For the first time in the 101 years of Lenoir-Rhyne Football, the Bears will meet Bowie State on Saturday. The Bears and Bulldogs square off in the First Round of the NCAA Playoffs, the first time LR has traveled for the opening round of the playoffs.

In total, LR has been to the playoffs six times with the 2021 team marking the third straight appearance for the Bears. LR is 8-5 all-time in the playoffs with eight of those 13 games coming at home. The Bears are riding a six-game winning streak including the past five by a combined score of 247-32. LR has scored 56 points in back-to-back games and rank ninth in the nation in scoring offense (41.3 ppg). LR is 14th in the nation in scoring defense (14.9 ppg) and are one of two teams in Division II to be in the top 15 in both categories with Colorado School of Mines being the other. 

LR placed a program record 16 players on the All-SAC team as announced Thursday morning with the Bears also garnering Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Freshman RB Dwayne McGee (who also took home the leagues Freshman of the Year award) joined DT Amari Houston as individual award winners. 

Bowie State has won three straight CIAA titles and have won 10 straight games since dropping their season opener. The Bulldogs allow just 13.1 points per game and allows opponents only 91.4 yards per game on the ground. This marks the fourth straight trip to the NCAA Playoffs for BSU and the fourth straight first round home game. Bowie State's third down defense is tops in the nation, allowing opponents to convert just 22.9 percent of the time. Additionally, Bowie State's seven defensive touchdowns are the most by any team in Division II this year. 

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.