COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Bears go for sixth straight win over Tusculum

HobbsDailyReport.com

HICKORY – If the past repeats itself, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s football opponent on Saturday may be the relief the Bears have been seeking.

In search of its fourth win in the last 16 games, LRU (1-3, 0-2) travels to Greenville, Tenn., for a 6 p.m. kickoff with Tusculum (2-2, 0-1 South Atlantic Conference) at Pioneer Field.

Saturday’s game can be heard on the radio on 63 Big Ways (WAIZ) 630 AM and 105.9 PM. The pregame starts 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

The Bears have won five straight over the Pioneers, including 31-3 last season in Moretz Stadium, and they’ve won seven of the last eight in a series that’s tied at 10 wins each.

“I am tired of saying it, and I know people are tired of hearing it, but we are heading down the right path,” LRU head coach Mike Kellar said. “We have improved as a football program.

KELLAR

“We have the right kids doing the right things. We have to make some more plays, get a couple of breaks so we can get on the right end of the win-loss column.”

Tusculum has won five of its last eight games dating back to last year while the Bears are 2-6 in that same span.

“We have to be ready to play,” said Kellar. “Tusculum is a good club and they are hot. I feel we are two programs that are very similar in a lot of ways.”

The Pioneers’ strength is defense, and Saturday’s game could come down to turnovers.

Tusculum is second among NCAA Division II teams in turnovers forced at plus-14, leads the country in fumble recoveries (9), and is tied for first in the country with Western Oregon in turnover margin (+2.5).

The Pioneers are led by sophomore cornerback Dee Alford, whose has been involved in six of the Pioneers’ six takeaways. He has a SAC-leading three fumbles recoveries and returned a fumble for a touchdown against North Greenville (S.C.).

The game can be heard on the radio on 63 Big Ways (WAIZ) 630 AM and 105.9 PM. The pregame starts 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

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