NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College football team defeated Lenoir-Rhyne College in the annual Bishops Trophy game, 38-14, at Setzler Field on Saturday night. Newberry (5-4, 4-2 SAC) wins its third straight game in the series over the Bears (3-7, 1-5 SAC).
Lenoir-Rhyne got on the board on its opening drive, but Newberry responded with six scores to put the game out of reach. The Bears took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead. The touchdown came on a 42-yard strike from Justin Sanders (Monroe, N.C.) to Andrew Courman (Beaufort, N.C.).
But the scarlet and gray answered immediately, as quarterback Eric McCollom (Camden, S.C.) connected with wide receiver Kelton Tindal (Sumter, S.C.) on a 71-yard touchdown pass on Newberry's first play of the game to tie the contest.
L-R took the next kickoff and drove into Newberry territory, but the drive was snuffed out when Devon Smalls (Hollywood, S.C.) intercepted a Sanders pass at the Newberry 9. Newberry took nine plays to cover the 91 yards, and a McCollom quarterback sneak put Newberry ahead, 14-7.
The hosts held Lenoir-Rhyne to a three-and-out on the next drive, and an aborted punt attempt on fourth down gave Newberry excellent field position at the Lenoir-Rhyne 26. It took only four plays for the scarlet and gray attack to find the endzone on a 5-yard end around from Tindal for the 21-7 lead.
Another Bear three-and-out followed by a punt set Newberry up in great field position again. Three plays later, Lyndon Ingram (Sumter, S.C.) took the ball 18 yards for the score and a 28-7 halftime lead.
The scarlet and gray extended their lead on the opening drive of the second half, capping a 9-play, 54-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal by Britt Blackmon (Kershaw, S.C.) for a 31-7 advantage.
Newberry's final score came on an impressive 11-play, 92-yard drive that was finished off with a 12-yard touchdown carry from fullback Timmy Boyd (Clover, S.C.).
The Bears put the finishing touches on the scoring in the fourth quarter, when Byron Darby (Gastonia, N.C.) carried the ball 45 yards to paydirt with 8:36 left in the game.
Tindal was the game's offensive leader with three receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown as well as three carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. McCollom was 7-of-13 passing for 201 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Gerald Legree (Beaufort, S.C.) led the scarlet and gray rushing attack with 17 carries for 90 yards. Eleven Newberry players earned rushing yardage on the night, including an interesting seven yards for right tackle Marchent Faustin (Charleston, S.C.) after recovering a Legree fumble. On 45 carries, the Newberry backs only lost four yards rushing.
Darby led the L-R offense, carrying the ball 11 times for 101 yards and a score. The Bears carried the ball 49 times for 175 yards. Sanders led the air attack, going 7-of-11 for 135 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Those interceptions landed in the hands of Smalls and Kamaal McIlwain (Fort Mill, S.C.). Smalls also recorded six tackles and a tackle for loss, while McIlwain had two tackles, one of which was a nine yard sack, and a fumble recovery, as well as 73 yards in kickoff returns.
Will Newell (Irmo, S.C.) led the Newberry defense with nine tackles, all of which were solo tackles. Newell is now alone in fifth place in Newberry history with 328 career tackles. He has an opportunity to finish his career in fourth place next week. That spot is held by James Putnam, who recorded 339 tackles from 1986-89.
Lenoir-Rhyne's defensive effort was led by Chad Holby (Fairview, N.C.), who recorded nine tackles.
Newberry will wrap up the regular season on the road against Brevard next Saturday. Kickoff at Brevard Memorial Stadium is set for 2 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne will host Catawba at 7 p.m. that day.
