Mars Hill, N.C. – The Mars Hill University Football Team (2-1, 1-0) used a quick strike offense to down Lenoir-Rhyne (1-2, 0-1), 43-28, in the South Atlantic Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Meares Stadium and the Ammons Family Athletic Center.
Three of the Lions' touchdown drives came on drives of two plays or less while wide receiver Craig Rucker (Orlando, Fla.) caught eight passes for 186 yards and two scores in the win.
Lenoir-Rhyne took a 16-14 lead at the 5:35 mark of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback
Jarrod Kellar (Shinnston, W.Va.) found sophomore running back
Nelson Brown (Salisbury, Md.) for a 19-yard touchdown reception but Mars Hill responded by scoring 23 of the next 29 points to take control.
Kellar finished with 289 yards passing and four touchdowns – becoming the first Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback to throw four scores since 2001 – while Brown added 140 yards rushing in the losing effort. Lenoir-Rhyne finished with 485 yards of offense but was undone by 13 penalties for 166 yards.
Mars Hill's Tyler Stewart (Thomaston, Ga.) gave the Lions the lead for good with a 21-yard field goal for a 17-16 halftime advantage. Mars Hill, which rolled up 516 yards of total offense, scored three touchdowns in the third quarter. Keshaun Taylor (Homestead, Fla.) threw a touchdown and caught a score for the Lions, who responded after falling to North Carolina A&T State University by a 56-0 score last Saturday.
Junior wide receiver
T.J. Smith (Charleston, S.C.) caught five passes for 95 yards and a score while sophomore tight end
Sam Camargo (Kissimmee, Fla.) also tallied a pair of touchdown receptions in the losing effort. Lenoir-Rhyne also lost despite holding a 33:40-26:20 edge in time of possession. Mars Hill's quarterback, David Salmon (Raleigh, N.C.), threw for 296 yards and three scores.
Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to take on Wingate in a South Atlantic Conference game next Saturday beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mars Hill, meanwhile, faces Catawba in Salisbury, N.C., on Saturday at 6:00 p.m., on ESPN3.
