GAME STATS: https://lrbears.com/news/2018/11/17/football-advances-past-florida-tech-in-ncaa-playoffs-will-host-wingate-next-saturday.aspx
MORE COVERAGE: https://floridatechsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-panthers-season-ends-with-ncaa-playoff-loss-to-lenoir-rhyne.aspx
WINGATE’S GAME: https://wingatebulldogs.com/news/2018/11/17/football-how-bout-them-dogs-wingate-knocks-off-10-west-georgia-in-play-off-opener-for-seventh-straight-win.aspx
THIS SEASON’S PREVIOUS WINGATE AT LRU GAME: https://lrbears.com/boxscore.aspx?id=4721&path=football
NCAA DIVISION II BRACKETS: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/d2/2018
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Forcing six turnovers and keeping the ball for nearly 40 minutes, Lenoir-Rhyne University rolled past visiting Florida Tech 43-21 on Saturday to advance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
The third-seeded Bears (11-1) will take an 11-game win streak into the second round and play at home next Saturday (time to be announced) against South Atlantic Conference (SAC) foe Wingate.
Wingate (9-3), seeded seventh, advanced with a 41-31 upset of No. 2 seed West Georgia on Saturday in Carrollton, Ga.
LRU edged Wingate 31-24 in a regular season SAC game at Hickory on Sept. 22.
The Bears collected their 500th all-time football victory on Saturday, becoming the 30th school in NCAA Division II history to reach 500.
JACKSON
On Saturday, sophomore Eric Jackson led the LRU defense with two interceptions and a forced fumble in a span just shy of 4 ½ minutes to start the second half. He finished with seven tackles and also broke up a pass.
Sophomore kicker Chase Allbaugh set school records with five field goals, going 5-for-5, and his 15 field goals this season is also best in school history.
The Bears also got three scoring passes from sophomore quarterback Grayson Willingham, who threw for 247 yards. He now has 23 TD passes, a school single-season record.
Willingham hit Jaquay Mitchell three times for 103 yards and a TD. Mitchell took a screen pass 67 yards, down to the 2, and he added 27 rushing yards on seven carries.
The Bears’ defense also produced interceptions by Sherrod Williams and Javoris Smith, forcing Florida Tech (8-4) into 14-of-36 passing.
J.T. Hassell finishd with 19 tackles and Adonis Davis had three tackles for lost yardage for Florida Tech.