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Bears hope recent success continues

BY PAUL FOGLEMAN

Record Sports Correspondent

Published: September 16, 2009

HICKORY - When asked if his team's 42-0 whitewash of Davidson last Saturday was its most complete performance during his three-year tenure, Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Fred Goldsmith was unequivocal in his response.

"From what I have to compare it to, it sure is," said Goldsmith during Tuesday's noon media luncheon. "I enjoyed it, and I'm excited for the kids."

But that doesn't mean there aren't a few more rungs on the ladder to scale, and the time to rest on Saturday's laurels has quickly passed, he added.

"I'm realistic enough to know that we still have to get better," Goldsmith said. "We can't pat ourselves on the back for too long. We have to get over it and move on."

Still, that doesn't mean Goldsmith and the Bears can't take notice of some impressive number churned out against the Wildcats and over the first three games.

L-R (2-1) hung 413 total yards on Davidson, 370 via a rushing attack that has been plenty potent over the past three weeks.

Tailback Andrew Courman spearheaded the Bears' triple-option attack, needing just 8 carries to pile up 140 yards, 95 of those coming on a third-quarter scoring run.

Currently the Bears sit second in the NCAA Division II rushing rankings, averaging 345 yards a game on the ground thanks to a more seasoned group leading the L-R charge.

"There's a big difference when a coach calls something, and the kids have been playing for two years and know exactly what you're talking about," said Goldsmith, who has nine starters back on the offensive side of the ball.

"And we have more speed on the field probably than we've had in a long, long time. But it (the rushing game) can get better. We have some areas like a couple of things with our guards that can get better this week.

"We're second in the nation, but we're also second in our conference," said Goldsmith, alluding to next week's opponent, Brevard (361.7 yards per game), when the Bears will open South Atlantic Conference play.

Consistency, though, is a battle L-R is still waging, Goldsmith said. Though Saturday's stat sheet appears impressive, looks can be deceiving, he added.

"We didn't have but one penalty and we didn't have any turnovers, and that's a big difference in any ball game," said Goldsmith, whose team forced five Davidson giveaways.

"(The game) was not as easy as the score indicates. It was a struggle throughout the whole first half.

"Defensively we played better, and I felt like we hit some good passes, but we missed some short ones. We've got to get that executed better, and there were still too many mistakes but we got away with them."

Also deceiving might be the 0-3 mark this week's opposition will carry into Moretz Stadium, said Goldsmith.

The Bears and North Greenville will stage a first ever meeting Saturday at 7 p.m., and though the Crusaders may be winless, Goldsmith emphasized the competition they have faced has been more than formidable.

"Their record is not very good, but they've played a lot of people tough," Goldsmith said. "The big thing will be how (North Greenville) adjusts to our style of triple option.

"How well they do that will probably be a big factor in this game."

Another factor might be a Crusaders offense that has the potential to keep L-R's defense off balance, depending on the personnel North Greenville puts on the field, the Bears coach added.

"They have a quarterback (Richard Harb) who is a transfer from Western Carolina. He can throw the ball, and he fits into their coach's system in trying to spread things out.

"But they have a backup (Aaron Seigler) who runs the ball better and (tailback Montez Hatten) is quick as a minute.

"The defense we'll play against this week, physically, could be the best we've played, and our challenge is to move the ball and score against a defense that has about everybody back from last year."

If L-R pulls out the win, it will mark the Bears first 3-1 start since 2005. Getting there and further excelling will be a matter of the Bears staying hungry throughout the season, Goldsmith said.

"We have to not be satisfied with anything," he said. "We want every player and every coach to do the little things to strive to be perfect.

"We're trying to get to a point higher than we've been, and we're excited about coming home and playing between the bricks.
"But you still have to go out and play."