Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Football Team (5-3, 2-2) rallied from a 14-point, first-quarter deficit to defeat Tusculum College (4-4, 0-4), 34-31, Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium.? The Bears, winners of two straight, also picked up their first South Atlantic Conference win at home since 2006.

Junior quarterback Major Herron (Kingsland, Ga.) rushed for a career-high 145 yards on 32 carries while senior half back Andrew Courman (Beaufort, N.C.) scored twice to lead Lenoir-Rhyne to its first league home victory since a 31-7 win over Mars Hill on October 28, 2006.

Tusculum lost despite a 421-yard, three-touchdown passing performance by quarterback Bo Cordell (Cincinnati, Ohio), who set the Moretz Stadium record for most passing yards in a contest.

The Pioneers jumped ahead 14-0 just over five minutes into the contest.? Tusculum took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards on nine plays capped off by Cordell?s 25-yard touchdown pass to Rashaad Carter (Stone Mountain, Ga.).? A successful onside kick led to Tusculum?s second score when Cordell took it into the end zone from 13 yards out.

Lenoir-Rhyne, however, responded with 18 straight points.? Courman caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Herron before scampering 79 yards for a?score to give the Bears an 18-14 advantage early in the second quarter.

After Tusculum cut the margin to 18-17 at halftime, Lenoir-Rhyne scored on its first three possessions of the second half to build a 31-17 lead capped off by senior half back Gaston Miller?s (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) five-yard touchdown run.

Lenoir-Rhyne junior placekicker Colin Corpe (Ocala, Fla.) kicked his fourth and final field goal in between a pair of touchdown passes from Cordell to Deonte? Gist (Wellford, S.C.) of 31 and 20 yards, respectively, in the fourth stanza but the Bears were able to hold on for the win.

Corpe, who tied his own school record for field goals in a game, also connected on a career-long 47-yarder.? Sophomore linebacker Demetrius Green (Cedartown, Ga.) led L-R in tackles with 10 as the Bears? defense registered five quarterback sacks in the first half and held the Pioneers to minus 13 yards rushing.

Carter and Gist finished with 116 and 109 yards receiving, respectively, while Zachary Norman (Greenwood, S.C.) led the Tusculum defense with a game-high 15 tackles.

Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Wingate, N.C., to face Wingate on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., in its next conference contest.? Tusculum, meanwhile, returns home to take on Brevard in a SAC game next Saturday at 1:30 p.m., as well.