Newberry program in 2024 season, having made his mark as the most successful coaches in program history. His 93-70 overall record makes him the winningest coach in school history.
Myles Russ is in his first season as head coach at Keiser with a 1-0 record after last week's win at North Greenville.

Up Next:  Newberry opens South Atlantic Conference play at Tusculum next Saturday.  Kickoff in Greeneville, Tenn. is 1:00 p.m.  Keiser opens their home slate next Saturday against the University of Fort Lauderdale.