Lenoir-Rhyne University and Brevard College will wear contrasting football uniforms Saturday night.
That might be one of the few differences between the two teams.
Brevard (4-0) and the Bears (3-1) will sport similar, "flexbone" offenses in their South Atlantic Conference opener at Moretz Stadium.
The Tornadoes lead NCAA Division II in rushing with 374 yards per game and L-R ranks second in the division with a 353-yard average.
"Look for this to be a fast-moving game," L-R head coach Fred Goldsmith said at a press luncheon Tuesday. "The bread and butter for both of us is to run the football."
Goldsmith said Brevard switched to the triple option after losing to L-R 40-14 last season.
"It's pretty much the same offense as ours," the Bears' coach said. "We're familiar with each other — familiar with what we do."
Brevard has run up a SAC-leading average of 40 points per game in defeating four opponents that have a combined record of 0-14. The Tornadoes have beaten Edward Waters 51-6, Pikeville 40-3, Chowan 27-24 and Southern Virginia 42-7.
Fullback Neville Bryce leads Brevard in rushing with 465 yards, slotback Justin Fleming of Freedom High has averaged 10.1 yards per carry while gaining 242 and quarterback Michael Crumbaker is the Tornadoes' third-leading rusher with 216 yards.
L-R's rushing leaders are fullback Byron Darby (265 yards), quarterback Justin Sanders (257) and halfback Andrew Courman (230).
L-R out-gained North Greenville 471-160 but lost five turnovers in winning 32-16 last week. The Bears led 20-0 at halftime and held North Greenville to 20 first-half yards.
"I was very pleased with the way our defense played the first half," Goldsmith said.
"On offense, I've never seen a game where we had so many big plays and a lack of points. I felt like our consistency wasn't there. We got sloppy with the turnovers."
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