Newberry Starts New Season In Florida
NEWBERRY (NC SID) — The Newberry College football team looks to kick off the 2015 season in style, as the Wolves travel to take on the Panthers of Florida Tech in both teams’ season opener.
WHO: Newberry College at Florida Institute of Technology
WHERE: Florida Tech Panther Stadium on the campus of Palm Bay Magnet HS in Melbourne, Fla.
WHEN: 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 5
RECORDS: Newberry was 5-6 overall in 2014, with a 3-4 South Atlantic Conference record. Florida Tech was 6-5 last year, with a 3-4 record in the Gulf South Conference
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NEWS AND NOTES
• The Newberry College Wolves kick off their 103rd season of intercollegiate football with their first-ever trip to Florida Tech to take on the Panthers in their third season.
• This is game number 992 for the scarlet and gray. Newberry has a 409-545-36 record.
• Newberry and FIT met up in the second game of the 2013 season, with Newberry edging the Panthers by a 23-19 count on the way to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
• The Wolves are coming off of a 5-6 season in 2014, but are picked to finish third in the South Atlantic Conference this season.
• FIT had its first-ever winning season at 6-5 last year. The Panthers are picked to finish in fifth place in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference.
• This is one of 10 in-region contests for Newberry in 2015. The Jacksonville game will not affect Newberry’s NCAA Division II playoff chances. Newberry’s two other non-conference Division II games – North Greenville (Sept. 19) and Limestone (Nov. 7) – are also in Super Region II, which consists of the South Atlantic Conference, Gulf South Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, along with Limestone, North Greenville and UNC Pembroke.
• The NCAA has expanded the playoff field for Division II football in 2015, with seven teams from each of the four Super Regions qualifying for the playoffs for a total of 28 qualifying teams.
• The Wolves have the luxury of the entire starting offensive line returning: Stephen Nance (Rock Hill/Northwestern) at left tackle, Bobby McNeil (Huger/Timberland) at left guard, Casey Baldwin (Seneca) at center, Hayden Wilks (Chesterfield) at right guard and Landon Martin (Pelzer/Palmetto) at right tackle.
• Junior signal caller Raleigh Yeldell (Johnston/Strom Thurmond) enters his first season as the designated starter. He has started games as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. Junior Zach Blair (Lyman/Byrnes) is also expected to see action.
