Jerko'ya Patton
Sophomore Jerko'ya Patton became the program's career leader in rushing yards on Saturday.
17
Limestone LC 0-7 , 0-4
63
Winner Lenoir-Rhyne LR 6-1 , 5-0
Limestone LC
0-7 , 0-4
17
Final
63
Lenoir-Rhyne LR
6-1 , 5-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LC Limestone 0 3 7 7 17
LR Lenoir-Rhyne 14 21 14 14 63

Game Recap: Football | | Ernest Meyers, Assistant A.D. for Media Relations

Phillips, Patton Break Career Records in Loss

HICKORY, N.C. – Sophomore QB DJ Phillips (Fayetteville, N.C.) became the program's career passing leader while sophomore RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) broke the team's career rushing record, but Limestone College ended up dropping a 63-17 decision to Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Lenoir-Rhyne 63, Limestone 17
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1, 5-0), Limestone (0-7, 0-4)
Location: Moretz Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 
  • Phillips went 26-of-41 for 356 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding a rushing TD
  • Patton finished with 115 yards from scrimmage (40 rushing, 75 receiving)
  • Senior WR Cody Rau (Litchfield, Minn.) hauled in eight catches for 145 yards and a TD
  • Freshman RB Malik Brooks (Saluda, S.C.) rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries
  • Brooks also added 41 receiving yards for 116 yards of total offense
  • Graduate DB Joshua Simmons (Moncks Corner, S.C.) finished with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, to go with an interception
  • Freshman LB Tallon Campbell (Cheraw, S.C.) added 11 tackles
  • Junior DB DJ Witherspoon (Moncks Corner, S.C.) registered two interceptions
  • Senior K Griffin Martin (Goose Creek, S.C.) booted a career-long 50-yard field goal
  • Limestone put up a season-high 449 yards of total offense
  • Lenoir-Rhyne countered with 609 yards of total offense, including 496 yards rushing
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The home-standing Bears did not need long to move in front, jumping out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest. After forcing a three-and-out on defense, Lenoir-Rhyne used a 40-yard punt return to start its drive at the Limestone 21-yard line before punching the ball in two plays later.
 
Following another punt by the Saints, Drake Starks finished off a 10-play, 79-yard drive for the Bears with a 21-yard catch-and-run to give the home team a 14-0 advantage. Lenoir-Rhyne was driving late in the opening quarter, but Simmons would end the drive on the final play with his 15th career interception.
 
Second Quarter
 
A 20-yard run straight up the gut by Brooks put the Blue and Gold in L-R territory before the drive stalled at the Bears 34-yard line. However, Martin had just enough room on his 50-yard field goal attempt, the longest in the South Atlantic Conference so far this season, to trim the margin to 14-3 early in the second.
 
The Saints got a couple of defensive stops behind an interception from Witherspoon and then a three-and-out, but the visitors were unable to take advantage as both resulting drives stalled around midfield. Lenoir-Rhyne then started to pull away from there, scoring three touchdowns over the final 3:15.
 
After Limestone pinned them inside the 10-yard line, the Bears needed just three plays to go 94 yards for a 21-3 lead. L-R would then convert a turnover into points a few plays later before closing the opening half with a 4-play, 59-yard drive that took just 33 seconds to make it a 35-3 game at the intermission.    
 
Third Quarter
 
After both teams exchanged turnovers to start the second half, the Bears capped a 10-play, 52-yard drive with a 1-yard TD by Ameen Stevens. After Limestone went three-and-out, the Bears returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown – their third in two weeks – to extend the margin to 49-3 with 8:39 left in the third.
 
For a second straight week, Limestone did not record its first offensive touchdown until midway through the third quarter with the game well out of hand. Brooks totaled 45 yards from scrimmage on the drive and Rau hauled in a 42-yard reception before Phillips bullied his way into the endzone from a yard out.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Trailing 56-10 early in the fourth, the Saints would get on the board for the last time on the afternoon when Phillips hit Rau for a 47-yard touchdown pass. Lenoir-Rhyne applied the finishing touches midway through the final quarter as a 3-play, 43-yard drive secured the 63-17 win for the home team.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Limestone kept things close with the conference front-runners, trailing only 14-3 late in the second quarter. However, Lenoir-Rhyne would put the game well out of reach with 21 points over the final three minutes of the period to take a commanding 35-3 halftime advantage.  
 
NOTABLES
 
  • A week after giving up a program-worst 468 yards rushing against Carson-Newman, Limestone gave up 496 yards on the ground against Lenoir-Rhyne
  • The Saints racked up 264 yards of offense in the second half
  • Rau registered his second 100-yard game of the season
  • He now ranks fourth all-time in career yards and third with five career touchdowns
 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone returns home to host in-state rival Newberry College on Saturday, October 20 at 1 p.m.
 
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