HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

Lenoir-Rhyne Football Season Preview

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
August 13, 2014

number-br-5Lenoir-Rhyne Football enters 2014 at number 5 in our rankings. Check out our Top 25 Season Preview for more on the top college teams to watch this fall. Can’t find your team in the Top 25? View our full rankings to see where every team stands.

Last Season: 13-2 (7-0) South Atlantic Conference

The Bears bookended their 15-game season with their only two losses of the year. They opened the season with an 18-10 loss to a Concord team that would go on to finish the season with the third-best defense in the country. Miles Freeman ran for 110 of the Bears’ 215 rushing yards in his first start under center for Lenoir-Rhyne, the fewest Lenoir-Rhyne would amass on the ground in a game for the rest of the season.

Freeman was the perfect quarterback for coach Mike Houston’s triple-option offense. He led Lenoir-Rhyne on a 8-0 run through the beginning of their South Atlantic Conference schedule before tearing a leg muscle and going down for the season. It’s not like the Bears were an “air it out” team before Freeman’s injury (he only threw the ball eight times per game on average), but once he was sidelined they pretty much gave up on the passing game all together. In the final six games of the season, the Bears threw a total of 25 passes. They rushed their way to the National Championship game, but for the first time since their season-opening loss to Concord, Lenoir-Rhyne failed to rush for 300 yards and lost 43-28 to Northwest Missouri State.

Dearly Departed

-Zach Bunn OL – First team All-SAC
-Graham Duncan RB – 86 carries, 784 yards, 3 TDs
-Josh Justice QB – 75 carries, 422 yards, 10 TDs
-Jimmy Long DL – 59 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 blocked kick
-BJ Woodley DL – 55 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 1 FR
-Myer Nolan LB – 100 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 5 pass defenses, 1 FF
-Michael Green S – First team Daktronics All-American, 88 tackles, 8 TFL, 8 INTs

What to Watch For

Low Turnover – Another team might suffer from the loss of three experienced running backs in Corron Boston, Graham Duncan, and Josh Justice, who combined for 198 carries, 1,534 rushing yards, and 15 touchdowns last season, but this isn’t another team. This is Lenoir-Rhyne – a team where 198 carries, 1,534 rushing yards, and 15 touchdowns account for only around a quarter of their total production on the ground – just a drop in the very deep bucket. Five players who finished last season with over 400 yards will be back, including a now-healthy Miles Freeman. The offensive line turnover is the big question with three starters moving on.

On defense, they lost star safety Michael Green – he of the absolutely silly eight interceptions last season, second-most in D2.  He was named to the Daktronics All-American team and won’t be easy to replace.

Expectations

This Lenoir-Rhyne team is going to be tough to beat. They’ll have the offensive weapons to repeat as the best rushing offense in D2, and with the return of Miles Freeman, they even have a chance to improve on their 370.9 rushing ypg from 2013. Along with Northwest Missouri State, the team who beat the Bears in the D2 National Championship game, Lenoir-Rhyne is one of a handful teams most likely to take the crown this season. They’ll have to watch out for conference-rival Carson-Newman, who will have revenge on their minds after the Bears handed them two of their three defeats last season – including the one that knocked them out of the playoffs. Lenoir-Rhyne’s championship aspirations will hinge on their ability to get past their conference rival and overcome the stout Northwest Missouri State defense when they inevitably meet in the playoffs once again.

Previous Post

Northwest Missouri State Football Season Preview

Next Post

Pittsburg State Football Season Preview

Next Post

Pittsburg State Football Season Preview

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • FCS Daily Dose: Sac State’s FBS Waiver Still Waiting On FBS Oversight Committee
  • When Is Week 0?
  • Kennesaw State Head Coach Jerry Mack’s Salary, Career Record, Age & Resume

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.