Test Blog 2: Catawba

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Saturday, November 4, 2023

Lenoir-Rhyne Secures Conference Championship Berth with Dominant Win

HICKORY – #15 Lenoir-Rhyne clinched the Piedmont Division Championship, celebrating Senior Day at Moretz Stadium with a convincing 28-7 victory over Catawba. A spirited crowd of over 7,000 witnessed this remarkable feat on Saturday, propelling the Bears to the SAC Championship, where they will face Tusculum in a rematch of the first-ever SAC Championship game from the 2020-21 COVID season.

In a matchup that showcased the Bears' dominance, Lenoir-Rhyne took an early lead, with Sean White connecting with DeAree Rogers for a 35-yard strike in the first quarter. White added to the lead with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Deondre Lester. At the close of the first half, White executed a 1-yard QB sneak, tallying three first-half touchdowns and a 21-0 advantage.

Catawba attempted a comeback in the second half, scoring a 3-yard touchdown, but the Bears responded swiftly when White threw his third touchdown pass, connecting with Malakei Sumner. The game's latter half saw solid defensive performances from both teams, with no further scoring.

Lenoir-Rhyne's defense held Catawba to 44 rushing yards on 37 attempts and just 232 total offensive yards on 70 plays. Offensively, the Bears amassed 418 yards and 228 rushing yards, averaging 6.9 yards per play. Sean White completed 15-of-23 passes for 190 yards, while Dwayne McGee exceeded 1,000 yards on the season, rushing for 96 yards.

Defensively, Jon Ross Maye tallied 14 total tackles and two pass breakups, while D.J. Taylor contributed nine tackles and three sacks. Andre Jefferson recorded four tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. As a team, Lenoir-Rhyne secured seven sacks.

The victory marked the 102nd all-time meeting between Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba, with each team now having 49 wins and four ties. Notably, the Bears lost their first two fumbles of the season in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Lenoir-Rhyne's seven sacks tied for the second-highest in a single game in the NCAA era.

Lenoir-Rhyne's strong home record continued, with a 60-21 record at home since the start of the 2010 season. The game broke a streak of 16 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown at home.

Lenoir-Rhyne's victory sets the stage for the SAC Championship clash with Tusculum, scheduled for 1 p.m. in Greeneville, Tenn., after the Pioneers secured a win over Mars Hill in overtime.

Tags # #NCCFB # Bears # Catawba Continue Reading

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Rivalry Renewals Highlight First Saturday in November

Justin Jones 6:32 AM

In a rare Saturday night matchup, the Appalachian State Mountaineers will face off against Marshall at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. The game, scheduled for 6 p.m., is generating buzz as it is believed to be the first Saturday night home game played in Boone during November or December in recent memory. The last time the Mountaineers played a Saturday night game at Kidd Brewer Stadium was in 2014, their inaugural year as an FBS member. Since then, the team has enjoyed significant success at home, boasting a remarkable 51-10 record and drawing record-breaking crowds, with 2022 seeing ten of the top 12 crowds in stadium history.

The Mountaineers' strong performance at home, coupled with an average attendance of 35,774, has cemented their reputation as a powerhouse in college football. The 2023 season has also seen quarterback Joey Aguilar shine, leading the Sun Belt Conference with 20 touchdown passes and ranking 7th nationally. This upcoming game against Marshall carries added significance as it marks the first league matchup between the two teams in Boone since 1996, a nostalgic encounter for long-time fans. The game serves as a reminder of the rich history between Appalachian State and Marshall, who were both former FCS-level Southern Conference members and only recently reunited on the field in 2020 and 2021 for nonleague games.

