Lenoir-Rhyne’s mastery over Barton College — and the Division II South Atlantic Conference as a whole — continued on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears improved to 7-0 on the season and 13-0 all-time against the Bulldogs with a convincing 47-3 victory on homecoming.
Here are three things to know about the latest Lenoir-Rhyne triumph, which moves the Hickory school to 5-0 in the SAC:
1. No sweating it out this time
The Bears, pushed to the brink last week at Limestone in overtime, took control from the start this week. Coach Mike Jacobs’ team led 34-3 at the half and outgained the visitors 515-148 for the game. Barton tailback Jordan Terrell, one of the top rushers in all of Division II, was held to 54 yards on 14 attempts.
Meanwhile, Terrell’s counterpart from Lenoir-Rhyne, Dwayne McGee, rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown and also caught a TD pass from Jalen Ferguson.
2. By air and by land
Ferguson had one of the most efficient passing games of the season within the conference. Ferguson completed 19 of 24 passes for 241 yards and three TDs.
DeAree Rogers had a monster receiving game, catching 11 passes for 150 yards and a score. Deondre Lester made the most of his three receptions, scoring on two of them, including on a 48-yard play in the opening half.
Three Lenoir-Rhyne players completed passes Saturday. Sean White finished 4-of-5 for 50 yards (he also had a QB sneak for a touchdown). Wide receiver Songa Yates turned a trick play into a 21-yard touchdown pass to Rogers in the second quarter. That play put the Bears ahead 27-3.
Barton’s lone points came on a field goal by Bear Huggins in the opening quarter. Lenoir-Rhyne rolled 40-0 from that point. The Bulldogs dropped to 5-2, 3-2 SAC with the loss.
3. One-sided series so far
Barton restarted its football program in 2020. In four meetings against Lenoir-Rhyne, the Bulldogs have been outscored 181-36. This year seemed to be Barton’s best chance to end its losing streak (which dates back several decades when Barton was Atlantic Christian College), but the Bears proved too much.
More Notes:
* Lenoir-Rhyne has scored on its first possession in each of the last four games
* Jon Ross Maye and Malik Taylor paced the Lenoir-Rhyne defense with six tackles each. Taylor forced a fumble.
* LR’s TJ Blanding broke his leg in last year’s game against Barton and wondered if he’d ever play football again. Blanding has enjoyed a triumphant return to the game this season, returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown last week against Limestone. On Saturday, Blanding picked off a pass.
* The Bears extended what is the longest winning streak in the state across all divisions to nine games, dating back to last season.
* Barton’s Terrell came into Saturday’s contest with 934 rushing yards. Now at 988, he needs 12 more yards to reach the magical 1,000-yard plateau for the season.
For a complete game recap and more game notes, visit LRBears.com.
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