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Students, families, alumni and community members gathered in the stadium parking lot and on the practice field on either side of the stadium. The fans spent the morning and early afternoon enjoying games and food amid the anticipation of a 1 p.m. kickoff.

For Cora Baker, the sense of community is what draws her to LR football. “It’s a family experience, an opportunity for bonding as a family,� she said.

Baker made the trip from Lenoir with family and friends for every home game last season. She plans to do the same this year.

Baker was joined by her daughter, Addison. “We started coming last year,� she said. “Everyone’s cool and so nice and welcoming.�

On the other side of the practice field in front of the stadium entrance, Jameil Surratt was enjoying LR football’s new signature beer. Bear Time Brew is produced by Blowing Rock Brewery especially for Lenoir-Rhyne football.

Surratt is a former LR football player, a member of the university’s sports hall of fame and member of the Bear’s Club for the past 10 years. He lives in the town of Forest City, which is about 50 miles from the stadium. “It’s just a great family environment,� he said. “I have two kids, 5 and 8. They get to come out here, play around and meet friends. So, it’s just a good family day.�

Surratt, who last suited up the Bears in 2003, said the LR game-day experience is more dynamic now. “The atmosphere has changed tremendously from how it was back then,� he said. “The community has really embraced LR, so I think it’s a great package.�

It’s electric

In the stadium lot, Spencer Floyd and Gavin Marley, LR senior baseball players, milled through a group of students with drinks in hand. Floyd said he looks forward to football season all summer.

“It’s electric, everything about it,� he said. “The community at LR, I don’t think it can be topped. No matter where you go in Hickory, if you say, ‘Go Bears,’ you’ll get a ‘Go Bears,’ back.�

Marley said the game-day atmosphere rivals that of many Division I schools. “For Division II, you can’t get better than this,� he said.

“We’re competing with D1s,� Floyd added.

Boyd Wilson is an LR alum. He lives in Lenoir and said he tries never to miss a home game. He agrees with Floyd and Marley’s assessment.

“When ESPN was here several years ago for the playoffs, they said it was the best Division II atmosphere that they had been to,� he said. “We didn’t argue with them.�

On the field

After a scoreless first quarter, LR running back Zayvion Turner-Knox broke off a 25-yard touchdown run that capped a 92-yard scoring drive.

Three minutes later, Turner-Knox was in the end zone again. This time he struck from 30 yards out and LR was up 16-0.

An interception returned for a touchdown before halftime got the Bowie State Bulldogs on the board.

The LR offense wasted no time adding to the lead in the second half. Quarterback Jalen Ferguson found Jalen Agnew for a 51-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the half to put the Bears up 23-6.

From there, LR cruised to a 32-19 victory over Bowie State.

Ferguson finished with 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 17-of-27 passing. The Bears outgained Bowie State 469 yards to 259, forced three fumbles and collected three sacks and two interceptions. Turner-Knox picked up 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 30 attempts.

Lenoir-Rhyne will be in action again at home against Tiffin on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.