HICKORY, N.C. - Head coach
Doug Socha and the Lenoir-Rhyne football team made a statement on Friday, defeating No. 14 Virginia Union 45-3 to open the 2026 campaign. This is the largest ranked win in program history.
Redshirt freshman quarterback
Wells Bettenhausen was lights out in his second career start, going 18-for-26 for 261 yards and a touchdown.
Mikel McClellan caught seven passes for 112 yards while
LJ Turner ran for 61 yards and two scores.
"I'm super happy for our guys," said coach Socha. "The focus and preparation paid off. We have to stay humble and hungry."
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne 45, #14 Virginia Union 3
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), Virginia Union (0-1)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Stadium
STORY OF THE GAME:
- Eddie Clark capped off a 7-play, 69-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run for the first score of his Bear career.
- After a 3-and-out from VUU, Lenoir-Rhyne scored again thanks to an LJ Turner rushing touchdown to make it 14-0 after one quarter of play.
- Turner capped off a 10-play, 55-yard drive with his second touchdown of the day to put LR up 21-0 early in the second.
- Wells Bettenhausen connected with Jarrod Mewborn for the Bears' fourth touchdown of the first half with 1:27 left.
- Carnell Ferguson strip sacked Virginia Union's RJ Rosales on three plays later to put the Bears back in scoring position.
- Daniel Deneen Jr. hit a 45-yard field goal at the buzzer to give the home side a 31-0 lead at the break.
- Max Blanc connected with tight end Carson Spoonts in the third quarter to put LR up 38-0.
- Mikel McClellan capped off his incredible game with a rushing touchdown midway through the fourth, giving the Bears 45 points.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Wells Bettenhausen was 18-for-26 with 261 yards and a touchdown.
- Shermon Davis led the team with 109 yards on the ground, including a 70-yard rush in the fourth.
- LJ Turner and Eddie Clark combined for 112 yards on the ground and three scores.
- Mikel McClellan tallied seven receptions for 112 yards and a rushing touchdown.
- Angus Weaver led the team with five tackles. Carnell Ferguson was tops with two sacks.
- Daniel Deneen Jr.'s 45-yard field goal is his longest as a Bear.
- Lenoir-Rhyne out-gained VUU 505-183 on offense and held the visitors to just 26 rushing yards.
- The Panthers were a combined 0-10 on third and fourth down conversions.
BEYOND THE STATS:
- The Bears are now 2-2 all-time against Virginia Union, having last won in 2019.
- This was the largest season-opening victory for the Bears since a 68-7 win over St. Augustine's in 2019.
- This was the largest ranked win in program history, with the previous being a 37-3 win over No. 16 Carson-Newman in 2013.
- The last time Lenoir-Rhyne gained 500+ yards of total offense was in the NCAA playoffs against Benedict in 2023.
Lenoir-Rhyne won't have time to rest on their success as they play host to an extremely tough West Alabama squad next week. These two teams last met in 2024 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs, a 37-34 win for LR. The Tigers open their season on Sunday when they travel to Montgomery, Alabama, to take on Tuskegee University. Kickoff for Saturday's contest is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Moretz Stadium.