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Catawba: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, #16 Lenoir-Rhyne (8-1, 6-1 SAC) faces Catawba (4-5, 2-5 SAC) at Moretz Stadium in Hickory. For Lenoir-Rhyne, a win would secure their spot in the SAC Championship next week, thanks to their head-to-head win this season, giving them a tiebreaker over Limestone, and they also control their destiny in the Piedmont Division race. LR can also clinch a championship berth if Limestone loses against Barton. This game is significant as the Bears aim to add to their 24 overall conference championships in program history, with seven won since 2010. Additionally, it marks the 102nd all-time battle between Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba, one of the most played and closely contested rivalries in NCAA Division II. LR has recently dominated, winning four straight games and seeking to even the all-time series, which currently stands at 49-48-4 in Catawba's favor. The rivalry between the two schools has been a historic and pivotal part of the conference's football history, often deciding championships in their final regular-season game, although this tradition has changed with the introduction of the SAC Championship game after the regular season.

Tags # #NCCFB # 2023 # App State Continue Reading

Saturday, July 25, 2020

South Atlantic Conference Delays Start of Football Season

Justin Jones 6:56 PM

ROCK HILL, SC – The South Atlantic Conference Presidents Council has made the decision that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and in the best interest of the health, safety, and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and campus communities, the start of fall sports will be delayed. All scheduled competition for the 2020 fall sports seasons has been pushed back to Sept. 26. This includes men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball. Further, teams will compete in conference-only competition and teams may begin preseason practice, per NCAA bylaws, for these sports during the fall 2020 semester, provided health and safety conditions allow these activities.

"The decision to delay the fall sports season was not an easy one to make," said Dr. Maurice Scherrens of Newberry, Chair of the SAC Presidents Council. "However, we feel this is the best course of action as it allows our institutions time to develop best practices for a safe return to campus and competition for our student-athletes. We will continue to assess the ever-changing situation, as we are dedicated to ensuring our student-athletes the opportunity to return to campus in the safest environment possible."

Fall competition schedules for the spring championship sports of baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, and men's and women's tennis may also not begin prior to Sept. 26. In regard to the 2020-2021 winter sports of men's and women's basketball and men's and women's indoor track and field and wrestling, those seasons remain unchanged at this time.

"This was a very difficult decision, but one we feel has the best interest of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans in mind," SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz stated. "We all understand the desire everyone has to get back out there and play games, but the health and safety of our student-athletes take precedence over playing at this time. It is our responsibility to ensure their safety above all else. While this does not guarantee our fall sports will be able to compete during their traditional season, a delayed start gives us the best chance to continue to monitor the situation."

The SAC leadership will continue to assess the NCAA, federal, state, and local developments and provide updated revisions as further information is available.

Tags # Catawba # college football # COVID-19 Continue Reading

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Wingate Tops Catawba, 35-25, on Saturday Night

Justin Jones 8:11 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs came up with four interceptions Saturday night, while redshirt freshman quarterback Shaw Crocker threw four more touchdown passes to lead the 'Dogs to a 35-25 victory over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference football action at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The Bulldogs move to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the SAC, while the Indians fall to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league play.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH REICH

"The defense played great in spots, we just have to be a little bit more consistent against the pass and with our rush lanes. The four interceptions tonight, that definitely helps. When our offense wasn't committing penalties, we were running the ball really well. We mixed some good throws in there, but we were running the ball very effectively, but then we'd get a penalty and have to back up. If we were more disciplined and didn't' get those penalties, we could mash them up a little more, control the clock and expand our lead. We've got a lot of work to do, we need to get rid of some of the penalties. I like the aggressive mentality, but you have to be disciplined.

NOTES

- Wingate is now 14-17 all-time against Catawba and 6-5 at Irwin Belk Stadium

- The Bulldogs have won seven of the last eight against the Indians

- 17th straight win for the 'Dogs when scoring at least 30 points

- Wingate improves to 7-1 under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium

- Snaps a two-game home losing streak

- WU has now scored 86 total points the last two weeks

- Cal Hanford had the first defensive TD for WU since Zack Singleton's pick-six Oct. 28, 2017

