HICKORY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears got back to .500 on Saturday, taking down UVA Wise 23-10 on Homecoming. The Bears won the possession battle 36:16-23:44 and out-rushed the Cavaliers 140-47 on the day. 

"It's always great to get a win on homecoming, especially in front of these great fans," said head coach Doug Socha. "Our defense did a great job stopping the run today. We got big stops and set our offense up for success. Every week is an opportunity to get better. We'll turn the page on this one and focus on Mars Hill next week."

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 23, UVA Wise 10
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (4-4, 3-3 SAC), UVA Wise (1-6, 1-5 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Stadium

STORY OF THE GAME:

• Trey Brenton ran right through UVA Wise early, rushing for 46 yards on the opening drive and capping it off with a touchdown.
• Both defenses locked in, not allowing a score until late in the second quarter.
• Destun Thomas caught an 11-yard pass from Khamoni Robinson with 2:16 left in the half to put the Bears up 14-0. 
• UVA Wise quickly went down and kicked a field goal on their next drive, making it 14-3 Bears at the break.
• The third quarter saw neither team get on the scoreboard, as the Bears stopped the last Cavalier drive with a seven yard sack from Kar'mel Quick.
• Alex Boyd scored his second touchdown of the season to open the fourth quarter, putting the home side up 21-3. 
• Lenoir-Rhyne picked up their final points of the game thanks to a safety forced by Brodie Bradburn and Winston Gassant.
• UVA Wise picked up a late score, but the Bears held on for the comfortable win. 

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Khamoni Robinson finished 16-for-23 with 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. 
• Trey Brenton (78) and Alex Boyd (49) combined for 127 yards and two scores.
• Songa Yates hauled in five catches for 72 yards, while Destun Thomas had four catches for 36 yards and a score.
• Tre'von Cooper and Winston Gassant led the team with six tackles each. 
• The Bears had nine TFL, led by Cooper with two. 
• Kar'mel Quick and Courtney Watson accounted for Lenoir-Rhyne's two sacks.
• Stewart Simmons continues to be one of the best punters in the country, averaged 42.6 yards per punt, despite a strategic 28-yarder in the first half.

BEYOND THE STATS:

• The Bears are now 4-1 all-time against the Cavaliers and have won three straight.
• Stewart Simmons now has three 60+ punts on the year and 13 inside the 20. 
• In just two full games Trey Brenton has 191 yards and two touchdowns.
• UVA Wise's 47 rushing yards were the fewest the Bears have allowed all year.
• This was Lenoir-Rhyne's third consecutive homecoming victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne will head west next week to take on Mars Hill. The Lions are 3-3 (2-2 SAC) and face conference leading Newberry tonight. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Mars Hill.