Salisbury, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Football Team (5-6, 2-5) finished the 2009 campaign on a high note by taking down Catawba (4-6, 1-6), 16-13, Saturday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.

The Bears rushed for 394 yards in the contest while limiting the Indians to minus three yards on the ground and tallying four sacks en route to the win.

Junior half back Andrew Courman (Beaufort, N.C.) led Lenoir-Rhyne with 89 yards on the ground while junior half back James Pone (Wilson, N.C.) and junior fullback Byron Darby (Gastonia, N.C.) added 88 yards rushing each as L-R was able to hold on after taking a 16-point, third-quarter lead.

Lenoir-Rhyne built a 10-0 advantage entering halftime thanks to a 20-yard field goal by sophomore placekicker Colin Corpe (Ocala, Fla.) in the first quarter and a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Major Herron (Kingsland, Ga.) in the second stanza.

L-R appeared to put the contest away on Darby?s 72-yard touchdown run with 10:12 left in the third quarter for the 16-point lead but Catawba came to life later in the quarter when Terrance Porter (Raleigh, N.C.) returned a fumble 36 yards for a score.? The touchdown was set up by a quarterback sack by Melquan Fair (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) and the Indians trailed, 16-6.

Catawba then cut the lead to 16-13 when quarterback Patrick Dennis (Durham, N.C.) found Brian Terwilliger (Wilmington, N.C.) for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 3:03 remaining but an onside kick attempt failed and Lenoir-Rhyne was able to run out the clock.

Dennis finished with 326 yards on 26-of-44 passing for Catawba.

On defense, Lenoir-Rhyne was led by freshman defensive back Michael Green (Kingsland, Ga.) with a team-high eight tackles and two pass break-ups while junior safety Marcus Shuford (Newton, N.C.) added seven takedowns and made a key interception in Bear territory early in the fourth quarter.

The victory over Catawba was just L-R?s second in the last 15 meetings between the two schools.