KEY TEAM STATS

- Wingate outgained Catawba 383-362

- The Bulldogs had 193 rushing yards and 190 passing yards

- The Indians threw for 275 yards and rushed for 87

- Catawba had four turnovers compared to Wingate's two

- Wingate had 185 penalty yards; Catawba had 88 yards in penalties

- The 'Dogs won the time-of-possession battle by nearly six minutes

- The teams combined for just three red zone trips, scoring TDs in all three

- Catawba was seven-for-15 on third down; WU went four-for-13

KEY BULLDOGS

- Shaw Crocker was 12-for-18, throwing for 190 yards and four TDs

- Reigning SAC Player of the Week Crocker has nine TD throws last two games

- Nijere Peoples had 151 rushing yards on 22 carries

- Domineke McNeill added 58 rushing yards

- J.T. Stokes hauled in five catches for 56 yards and two TDs

- Stokes has eight touchdown catches on the year and six his last four games

- Bryan Mitchell had three catches for 40 yards and a score

- Mason Flynt added two receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown

- Joe Kelly, Robbie Wallace, Cal Hanford and Cameron Mattison each had an interception

- Cardell Rawlings had nine tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks and two QB hurries

- Elijah Gilmore added nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a sack

- Matthew Ellis-White had eight tackles and a pass break-up

- Kelly added seven tackles to go along with his pick

- Hanford scored his first career touchdown on his pick-six

- Chris Birozes had six punts for 49 yards, with two inside the 20 including one at the Catawba one

- McLean Robertson hit all five PATs

FIRST QUARTER

- Catawba went 59 yards on seven plays on the opening drive

- Ken Avent hit Will Sweeper for a 38-yard TD to make it 7-0

- A 16-yard BJ Muckelvene punt return set the 'Dogs up at the Catawba 33

- After a 13-yard Peoples run, Crocker hit Mitchell for a seven-yard TD to tie it

SECOND QUARTER

- Another good Muckelvene return put the 'Dogs back in Catawba territory

- Crocker hit Flynt for a 26-yard score on third-and-two to put Wingate on to 14-7

- Hanford put the 'Dogs on top by 21 midway through the quarter with a pick-six

- He picked it off right around midfield, taking it 52 yards to the house to make it 21-7

- Mattison's interception put the Bulldogs back around midfield

- A Peoples 14-yard run and Flynt 20-yard catch got it deep into Catawba territory

- Crocker found Stokes from seven yards out to make it 28-7

- Lee Brackman's 19-yard field goal got the Indians within 18 heading to halftime

FOURTH QUARTER

- Catawba's seven-play, 99-yard drive spanned the third and fourth quarter

- Avent followed a 21-yard pass with an 18-yard run to get it to WU territory

- Avent hit Dre Dunbar for a 37-yard score to make it 28-17

- Wallace picked off Avent to give Wingate good field position once again

- Crocker capped the 40-yard drive with a 24-yard hookup with Stokes to make it 35-17

- Catawba went 91 yards on 11 plays to get within 10 at 35-25

- Avent's 38-yard pass to Sweeper capped the drive, followed by the two-point conversion

- Wingate recovered the onside kick and went into victory formation

UP NEXT

- Wingate is at home next week for the sixth time in eight weeks

- WU hosts Mars Hill Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. on homecoming Saturday

Tags # Bulldogs # Catawba # D2 Continue Reading

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Wingate Remains Undefeated With 27-24 Win Over Catawba

Justin Jones 1:42 PM

SALISBURY – A recovered fumble with a minute left in the game led to 27-yard Freddy McCollum field goal as time expired and Wingate (6-0) continued its unbeaten season with a 27-24 win over Catawba (5-2) on Saturday at Shuford Stadium.

Freddy McCollum kicks the game-winning field goal (Photo credit: Brian Barnes)

Wingate got on the board first with a six-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Pittman (Mallard Creek) on the opening drive of the game. After stopping Catawba on the next drive of the game, a Freddy McCollum 31-yard field goal gave Wingate what seemed like a commanding 10-0 lead in the first quarter, especially after recovering a Catawba fumble near midfield.

A Caleb Allen interception deep in Catawba territory appeared to wake up the Indian sideline and the offense came out pumped and ready to move the chains. Eleven plays, a fake punt, and 88 yards later, Eamon Smart found paydirt from one yard out and it was not a three-point affair early in the second quarter.

