After a last-second loss to No. 12 West Alabama in its season-opener, the Lenoir-Rhyne football team looks to grab its first victory of the season when they meet North Greenville on Saturday evening.

In his first career start, sophomore QB Grayson Willingham threw for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Playoffs in 2017. Willingham's 300 yards were the eighth most in a single game in program history and the first 300-yard game since 2004. Willingham connected on a pair of 53-yard touchdown passes just 10 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter to turn a 29-19 deficit into a 32-29 lead. The outburst led to Willingham earning the team's Offensive Player of the Week award.

T.J. Smith caught six balls for 118 yards and the bomb that gave the Bears a three-point lead with 1:56 to go in the game. It was the first 100-yard game of Smith's career.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sherrod Williams was named the team's Defensive Player of the Week. Williams tallied 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Kyle Dugger earned the program's Ronnie Lott Heavy Hitter of the Week award after registering six tackles and a pair of pass breakups.

North Greenville won a defensive battle with Tusculum in its opener, prevailing 13-3. The Crusaders held Tusculum to 246 total yards but only accounted for 205 yards themselves. The NGU rushing game only accounted for 26 yards on 34 carries and Will Hunter threw for 179 yards and the only touchdown of the game.

LR defeated NGU by a score of 22-10 last season and the Bears own a 6-3 all-time record against the Crusaders.