NEWBERRY, S.C. – Despite trailing 14-0 after 21 minutes of play, the Lenoir-Rhyne Football Team rallied to defeat Newberry 34-21 thanks to a pair of punt returns from Kyle Dugger. Dugger became the first player in program history to return two punts for a touchdown in a single game and his performance kept LR atop the league standings at 4-0. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 34, Newberry 21
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (5-1, 4-0 SAC), Newberry (3-3, 1-1 SAC)
Location: Setzler Field | Newberry, S.C.
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STATS OF THE GAME:
•   Dugger was the star of the game, returning a pair of punts for touchdowns to keep the Bears in the game. Trailing 14-7, Dugger took one 69 yards to even the score midway through the second quarter. After Newberry took a seven-point lead, Dugger ran one 64 yards to the house to start a 20-0 second half scoring run for the Bears.
•   The drive of the game came after Dugger's second TD return when Xzavion Huff capped a nine play, 80-yard drive with a seven-yard run. The Bears didn't attempt a single pass on the drive and only attempted four passes in the second half.
 •   Making his first career start against a top-10 defense in points allowed, Gunnar Anderson led the Bears to their fifth straight victory. The freshman went 8-for-16 for 88 yards and didn't turn the ball over to help LR to its first win over Newberry in three years.   
•   Ameen Stevens led a rushing attack that ran the ball a whopping 52 times for 250 yards on the day. Stevens ran 19 times for 84 yards and a touchdown and Huff added six carries for 32 yards to go with his TD.
•   Markell Castle kept Newberry in the game with his performance. The WR caught six balls for 193 yards and a score but was contained in the second half as Newberry struggled to find a rhythm in the final 30 minutes.
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
•    Dugger has had a handful of touchdown returns called back due to a penalty, but tonight his two returns held up, giving him four career punt returns for a touchdown in his career.
•    The Bears bring home the Bishops' Trophy with the victory. LR owns the all-time series 45-33-7 but had lost the last three straight matchups against the Wolves.
•   LR entered play ranked 16^th in Division II in rushing yards. LR has rushed for multiple touchdowns in every game this season. In total, four different Bears have four rushing touchdowns on the season.
•    Dugger added seven tackles and a pass breakup to complete a terrific all-around effort.
•    This is LR's first five-game winning streak since winning 11 straight to open the 2014 season.

UP NEXT:
LR will host Limestone on Homecoming a week from today. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Moretz Stadium.