If there was any question whether the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears could score points, their season-opener on Saturday night put those concerns to rest. L-R scored the game’s first 28 points and cruised to a 59-10 win over the Chowan Hawks in the first meeting between the two teams at Moretz Stadium.
Quarterback Major Herron completed four of six passes for 69 yards with one interception to lead the Bears (1-0).
Herron also had a hand in L-R’s ground attack, with 101 yards and three scores on 14 carries.
“I thought Major played smart, made his reads and protected the ball well,” Bears head coach Fred Goldsmith said.
“I was pleased with how he ran the team.”
Fullback Anthony Silvers added a touchdown and 101 yards on 11 rushes.
Former Bandys High standout Le’Quan McCorkle ran 16 times for 84 of the Bears’ 513 rushing yards.
“Anthony dropped 25 pounds, came in and really showed that speed he has,” Goldsmith said. “Le’Quan looked solid too.””
Nick Stutts led all receivers with 50 yards on two receptions.
L-R will face Concord (W. Va.) at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the second of three home games to open the season.
The win marks the Bears’ third straight victory in a season-opener, and their seventh victory in the past eight non-South Atlantic Conference contests.
Chowan (0-1), a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), gave up 42 points in the first half to the Bears, all on rushing touchdowns.
The Hawks’ first play from scrimmage set the tone for the game.
Quarterback Steven Carroll was sacked for a 10-yard loss by linebacker Chris Carter, and L-R scored three touchdowns before the Hawks got a first down.
A 37-yard Herron completion to Stutts set up a 4-yard James Pone touchdown run on L-R’s first possession.
Herron added a 1-yard touchdown run and Carl Brooks intercepted a Carroll pass and returned it 25 yards for a score later in the first quarter.
The Hawks garnered a 32-yard field goal from Joey Gargiulo and an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Tony Goodman in the second quarter, but L-R’s offensive prowess proved to be too much for Chowan.
Goldsmith substituted Reuben Haynes for Herron at quarterback in the second half, but Chowan still had difficulty containing the Bears’ offense.
Haynes was intercepted on his only pass attempt in the third quarter before he was replaced by third-string quarterback Jake Copeland in the fourth quarter.
Copeland followed a 44-yard touchdown run by Silvers with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Stuart Jones.
L-R outgained Chowan 631-164 on offense, and posted 31 first downs to the Hawks’ eight.
Goldsmith said the Bears’ offensive onslaught was impressive, but there is still room for improvement despite a 49-point margin of victory.
“We need to improve our kick coverage,” Goldsmith said, “but we did some good things.
“It’s something to build on.”
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