Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Football Team (1-0) opened the 2009 season with a 21-14 victory over Shorter College (0-1) Saturday evening at Moretz Stadium.? The two teams were meeting for the first time ever.? Shorter came into the contest ranked No. 11 in the NAIA National Coaches Preseason Poll.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which won its second straight season opener, held Shorter to just 169 yards rushing (over 135 yards below last year?s average) while piling up 259 yards of its own on the ground en route to the win.

Sophomore halfback Jasper Thomas (High Point, N.C.) was one of many players contributing for the Bears in the win as he finished with two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving).

All the scoring was done in the first half as Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 23-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Justin Sanders (Monroe, N.C.) to Thomas on the Bears? first possession just 2:20 into the contest and a 39-yard scoring run from junior halfback Andrew Courman (Beaufort, N.C.) late in the frame.

Shorter rallied to tie the score at 14 with two touchdowns in the second quarter as Ben Williams (Marietta, Ga.) found A.J. Cooley (Bowdon, Ga.) for an 18-yard touchdown pass before the Hawks tied it with Williams? 58-yard scoring toss to Jordan Hazard (East Providence, R.I.) on their next possession.

Lenoir-Rhyne, who blocked two field goals in the first half, rounded out the scoring with Thomas? one-yard run with 7:43 left in the first half.

L-R?s defense was put to the test in the second half as it halted a 17-play, 59-drive by Shorter at? the Bears? 13-yard line in the third quarter before ending the game with an interception by freshman defensive back Michael Green (Kingsland, Ga.) at the L-R 41-yard line.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Reuben Haynes (Commerce, Ga.) led Lenoir-Rhyne with 75 yards rushing while Williams added 115 yards through the air and two scores for Shorter despite the loss.

On defense, junior free safety Marcus Shuford (Newton, N.C.) led the Bears with nine tackles.

L-R hits the road next Saturday when it travels to Athens, W.Va., to face Concord College beginning at 7 p.m.? Shorter hosts LaGrange next Saturday at 6 p.m.