Football

SAA Football Report - Sept. 8, 2025

CANTON, Ga.  – The Southern Athletic Association Football teams opened up their 2025 campaigns with dominating performances leading to three institutions receiving athlete of the week honors.
 
Around the SAA:
SAA Football Schedule/Results
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SAA Football Stats
D3Football.com National Ranking

Athletes of the Week:

Offensive:
Bryson Rollins | Maryville | SR | Elizabethtown, TN – Rollins delivered a commanding performance in Maryville College’s 40–14 season-opening win at Hendrix, showcasing the poise and efficiency that have become hallmarks of his game. The senior signal caller completed 17 of 25 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns, orchestrating an offense that rolled up 448 total yards and scored five times through the air and on the ground. His ability to balance explosive plays with steady drives gave Maryville rhythm and confidence, particularly in the second half when the Scots outscored Hendrix 28–7.

Defensive:
Maurion Williams-Jack | Southwestern | SR | Houston, TX – Maurion Williams-Jack helped the Pirates win the season opener by setting the tone with a strip sack and return for a touchdown on the McMurray opening drive. He also turned in three total tackles. 

Special Teams:
Sammy Kunczewski | Berry | FR | Rome, GA – A freshman from Rome, Georgia, Kunczewski helped lead the Vikings on special teams including taking a record setting 100+ yard kickoff return to the house on his first game action as the Viking rolled to a 58-28 win over Huntingdon. Kunczewski finished with 161 return yards on three returns in the win.
 
Notable Performances:
 
Offense
  • Andrew Hunter | Berry | JR | Huntsville, AL – A junior from Huntsville, Alabama Hunter stepped up big from the bench after an early injury to the starting QB. Hunter finished the game with four touchdowns including three on the ground and one in the air as he finished 4-for-7 with 105 yards and rushed for 23 in his debut with the Vikings.
  • Cam Beasley | Sewanee | SO | Sandersville, GA – Beasley accounted for 329 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in Sewanee's road win at Bethany. The sophomore completed 21-of-25 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, tossing scoring throws of six and 25 yards. He did not throw an interception or take a sack in his first career start under center. He also rushes nine times for 109 yards, including a 51-yard scamper in the first half.
  • Graydon Thompson | Southwestern | JR | Dallas, TX – Thompson caught 5 catches on 117 yards in the win against McMurry. He totaled 117 yards of 161 from the Pirates offense. He caught a 52-yard touchdown and a 10-yard TD. 
  • Xadrian Huerta | Trinity | SR | San Antonio, TX – Huerta led Trinity's football team to a 26-14 season-opening road win at Texas Lutheran on Thursday night in Seguin, Texas. Huerta scored the first two touchdowns of the night for the Tigers, giving the team the lead each time as the team never trailed in the game. He finished with 120 yards rushing on just 17 carries for an average of 7.1 yards per rush. Huerta was also the first 100-yard rusher for Trinity since the 2021 season. His opening touchdown came on his first touch of the game - a 23-yard run that put Trinity up 7-0. After Texas Lutheran tied the game early in the second quarter, the Tigers got a nice return on the kickoff to set up a short field. On the first play of the drive, Huerta broke a 37-yard touchdown run to put Trinity back in front for good.
Defense
  • Dawson Livingston | Berry | SR | Jackson, GA – A senior from Jackson, Ga. Dawson helped lead the Vikings on defense with four tackles including two tackles for loss for 14 yards and one 12-yard sack helping the Vikings only allow seven points in the first half as they rolled to a 58-28 win.
  • Wyatt Fowler | Centre | JR | Crestwood, KY – Wyatt Fowler made his first career start at defensive end for the Colonels on Saturday against Hanover and had the best game of his career as he tied for the team lead with five tackles and two tackles for loss. He also had the lone sack of the ballgame for the Colonels as he downed the quarterback for a 15-yard loss to put a stop to a third quarter drive.
  • Mark Collier | Maryville | JR | Lawrenceville, GA – Senior Mark Collier set the tone defensively with a disruptive performance that kept the Warriors off balance. Collier finished with six total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a critical third-quarter sack that stalled a Hendrix drive. Collier’s performance was part of a dominant defensive showing in which the Scots forced four turnovers, recorded four sacks, and limited Hendrix to just 50 rushing yards in the opening week's 40-14 victory over Hendrix. 
  • Jaden Gnagy | Sewanee | SO | Kennesaw, GA – Gnagy helped the Tigers limit Bethany College to 150 yards of total offense and six points. The sophomore five posted total tackles with three solo stops and 1.5 sacks. He added a quarterback hurry and blocked an extra point. Sewanee limited the Bison to nine first downs and no points in the final three quarters.
  • Judson Crockett | Trinity | SO | Austin, TX – Crockett led Trinity's defense in allowing less than 300 yards - including just 83 yards in a scoreless second half - in a 26-14 season-opening win at Texas Lutheran on Thursday night. In his Tiger debut, Crockett led the team with six tackles (five solo) and his interception in the fourth quarter stopped what turned out to be the final drive of the night for the Bulldogs and ended any hope of a late comeback.
 
Special Teams
  • Chase Lanham | Southwestern | FR | Frisco, TX – The freshman went two for three on field goals in big situations. Lanham started with a 49-yard bomb. He also collected a 37-yard FG and was blocked in his third attempt. Lanham had an average punt distance of 38 yards and 47 yards as a long. 
  • Hayden Rhoades | Trinity | SO | Grapevine, TX – Rhoades made the most of his first career start by leading the Trinity University football team to a 26-14 season-opening road win at Texas Lutheran on Thursday night. Rhoades went 3-for-3 on extra-point attempts in the game, but his big highlight came in the final seconds of the first half. Rhoades lined up for his first career field goal attempt at the end of the second quarter, nailing a 47-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the period that turned out to be the final score of the game.
 
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.