The third quarter belonged to the home team as Catawba opened the third quarter with a 65-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard Lee Brackman field goal and closed with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Patrick O'Brien (Mooresville) to Sam Mobley (Parkwood).

Wingate seemed to own the fourth quarter, however, as JT Stokes and Blake Hays scored on the ground with against a Catawba defense that was having trouble stopping the run late in the game. But, Catawba was not to be denied and when O'Brien found Kenyatta Greene with less than three minutes left in the game, the junior running back made three defenders miss on his 48-yard run to the end zone to tie the game at 24. Catawba had a chance to win the game, but a lost fumble gave the ball back to Wingate and the Bulldog offense got in field goal range for the winning score.

Notable North Carolinians

Patrick O'Brien: Went 25 for 33 with 356 yards and two scores; former Mooresville and UNC-Pembroke standout

Sam Mobley: Former Parkwood star had a touchdown grab in the third quarter that put the Catawba Indians ahead for a while late in the game; finished with five receptions for 96 yards

Jourdan Osinskie: Junior tight end from Southern Alamance led the Indians with six receptions for 76 yards

Lawrence Pittman: ran for 155 yards and a score, had big fourth down conversion in the final quarter to extend a Wingate drive; seeing same success as when he was in the backfield for Mallard Creek

Next Week

Both teams are on the road in South Atlantic Conference action as Catawba travels to Tusculum (4-3) while Wingate will take on Mars Hill (2-5).

Tags # Bulldogs # Catawba # CGCollege Continue Reading

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Catawba Defense Forces Seven Turnovers, Ends Five Year Skid to Wingate

Justin Jones 3:46 PM

WINGATE – The temperature was not the only thing that was
hot on the field at Wingate’s Irwin Belk Stadium. The Catawba defense was
red-hot as well, forcing seven turnovers on the way to a 48-26 victory over the
host Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference action. It was Catawba’s first win
over Wingate in five years and the first win in the series for Indians coach
Curtis Walker.

Catawba’s first turnover was a Cris Page interception that
was returned to the Wingate 30 yard line, setting up a Joseph Dress two-yard
touchdown run a few plays later giving the visitors an early 7-0 lead. Wingate made
it 7-3 at the end of the first quarter with a 36-yard Caleb Baird field goal.

The second quarter began a bit slowly, but a hard hit by
Catawba’s Case Woodard led to a Wingate fumble that was recovered by Indian
defensive back Trey Evans. Quarterback Mike Sheehan (Laney) and the Catawba
offense took full advantage of the turnover, marching the forty-three yards
down the field and scoring to extend the lead to 14-3. It was the first of
Sheehan’s two rushing touchdowns on the day.

Case Woodard was not done making defensive plays for
Catawba, though. On Wingate’s ensuing possession, defensive back Chris
Carpenter forced another Wingate fumble and Woodard picked up the ball and
raced fifty-four yards to the end zone.

As if one scoop-and-score in a game wasn’t enough, Wingate’s
Cornel Cheron returned the favor early in the third quarter, sprinting
ninety-eight yards to bring the Bulldogs within two scores. But, it wasn’t
enough for the Bulldogs as Catawba answered back with two scores, a thirty-four
yard strike from Sheehan to Jourdan Osinski (Southern Alamance) and a four yard
run by Sheehan.

One of the outstanding offensive plays of the day was the
sixty-seven yard catch and run by Catawba’s Sam Mobley (Parkwood). This early
fourth quarter score is what really put the game out of reach and gave the Catawba
faithful something to celebrate in the stands for the rest of the afternoon.

Not to be lost on anyone is the great day had by Wingate’s
Lawrence Pittman (Mallard Creek). The Bulldog running back amassed 155 rushing yards
on twenty-one carries, giving him over five-hundred yards four games into the
season.

Both teams travel to South Carolina next week Catawba (2-2) takes
on SAC rival Newberry while Wingate (3-1) battles Limestone in a non-conference
matchup.

Tags # Catawba # CGCollege # college football Continue Reading