Tusculum victory Carson-Newman hands
LRU no worse than share of league title
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University took care of its business — pounding visiting UNC Pembroke 51-3 on Saturday — and got some help from Tusculum to secure at least a share of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) football title.
WILLINGHAM
The Bears (8-1, 5-0) have won eight straight as they head to second-place Carson-Newman on Saturday (2 p.m.) with a chance to win and wrap up an outright SAC title in head coach Drew Cronic’s first season at LRU.
Tusculum defeated Carson-Newman 41-28 on Saturday at Tusculum, pushing the Bears into first place alone.
LRU’s defense dominated UNC Pembroke (2-5) with Sharrod Williams and Eric Jackson returning interceptions for touchdowns and the Bears also produced a safety.
The Braves were held to a fourth-quarter field goal and 62 rushing yards.
Sophomore quarterback Grayson Willingham threw for two TDs, giving him 16 for the season to tie Jack Huss for the fifth-most TD passes in a season in program history. Willingham is three shy of breaking the school record.
Junior Kyle Dugger broke the season record for most punt return yardage as he racked up 53 yards on two returns to give him 435. The previous mark of 432 was held by Michael Green.
Dareke Young carried six times for 32 yards and two scores and former Maiden High star Xzavion Huff added two TDs.
Huff scored on a 46-yard pass play and added a 6-yard run. He has six rushing TDs, two receiving TDs and a kickoff return TD this season.
Williams finished with seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The Bears scored 28 points in the opening quarter, their highest scoring quarter of the year.
LRU has now scored 30 or more points in every game this season, and the Bears have rushed for multiple TDs in every game.
The Bears cleared 300 rushing yards for the fifth time this season, finishing with 335. Kenny Carter led with 66 yards on seven carries.
SATURDAY’S STATISTICS: https://lrbears.com/news/2018/10/27/football-braves-have-no-answer-for-lr-as-bears-earn-share-of-sac-regular-season-title.aspx?path=football
MORE GAME COVERAGE: https://uncpbraves.com/news/2018/10/27/big-first-quarter-pushes-no-24-lenoir-rhyne-past-football.aspx