COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lenoir-Rhyne football has been no stranger to success in the NCAA Division II playoffs, even playing for a national championship a decade ago.
But the Bears had never won a true road playoff game before — until Saturday.
Coach Mike Jacobs’ team came alive after halftime to rally past Benedict 35-25 in Columbia, S.C. The reward is another road game next Saturday – at Valdosta State in the Division II quarterfinals. This will be Lenoir-Rhyne’s third trip to the quarters in the past five seasons.
Here are nine things to know about the latest Bears triumph, which moves their overall record to 12-1.
1. For the second year in a row, a team from the South Atlantic Conference beat an 11-0 Benedict team on the Tigers’ home field in the second round of the D2 playoffs. Last season it was Wingate. This year, the Bears had the honor.
Benedict came into this contest ranked as high as No. 4 in all of Division II (sixth in another poll). Lenoir-Rhyne had never beaten a team ranked that high until Saturday.
2. For the 11th time this season, Lenoir-Rhyne scored first. The Bears found paydirt on a 29-yard run by Dwayne McGee with 9:58 left in the opening quarter. The Bears haven’t lost this season when scoring first.
McGee had a huge game overall, rushing for 216 yards on 21 attempts, an average of better than 10 yards per carry. No Lenoir-Rhyne back has ever rushed for that many yards in an NCAA playoff game.
Teammate Zayvion Turner-Knox added 45 rushing yards on eight totes and scored twice. His first TD put Lenoir-Rhyne back ahead 14-12 early in the second quarter. His second, with 9:42 left in the game, essentially put the game out of reach. That TD made the score 35-19 Bears.
3. Benedict led 19-14 at the half. Aeneas Dennis completed two explosive pass plays to Reginald Harden for touchdowns. One covered 87 yards; the other 58. Dennis’ third touchdown pass of the half went to Caden High on a 29-yard play. Two extra points were missed.
4. A 21-yard Sean White-to-Songa-Yates touchdown pass put Lenoir-Rhyne ahead to stay, 21-19, with 10:06 to go in the third quarter. White threw two TDs on the day, his next one coming on a 26-yard connection to John Godwin.
White finished 27-of-35 for 310 yards. In two playoff games this season, White has completed 52 throws for 708 yards and seven scores.
Kelin Parsons didn’t find the end zone but helped the Bears move the ball with six receptions for 103 yards. Nine different Bears caught passes.
5. Benedict came into the game with the top-ranked scoring defense in Division II, giving up just 8.5 points per game. The Tigers ranked second in total defense, allowing 207.7 yards per contest.
Lenoir-Rhyne rushed for 250 yards and passed for 310, earning 24 first downs. The Bears averaged six yards for rush.
On the flip side, Benedict passed for 376 yards against a Lenoir-Rhyne defense that also ranks among the nation’s best. The two teams combined for 1,001 yards of total offense.
6. Andre Jefferson moved closer to the Lenoir-Rhyne career record for sacks. His two sacks against Benedict gives him 28.5 total. He now trails career leader Jaquan Artis by 0.5 sacks.
Other defensive leaders for Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday included Percy King (eight tackles, an interception and two tackles-for-loss) and Jon Ross Maye (11 tackles).
7. Lenoir-Rhyne also made the national quarterfinals in 2013, 2018 and 2019.
8. Valdosta State, which beat Lenoir-Rhyne’s conference partner Limestone 62-41 in the opening round, upset Delta State 38-31 on the road Saturday. Valdosta improved to 12-1 with the victory.
9. The kickoff time for the Dec. 2 game between Lenoir-Rhyne and Valdosta State has not yet been announced. Lenoir-Rhyne is 0-2 all-time against the Blazers, losing 61-21 in the 2018 playoffs and falling 23-21 in the 2014 post-season.
