Lenoir-Rhyne Defense, Ground Attack Prevail Over Football

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HICKORY, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne kept Davidson's offense in check with four interceptions and scored three rushing touchdowns to defeat the Wildcats 20-2 in non-conference football action Saturday night in Moretz Stadium.

Davidson's lone score came on a safety early in the third quarter.

Jonathan Carkhuff completed 31-of-54 attempts for 265 yards for Davidson, but was sacked four times and intercepted four times. Lanny Funsten caught seven passes for 95 yards and Reese Williams caught six for 54 yards, while Spencer Perry led the 'Cats on the ground with 36 yards on five carries. Defensive lineman Lewis McAlister led Davidson with a career-high 12 tackles and blocked an extra point.

Austin Beaty led Lenoir-Rhyne's rushing attack, which totaled 301 yards, with 118 yards on 11 carries, including a 69-yard touchdown run. Graham Duncan ran for 59 yards on seven carries, including a 30-yard touchdown run. Isaiah Whitaker ran for 52 yards on 16 carries and quarterback Teverrius Jackson rushed 16 times for 49 yards and a touchdown, completing 1-of-4 pass attempts in the Bear's triple-option offense.

Myer Nolan intercepted two passes for the Bears and Joe Anderson and Chris Christian also had picks. Anderson led the team with 10 tackles. Placid Ajoku had two sacks.

Lenoir-Rhyne fumbled four times, but was able to recover each of them for a plus-four advantage in the turnover battle.

“We can't turn the ball over and be successful,” said Davidson head coach Tripp Merritt. “Carkhuff is a competitor and I think he tried to force some throws and a couple of them sailed on him.”

Davidson appeared to have a scoring drive in the making on their second drive of the first quarter when they reached L-R's 20-yardline, but the drive ended with an interception and a quick Lenoir-Rhyne touchdown. Two plays after a dropped pass in the end zone, Anderson picked off Carkhuff at the 10-yardline and returned it 54 yards to Davidson's 36.

On the second play of the ensuing offensive possession, Duncan took a pitch around the left side for a 30-yard touchdown run.

Beaty then broke through the middle of the Davidson defense with 2:17 remaining in the second half for a 69-yard touchdown run. McAlister blocked the extra point attempt and Davidson quickly moved into Lenoir-Rhyne territory on a 28-yard reception by Funsten in the middle of the field, but the 'Cats turned it over downs and went to the locker room trailing 13-0 at the half.

Heavy pressure from Davidson's special teams resulted in a 22-yard punt early in the third quarter to give the 'Cats the ball on the 50-yardline, but Nolan intercepted a Carkhuff pass from the 36-yardline at the two-yardline where his knee touched the ground. Davidson's defense stepped up and Kacy Yuhas, Ben Prater and a host of other 'Cats burst through the line on third-and-eight to stop Jones in the backfield on the goal line for a safety.

Davidson was unable to move the ball on offense though and Lenoir-Rhyne took over on the 50 and scored on a nine-play drive capped by a seven-yard touchdown run by Jones for a 20-2 lead.

The Wildcats moved the ball late in the third quarter with Funsten making a catch at the stick falling out of bounds to convert a 3^rd-and-10. An L-R personal foul kept the drive alive and the Wildcats advanced to the Bears' 20-yardline, but Lenoir-Rhyne was able to stop the 'Cats on downs again.

Davidson reached the red zone again late in the fourth quarter, but Christian intercepted a Carkhuff throw in the end zone to seal the victory.

“That was a physical, smash mouth football game,” said Merritt. “I give our defense credit for hanging in there with their bigger guys on the offensive line.”

Davidson has an off-weekend and returns to action at Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Saturday, Sept. 22. The 'Cats' next home game is Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. Presbyterian.

Notes: Davidson's safety was its first since Nov. 15, 2008 against Marist … Funsten was held under eight catches for the first time in six games, but totaled more than 85 receiving yards for his seventh consecutive game … Davidson has lost its last seven road games.

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