Box Score HICKORY N.C.  – The Lenoir-Rhyne football team (2-1, 1-0 SAC) cruised to a 59-27 victory over Mars Hill (0-3, 0-1 SAC) in the Bears home opener on Thursday afternoon. The 59 points scored by LR was the most in a game since scoring 62 against Alderson Broaddus on Nov. 9, 2013.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 59, Mars Hill 27
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (2-1, 1-0 SAC), Mars Hill (0-3, 0-1 SAC)
Location: Moretz Stadium | Hickory, N.C.
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STATS OF THE GAME:
•   The Bears scored three times in the first quarter to open up a 21-point lead on the Lions and never looked back. Jaquay Mitchell scored twice in the opening quarter, once on a seven-yard run and again on a 16-yard pass.
•   Grayson Willingham was ultra-efficient, going 8-for-10 for 154 yards and four touchdowns all in the first half before giving way to Cal Morris who played the final 30 minutes.
 •   Xzavion Huff, Dareke Young, Mitchell and Kenny Carter each had a rushing touchdown in the victory. T.J. Smith, Drake Starks, Mitchell and Ryan Carter all caught TDs for the Bears explosive offense.
•   Craig Rucker had a standout game for the Lions, catching 10 balls for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
•    The Bears have scored over 50 points in each of the last two games. LR put a 51-spot on the board against North Greenville last Saturday. The last time LR scored over 50 points in consecutive games was 2011.
•    First-year Head Coach Drew Cronic has led LR to back-to-back wins, the first time that has happened since LR won three straight in 2015. 
•    The Bears rushed for 305 yards as a team on 52 rushes. The 468 total yards is actually the lowest total in a game for the Bears in 2018.
•    This marks the first time LR has defeated Mars Hill since 2015.

UP NEXT:
LR will travel to Wingate next Saturday for a huge South Atlantic Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.