For the second season in a row, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears host a South Atlantic Conference rival in the Second Round of the NCAA Playoffs inside Moretz Stadium. LR defeated Wingate 21-17 in 2018 and look to make a second straight Super Region 2 Regional Final when Carson-Newman comes to town.

The Bears have found unparalleled success under second-year Head Coach Drew Cronic. Cronic, the league's Coach of the Year for a second straight season, has guided the Bears to a 24-2 record over the past two seasons and has never lost a home or lost to a SAC opponent. Cronic is 14-0 in Hickory and 15-0 against league foes. 

In that streak, the Bears topped Carson-Newman 36-23 earlier this season. A slow start for the Eagles led to an LR victory as the Bears jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. CN cut the lead to six points but never led in the contest as LR won by double digits for the 12th time at home in the past two years. 

However, Carson-Newman has not lost since that setback, reeling off five consecutive victories. Last week, the Eagles upset an undefeated Bowie State team that was ranked No. 11 in the AFCA National Poll. Carson-Newman didn't allow a single point in Bowie State's five red zone trips and held the hosts to just 5-of-14 third down conversions. Bowie State's Ja'rome Johnson threw a pair of interceptions and the Bulldogs went 0-for-2 on fourth downs in the loss. 

The Lenoir-Rhyne/Carson-Newman rivalry dates back to 1927 when the Bears won the inaugural matchup 12-0. However, CN dominated much of the rivalry, owning a 44-18 advantage head-to-head including 30 straight victories. However, since breaking that long winning streak in 2010, LR is 9-3 against Carson-Newman and have won seven of the last eight. The two have met twice previously in the NCAA Playoffs with each owning one win by single digits. Carson-Newman won the 2012 showdown 38-35 in Jefferson City with the Bears returning the favor the next season 27-20 in Hickory. In the victory, LR trailed 20-7 before turning to backup QB Josh Justice who rallied the Bears with a rushing and a passing touchdown. 

A total of 25 all-conference performers will be in this matchup. Lenoir-Rhyne placed a school-record 15 on the all-conference squad, while CN added 10 selections. Also, four individual award winners will take the field as CN's Troy Dendy was the SAC Freshman of the Year, while LR boasts the conference Defensive Player of the Year (Jaquan Artis), Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner (Jason Poe) and Coach of the Year. 

The winner of this matchup will move on to face the winner of top-seeded Valdosta St. against West Florida. Valdosta St. would host the Regional Final with a victory but an upset by West Florida would open the bracket.