By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWBERRY, S.C. — Lenoir-Rhyne University returned to playing football on Friday night, defeating Newberry (S.C.) 27-20 in double overtime.
It was the first game for the Bears (1-0) since Dec. 7, 2019 when they were beaten 43-38 by West Florida in an NCAA Regional final at Moretz Stadium. LRU finished that season at 13-1.
JACOBS
LRU has now won 18 straight league games.
Friday’s game was also the debut of Mike Jacobs as LRU’s head coach. He was hired in Dec. 2019 after Drew Cronic resigned to become head football coach at Mercer University. Cronic coached the Bears for two years.
Jacobs left Notre Dame (Ohio) after four seasons as head coach to become LRU’s 23rd head football coach. He is a former offensive lineman/long snapper, playing at Ohio State.
The South Atlantic Conference, responding to COVID-19, first scheduled games to be played last September but school presidents later voted to move all fall sports to the spring.
LRU’s next game is its home opener on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Barton.
MORE ON THE GAME: https://lrbears.com/news/2021/3/12/football-bears-outlast-newberry-in-double-ot-in-season-opener.aspx
LRU’S 2021 SCHEDULE: https://lrbears.com/sports/football/schedule/2020-21
LRU’S ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR HOME GAMES:
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: https://www.thesac.com/sports/fball/2020-21/schedule