| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 44 |
|
|
0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Game Recap: Football | | Joel Krenz, Assistant AD for Media and Communications
HICKORY, NC – Another successful Lenoir-Rhyne Football season has come to an end. The Bears fell 44-12 to Virginia Union in the NCAA DII Playoffs Second Round on Saturday, closing their season with a record of 10-3.
“My heart hurts for our guys, especially our seniors,” stated Head Coach Doug Socha. “I’m really proud of what they gave to this program and the position they put us in. I’m an optimistic guy, the sun will come up tomorrow and we’ll reset and evaluate every facet of this program. Winning 10 games isn’t easy and there were so many people around this program that helped us do it. I’m proud of our guys and am excited for what we can accomplish next year.”
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 12, Virginia Union 44
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (10-3), Virginia Union (10-3)
Location: Hickory, NC | Moretz Stadium
STORY OF THE GAME:
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- Virginia Union got on the board first, scoring on a Curtis Allen rush just before the end of the first quarter to go up 7-0.
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- The Bears answered with an Adonis McDaniel 47-yard touchdown reception from Jalen Ferguson.
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- The Panthers blocked the extra point, keeping it a 7-6 game.
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- VUU continued to push, scoring on their next two drives to make it 20-6 at the half.
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- The lead was extended to 27-6 after a 12-play, 58-yard drive by the Panthers.
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- George Futch, who had four receptions for 36 yards, hauled in the Bears only other score of the game.
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- A late Jad a Byers rushing touchdown gave the game it’s final score.
STATS OF THE GAME:
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- Jalen Ferguson was 19-for-41 for 252 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
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- Adonis McDaniels had yet another strong game, going off for eight receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.
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- George Futch caught the Bears only other touchdown of the day, the first of his career.
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- Jaelin Willis and Tre’von Cooper led the Bears with 13 tackles each.
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- Six Bears had at least one TFL.
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- Viginia Union led the rushing attack 345-52.
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- Jada Byers finished with 185 yards and two touchdowns.
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- Songa Yates had a strong return game, returning on punt for 22 yards and two kickoffs for 60 yards.
BEYOND THE STATS:
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- Jalen Ferguson finishes the season with a school record 3,276 passing yards.
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- Doug Socha joins Drew Cronic, Ian Shields, and Hanley Painter as the only LR football coaches to win at least 10 games in their first season.
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- Adonis McDaniel finished with exactly 1000 receiving yards on the year, becoming the sixth Bear to ever do so.
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- John Godwin finished his career with 49 games played, the most in Lenoir-Rhyne recorded history.
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- This was the sixth season the Bears have reached the second round of the NCAA DII Playoffs.
