Review of the 2009 South D1 Matrix

by Andy Richards

This year's South D1 league looks like being one of the closely contested for many years. Arkansas State are still the class team around and looked to have gotten stronger since they claimed 10th spot in the D1 National championships losing to San Diego State then beating Dartmouth. Tennessee have lost quite a few starters from last year's team but as everyone knows the program at Knoxville is very deep and there are many who played on last years all conquering B side who are quite capable of taking their place at the top level. South Carolina are building a much bigger team and now have so many players that they can run a C side. Florida have emerged real contenders under Coach Ken Simmons who has introduced an open style of play with all his players off-loading in contact maintaining great continuity in all phases of the game. Georgia are starting to benefit from a developing High School program around Atlanta and appear to be much stronger and while Clemson seem to be in the re-building phase, they have enough talent to make teams struggle.

So who is going to get to face the top 2 Mid-Atlantic teams in the Nationals on Friday and Saturday 17th and 18th April at Life University in Atlanta? Arkansas State must be considered red-hot favorites to take top spot but I think there are 4 teams who will fancy their chances of joining them - only time will tell.

Week One
The opening salvo's of the 2009 matrix took place in Knoxville and Athens. The Tennessee Volunteers clawed backed a 9 point deficit in the final minutes of the game to pip Florida 20-19 and the Georgia Bulldogs held on at the end to deny Clemson a late victory 24-17.

Next week the Tarheels open their 2009 campaign against Clemson in Chapel Hill. Georgia have the daunting task of a roadtrip to Jonesboro to play Arkansas State and South Carolina make the journey south to play the Florida Gators.

Week Two
Arkansas State opened its campaign and showed why they are red-hot favorites this year with an 87-7 demolition of Georgia in Jonesboro. The Tarheels welcomed Clemson to Chapel Hill and gave a workmanlike performance to finish off a young but very determined Clemson side. In Gainesville, Florida played a Sunday game against the South Carolina Gamecocks. A solid performance with a powerful display from their forwards earned them a 27-7 win.

Next week sees the Red Wolves go on a monster road trip to play Clemson on Saturday and then they’ll make the comparatively small journey to Columbia to play South Carolina. If they can pull off 2 wins they will just about guarantee a return trip to the nationals. South Carolina will take on Georgia before their Sunday date with ASU.

Tennessee will make the trip to Chapel Hill to play the Tarheels. This is a massive game for both sides, a win dosen’t guarantee anything, but a loss will mean an uphill struggle with both teams still to face Arkansas State.

Week Three
If anyone was in any doubt about the strength of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, then this weekend should have changed their minds. They went on the road to Clemson beating them 91-0 on Saturday and then drove to Columbia to play South Carolina where they put on another display and won 102-8. Red hot favorites is an understatement!

Tennessee and North Carolina fought it out in Chapel Hill. Despite being behind with 20 minutes to go, the Volunteers came away with the win 21-12. The day before meeting the invincible Red Wolves South Carolina beat Georgia 24-3.

Next week Tennessee can virtually guarantee another appearance in Nationals if they beat South Carolina in Knoxville. Florida make the journey of death to Jonesboro, and the Tarheels will try and get back on track with a road trip to Georgia.

Week Four
Tennessee and Arkansas State look even hotter favorites (if that were at all possible) to take the 2 spots for the National play-offs both securing wins against South Carolina and Florida.

It was never a contest as UT improved on the previous week to pile on the points against the Gamecocks, winning 50-0 in Knoxville. Arkansas State battled the elements as well as a determined Florida side to win 34-5. Florida showed by this performance, what many of us coaches already knew, that they are going to be a huge force in the South in coming years.

North Carolina got their own show back on the road with a win over a battling Georgia Bulldogs in Athens and in doing so, moved up to third spot in the league table. But with South Carolina (away), Arkansas State (home) and Florida (away) still to come, they are going to have to play much better than this week's performance to keep that third spot.

Next week Tennessee travel to Athens to take on the Bulldogs, while Florida make the journey north to Clemson, and the Tarheels are on the road to play South Carolina in Columbia.

Week Five
2 of the 3 games were called off this weekend with only Georgia and Tennessee surviving the winter storm.

Tennessee beat the Bulldogs 42-10 in Athens and are now neck and neck at the top of the table with ASU.

Next week Arkansas State and Tennessee can both seal their play-off spots by winning in Knoxville where the Volunteers host Clemson and Chapel Hill where the Red Wolves make another long trip to take on the Tarheels.

Week Six
Surprise surprise, its official, Arkansas State and Tennessee have clinched the South's play-off berths!

Tennessee beat Clemson 61-16 in Knoxville while the Red Wolves won on the road in Chapel Hill 65-19.

Next week there are no games as most college's enjoy spring break. The next game will be the 21st March as Georgia make the trip south to play Florida before the final scheduled matrix weekend of the season.

Week Seven
The only game of the weekend was the Georgia Bulldogs travelling to Gainesville, Florida were victors 40-6.

Next week is a huge weekend, with the title being decided in Jonesboro between Arkansas State and Tennessee. Florida can lock up 3rd place if they beat the Tarheels in Gainesville. Elsewhere, South Carolina travel to Clemson.

Week Eight
The final scheduled league weekend of the Division One South Matrix turned into a straight fight to decide 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th places.

In Jonesboro Arkansas State proved that they are the class team in the South by beating Tennessee 30-10. They now face Navy in the National Sweet 16, Tennessee come up against Penn State.

In Gainesville, Florida were looking to cement a third place and duly obliged by beating an under strength Tarheel side. Florida are easily the most improved side in the league and have a right to feel unlucky that they are not looking forward to playing their final game against Clemson for the chance to qualify for the Nationals.

Make-up matches
Last weekend Florida cemented its third place in the league with a 101 point demolition of Clemson in Gainesville. And last night North Carolina got past South Carolina 20-13 in Columbia.

With just one game left to re-schedule, South carolina have the opportunity and should leapfrog Georgia to take 5th spot if they beat Clemson.

Good luck to Arkansas State and Tennessee in Atlanta next weekend.

Created Feb 04, 2009. 04:56 pm
Modified Apr 11, 2009. 12:06 pm