Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne University Football Team (0-1) fell to Virginia State (1-0), 34-9, Saturday afternoon in the 2016 season opener at Moretz Stadium.

Virginia State's Kavon Bellamy (Hampton, Va.) scored twice on the ground and rushed for a game-high 83 yards as the Trojans jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the second quarter and remained in control the rest of the way.

Virginia State scored touchdowns the first three times it touched the ball including a three-yard scoring run by Bellamy to cap off a nine-play, 85-yard drive on the opening possession.

The Trojans quarterback, Tarian Ayres (Buckingham, Va.), passed for 201 yards and a touchdown to go along with 46 yards on the ground as Virginia State held a 445-213 yards advantage in total offense.

Lenoir-Rhyne's lone score came at the end of the first half when redshirt freshman Jarrod Kellar (Shinnston, W.Va.) found senior tight end Ray Beam (Morganton, N.C.) in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard scoring toss but the Bears were held off the scoreboard the rest of the way minus a safety with 21 second remaining.  Kellar threw for 158 yards on the day.

The Trojans' Trenton Cannon (Hampton, Va.) added two touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving – while Geo Feggins (South Hill, Va.) led all tacklers with 15 in the victory.  For the Bears, senior defensive back Rodney Singleton (Hawthorne, Fla.) finished with a team-high 11 takedowns and recovered a fumble.  Virginia State also totaled four sacks for the contest.

Lenoir-Rhyne remains at home to take on North Greenville next Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., while Virginia State hosts Tusculum on Saturday, September 10, at 2:00 p.m.