HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Coming off his team’s second win, Lenoir-Rhyne University head football coach Mike Kellar is pleased with the direction of the program but not satisfied.
“As a coach you always look at the positives,” said Kellar. “I am happy with the direction we are heading but not happy or satisfied with where we are at.
SAC STANDINGS
(through last Saturday’s games)
Conf. All
Wingate 2-0 4-0
Limestone 2-0 3-2
Newberry 1-0 3-2
Catawba 1-1 4-1
Carson-Newman 1-2 3-2
LRU 1-2 2-3
Mars Hill 1-2 2-3
Tusculum 0-2 2-3
Saturday’s games
Carson-Newman at Limestone, 6 p.m.
Mars Hill at Tusculum, 6 p.m.
Newberry at LRU, 2 p.m.
N. Greenville, S.C. at Catawba, 1:30 p.m.
UNC Pembroke at Wingate, 6 p.m.
“I think our program has been pointing up as far as confidence goes. You are seeing all the offseason training take shape. Last week at Tusculum, the kids executed the game plan.”
LRU (2-3, 1-2 South Atlantic Conference) faces one of its biggest challenges on Saturday when it meets Newberry, S.C. (3-2, 1-0) at 2 p.m. at Moretz Stadium in the annual Bishops Trophy game on Homecoming Day at LRU.
Newberry, the preseason pick to win the conference title and defending SAC champion, has won its last 12 conference games, marking the sixth-longest SAC winning streak in league history.
BEARS TALK
All of LRU’s football games will be broadcast on the radio courtesy of WAIZ 63 BIG WAYS (630 AM and 105.9 FM).
Additionally, “Bears Talk” is held on Wednesdays at the American Honor Ale House. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is streamed live on lrbears.com.
“We have to prepare and show up to face a very good club,” said Kellar. “It’s your typical Newberry team. They are built on speed and play with a lot of confidence. The biggest thing for us is we have to take care of the ball.”
LRU leads the overall series 44-32-7, but the Wolves have owned the Bears recently by winning the last two games by a combined score of 105-28.
The strength for Newberry is on defense. The Wolves have allowed 60 yards or less rushing in two of their last three games and haven’t allowed a 200-yard passer or 100-yard receiver since Sept. 10, 2016 against Virginia Union.
Dating back to last season, Newberry has held six opponents to less than 250 yards of total offense.
Newberry is third in the conference in total defense and 29th nationally. The Wolves are allowing 179.6 yards rushing per game, but 608 of the rushing yards allowed came in the first two games (The Citadel rushed for 374 yards and Virginia Union 234).
The Bears’ offensive attack is led sophomore running back Nelson Brown, whose 124 yards per game lead the SAC and rank him 18th nationally.
For the Bears to establish a running attack, Kellar pointed to the defense as the key.
“Block and tackling is what this game is all about,” said Kellar. “If our defense is not playing well, you are not able to stick to your game and keep handing Nelson the ball.
“When they are playing well, it enables you to stick to your game plan and it then comes down to your offensive line, tight ends, everyone blocking and receivers making their plays.”