Two of the highest scoring teams in the nation will meet on Saturday with a trip to the National Semifinal on the line as the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears travel to Georgia to take on the top-seeded Valdosta St. Blazers. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. as the two square off in the Playoffs for the second team in the past four years.
The Blazers came to Hickory and upset the Bears back in 2013. However, LR will be looking to avenge that loss on Saturday and advance to the second National Semifinal in program history. The Bears held off an upset bid from No. 7 Wingate at Moretz Stadium last week thanks to a perfectly timed trick play. With under a minute to play and the Bears trailing by 3, Head Coach
Drew Cronic called for a double reverse flea flicker that was reeled in by
Riley McGee for the game-winning touchdown.
The Blazers had an easier time last week, destroying No. 4 Bowie St. by a final score of 66-16. The Blazers scored the final 45 points of the game to earn the victory. VSU boasts the highest scoring offense in the nation, averaging 53.5 points per game. The Bears rank eighth in scoring offense at 42.5 so plenty of points figured to be put on the board. The game could be determined by turnovers as the Bears are second in the nation with 38 takeaways but VSU has turned it over just 16 times in their 11 games.
The winner moves on to the National Semifinal next Saturday with opponent and time to be determined.
