LIVINGSTON, AL.-- A record setting performance from Jalen Ferguson led Lenoir-Rhyne to a big 37-34 victory over West Alabama in the opening round of the NCAA DII Playoffs. Ferguson becomes the first player in the 105-year history of Lenoir-Rhyne football to throw for over 400 yards in a single game, throwing for an incredible 411 yards and three touchdowns. This breaks Sean White's record of 398 yards set just last year. A key piece to Ferguson's success was Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Bears will now face unseeded Virginia Union next Saturday. VUU upset #2 seeded Wingate 34-31 in overtime earlier today. The time and location of the game will be released tomorrow night.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 37, West Alabama 34
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (10-2,) West Alabama (9-2)
Location: Livingston, Al. | Tiger Stadium

STORY OF THE GAME:

• After the Bears punted on their opening drive, The Tigers got on the board first with a 42 yard touchdown from Spencer Arceneaux to Tyler Walker. 
• Jalen Ferguson called his number on third and goal from the four on the next drive to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. 
• The teams traded punts before West Alabama re-took the lead on an end around in the first minute of the second quarter. 
• Ferguson and the Bears responded quickly to the Tigers's touchdown with a seven play drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to Adonis McDaniel. 
• The track meet continued as West Alabama scored on just five plays, taking a 21-14 lead.
• After a blocked punt, Tigers scored another touchdown after an one play drive as Tigers opened a 27-14 lead with 7:04 to play in the first half. 
• A JT Black forced fumble and recovery eventually led to a Malik Simmons touchdown to cut the lead to 27-21. 
• A failed fake punt gave the Bears a golden chance to take the lead into halftime, but the UWA defense held strong and forced an LR field goal.
• West Alabama led 27-24 at the break.
• UWA's Spencer Arceneaux took off up the middle for a 61 yard rushing touchdown for the first score of the second half as West Alabama held ten-point lead in the early third quarter. 
• The Bears got a field goal to cut the lead to seven, which was followed by Ferguson connecting with McDaniel on a 78 yard bomb to tie the game at 34 with 1:59 left in the third. 
• A Jake Brown field goal with 4:46 left in the game gave the Bears their first lead at 37-34. 
• After each team traded punts, Damien Savage made the biggest play of his career, picking of Arceneaux to stop all momentum.
• After a Bears punt, the Tigers moved up the field quickly, but their 44-yard field goal as time expired was short, giving LR the win.

STATS OF THE GAME:

• The teams combined for 476 yards of offense in the first half of play. 
• Ferguson went 22-40 with 411 yards and three touchdowns. The 411-yards is the most in a single game in the 105 year history of LR football. 
• Adonis McDaniel is the third person in program history to eclipse the 200 yard receiving mark in a game as McDaniel finished with 7 catches and 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 
• McDaniel's receiving yards are the most in school history in an NCAA Playoff game. 
• Songa Yates helped out with five catches for 107 yards.
• Jaelin Willis led with 10 tackles, including 1.0 TFL.
• LR held West Alabama to just seven second half points and held the Tigers scoreless in the 4th quarter. 
• This was just the third road playoff victory in school history, following last year's wins over Benedict and Valdosta State.

UP NEXT: The Bears will now face Virginia Union next Saturday in the NCAA DII Second Round. Game time and location will be announced tomorrow night.