SALISBURY, N.C. - Down 38-21 late in the third quarter and 38-24 heading into the fourth, the Lenoir-Rhyne football team scored 21 unanswered points to take down Catawba 45-38 in the final game of both team's seasons.
Leading the way was none other than
Shermon Davis, who ran for 232 yards and two scores, including a career long 77-yard rush touchdown late in the fourth to tie the game at 38-38. In addition to his yards on the ground, Davis led the team with 111 receiving yards and went 62-yards on a screen pass from
Wells Bettenhausen to score the game winning touchdown with just under five minutes to go.
"I loved the fight and character of our TEAM," said head coach
Doug Socha. "Down 17 in the fourth quarter this team never stopped believing, scoring 21 and making key defensive stops. 3-0 to finish the season."
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 45, Catawba 38
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (6-5, 5-4 SAC), Catawba (5-6, 4-5 SAC)
Location: Salisbury, N.C. | Shuford Stadium
STORY OF THE GAME:
- Shermon Davis opened the game with a bang, running for a 68-yard touchdown on the Bears second play of the game.
- Following a Catawba score, Wells Bettenhausen hit Carson Spoonts for a 21-yard touchdown completion and the Bears led 14-7 after one.
- Catawba scored 17 straight to open the second quarter before Bettenhausen ran it in from seven yards out to make it 24-21 Catawba heading into the locker room.
- Just five minutes into the third Catawba had already extended its lead to 38-21 and was looking to run away with this one.
- Shamil Saadiq Jr. cut the lead to just one score early in the fourth with his second receiving touchdown of the year.
- On 4th and 1 at the LR 23, Carnell Ferguson made a huge tackle to give Lenoir-Rhyne the ball back.
- Shermon Davis did what he does best on the very next play, running for long touchdowns. He opened the drive with a 77-yard rushing touchdown, the longest of his career.
- Brodie Bradburn sacked Catawba quarterback Mason Fortune on 3rd and 9 and the Catawba Indians were forced to punt.
- A screen pass to Shermon Davis on the first play of the drive ended in a 62-yard receiving touchdown, putting the Bears ahead with five minutes left.
- Lenoir-Rhyne's defense stepped up and forced a late fumble, securing the win.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Wells Bettenhausen was 20-for-34 with 363 yards and three scores.
- Shermon Davis finished with 343 (232 rush, 111 rec.) all purpose yards and three scores.
- KJ Whitehead and Keaton Stigall led the Bears with nine tackles each.
- Kar'mel Quick finished the game with two sacks and forced fumble.
- Lenoir-Rhyne led 23-22 on first downs and finished with 668 yards of total offense.
- The Bears averaged an incredible 11.3 yards/play in this one.
BEYOND THE STATS:
- Lenoir-Rhyne is now 52-49-4 against Catawba and have not lost in the series since 2017, winning eight straight.
- The 668 yards of total offense is the most for a Bears team since posting 750 in a 59-0 win over Carson-Newman in 2021.
- Wells Bettenhausen leads the SAC and is ranked third in school history with 2,470 passing yards.
- Shermon Davis is second in the conference with 901 rushing yards.
- Mikel McClellan's 76.9 receiving yards/game leads the SAC.
Up Next: The Bears will most likely sit just outside the top eight of Super Region 2 on tomorrow night's NCAA selection show, concluding their season.
