HobbsDailyReport.com
MARS HILL – Led by senior quarterback David Salmon, Mars Hill broke open a close game via a strong third quarter en route to beating visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University 43-28 in football on Saturday.
The game opened the South Atlantic Conference scheduled for both schools, and the Lions (2-1, 1-0) beat the Bears (1-2. 0-1) for the third straight season.
MARS HILL 43
LENOIR-RHYNE 28
LRU was vying to win back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2015.
Salmon was 15 of 28 for 296 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, leading the Lions to 516 yards on offense — 359 of them passing. The Bears finished with a season-high 485 yards.
Mars Hill led by one point at halftime but took control in the third quarter by scoring on three of their five possessions to lead 37-22 at the end of the quarter.
Led by sophomore Craig Rucker (186 yards, 2 TDs) with eight receptions, eight players caught a pass for the Lions and four of their six offensive TDs came in the air. Senior Keshaun Taylor added 93 yards and a TD on three receptions.
SALMON
LRU was in the game with five minutes 37 seconds left in the third quarter after Sam Camargo caught a 14-yard pass from Jarrod Kellar to close their deficit to 24-22 after a failed two-point conversion.
The Lions responded with 13 unanswered points to lead 37-22 with nine seconds left in the third quarter when Taylor connected with Rucker on a 44-yard pass.
Mars Hill outscored the Bears 26-12 in the second half and scored on four of its eight second-half possessions.
The game featured about everything but defense. The teams combined for 1,001 yards, 71 points, big plays and 31 penalties 325 yards (166 by the Bears; 159 by the Lions).
The Bears had three TDs called back because of penalties – including two punt returns by Kyle Dugger.
Nelson Brown led LRU with 140 yards on 20 carries for his second straight 100-yard plus game.
Kellar was 25 of 51 with four TDs for 289 yards with no interceptions.
LRU faces conference foe Wingate on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Moretz Stadium.