HICKORY, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne Football will begin the year in familiar territory as they have been selected to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Last season Head Coach Doug Socha led the Bears to their sixth 10+ win season in the past 11 years, finishing with a record of 10-3 and winning just their third road playoff game in program history, taking down West Alabama 37-34 in the NCAA DII opening round.
Despite graduating some key pieces, Lenoir-Rhyne will have plenty of returning talent to mix in with their impressive group of transfers and freshman. James Ussery (DB), Maddox Aprile (DL), Tre’von Cooper (LB), Ryan Whetzel II (OL), Songa Yates (WR), and Dominique Marshall (WR) were all named SAC Players to Watch.
The Bears open their season with a rare Friday night contest on August 29th at national power West Florida. Lenoir-Rhyne’s first home contest will be a big matchup against Emory & Henry, who are picked fourth in this year’s poll.
If you are interested in purchasing season tickets or joining the Bears Club please call 828-328-7007. Single game tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, August 13th, and can be found at lrbears.com/tickets.
2025 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
1. Lenoir-Rhyne – 85 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Wingate – 80 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Carson-Newman – 79 points (2 first-place votes)
4. Emory & Henry – 63 points
5. Mars Hill – 56 points
6. Catawba – 48 points
7. Newberry – 45 points
8. Anderson – 34 points
9. UVA Wise – 26 points
10. Tusculum – 24 points