HICKORY, N.C. - Year two of the
Drew Cronic era begins tonight as the Bears play host to St. Augustine's in the 2019 season opener here at Moretz Stadium. Year one resulted in an AFCA National Coach of the Year award for Cronic and the Bears advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal before falling to eventual National Champion Valdosta St.
The Bears are looking to win their first season opener since a 41-28 win over West Chester in 2015. LR opened up with losses to West Alabama each of the past two seasons, including last year's heartbreaking 36-32 loss that saw the Tigers score the winning touchdown with just 12 seconds remaining.
After that tough loss a season ago, LR would rattle off 12 straight victories and enter the 2019 campaign ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Preseason Poll. The Bears were also predicted to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll with a program-record 13 players selected to the Preseason All-Conference team.
On the offensive side of the ball, LR ranked in the top 10 in the nation in both rushing yards per game and scoring. OL
Jason Poe was named a Second Team All-American and also brought home the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, while QB
Grayson Willingham shattered the program record for touchdown passes in a season with 26. RB
Ameen Stevens finished second in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns and was one of 10 Bears to find paydirt on the ground.
The Bears finished second in the nation in takeaways as a defensive unit in 2018 and boast a Preseason All-American in S
Kyle Dugger.
Eric Jackson led the conference with six interceptions and LB
Sherrod Williams led the nation with six forced fumbles. No returning player in the league had more sacks than DE
Jaquan Artis' 11 and the senior added 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hurries and four fumble recoveries. DT
Dan Louba was a First Team All-Conference selection and LB
Clayton Horn was a Preseason All-Conference selection for the second straight year.
St. Augustine's is coming off a 2-7 season in 2018 but is just two years removed from a 5-2 CIAA record. SAU LB Joseph Harris was one of the top rookies in the conference last year. Harris made both the All-CIAA and All-CIAA Rookie teams after accumulating 58 tackles and intercepting two passes. He was the only Falcon to make the All-CIAA First Team. Defensive lineman Brandon Jackson and Harris of SAU both earned spots on the All-CIAA and All-CIAA Rookie Teams. Jackson, a second-team selection, was second in sacks and tackles for loss for the Falcons.
Both Harris and Jackson are part of defense returning six starters including defensive backs Roy Garris and Curtis Hardy. Garris was an Honorable Mention All-CIAA selection despite missing half the season due to injury. Hardy, a hard-hitting cornerback, was the Falcons' second-leading tackler (41) last year. Dominick Bryant, an All-CIAA Rookie pick, Teoz Mauney and Desmond Quinerly help form a strong defensive line.
Despite this being the 100
th year of Lenoir-Rhyne Football, the two programs have never met prior to tonight.
