Drew Cronic Postgame

HICKORY, N.C. – The No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne Football Team moved to 7-0 with an impressive 36-23 victory over Carson-Newman on Saturday afternoon. The win extended the LR regular-season winning streak to 17 straight and their South Atlantic Conference winning streak to 12 straight. Additionally, LR has won 11 straight games inside Moretz Stadium, the second-longest streak in Division II. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne 36, Carson-Newman 23
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (7-0, 5-0 SAC), Carson-Newman (4-2, 2-2 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Stadium
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STATS OF THE GAME:
•   For the third straight game, Lenoir-Rhyne scored in the first two minutes of the game. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Jaquay Mitchell took the first offensive play of the day 65-yards down to the one yard line before Ameen Stevens punched it in to put LR up 7-0. Just under three minutes later, Carson-Newman's punter Nate Craft fumbled the snap out of the back of the end zone for a safety to put the Bears ahead 9-0.
•   The lead was pushed to 16-0 when Grayson Willingham ran it in from one yard out on a broken play as the Bears flexed their muscle early. The Eagles would respond with a back-to-back touchdown runs from QB Derrick Evans to cut the lead to 16-14. The second TD drive was especially impressive for the visitors who went 88 yards in 20 plays and ate up 11:09 on the drive and were aided by a fourth-down penalty by the Bears to keep the drive alive. 
 •  Leading by just two, Grayson Willingham engineered a quick response. With 1:11 remaining in the half, Willingham led a drive that went 67 yards in just four plays which was capped by a perfect 26-yard TD pass to Demarius Hampton. That touchdown tied him for the all-time lead at Lenoir-Rhyne with 39 career TD passes. 
•   The teams would trade third quarter field goals before Ameen Stevens added his second TD run -- and fifth in his past two games -- to put the Bears up 33-17. The Eagles scored with 7:16 left to play but failed on the two point conversion and also the onside kick attempt. 
•   Carson-Newman entered the game averaging 346 yards rushing per game but were held to just 158 yards on 44 carries with 62 of them coming on two plays. Evans two rushing touchdowns match the amount of TDs on the ground LR had given up all season. Also, a 37-yard run by Antonio Wimbush was the longest run against LR this season. 
•   Clayton Horn had 10 tackles, including eight of the solo variety, and added a crucial fumble recovery on the C-N seven yard line in the fourth quarter. Kyle Dugger added nine tackles and Sherrod Williams sealed the game with a strip-sack in the fourth quarter. The senior LB added eight stops. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
•    Deondre Lester made his first career start and caught a career-high four balls for 35 yards. 
•    The Bears have now won nine of their last 12 against Carson-Newman. 
•    Michael Owen was outstanding for the Bears, punting three times with all three landing inside the 10 including one at the one yard line. 

UP NEXT:
LR continues conference play when they travel to Limestone on Saturday at 4 p.m.