Wofford, L-R ousted in NCAA football playoffs

The Carolinas’ last two NCAA football playoff qualifiers lost Saturday, with Wofford and Lenoir-Rhyne losing road contests in very different ways.

Wofford fell 13-10 at Kennesaw State in a second-round FCS game, after a Terrier fumble set up a Kennesaw field goal with 1:52 remaining.

Lenoir-Rhyne lost 61-21 at Valdosta State in a third-round Division 2 contest after falling behind 27-0 in the second quarter.

Fumble dooms Wofford

KENNESAW, Ga. A defensive struggle was settled by a big defensive play. With the game tied, Wofford was trying to drive for a winning score in the closing minutes.

On third down at the Terrier 41, quarterback Joe Newman was sacked by Kennesaw’s Anthony Gore Jr. and fumbled. The Owls’ Andrew Butler recovered at the Wofford 21, and three plays later, Justin Thompson kicked a 20-yard field goal for the winning points with 1:52 remaining.

Wofford’s defense limited Kennesaw State (12-1), the fourth-seeded FCS team, to seven first downs and 242 total yards. But Wofford was held to 236 yards total offense.

Kennesaw State took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 53-yard run by Darnell Holland. Wofford (9-4) tied the game a minute later on a 57-yard pass from Newman to D’mauriae VanCleave.

Each team scored on a field goal later in the second quarter.

Newman finished with 8-of-13 passing for 153 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Neither team had a running back reach 100 yards, and Wofford’s typically strong ground game was held to an average of 1.7 yards per carry.

Kennesaw State, the Big South Conference champion, is home in the quarterfinals next Saturday against South Dakota State.

Valdosta whips Lenoir-Rhyne

VALDOSTA , Ga. Valdosta State piled up a 27-0 lead in the second quarter and walloped Lenoir-Rhyne 61-21 in the Division 2 South Regional finals. It was the Bears’ first playoff appearance in four years, when they also were ousted by Valdosta State.

The host Blazers (12-0), top-seeded in the region, totaled 382 rushing yards against third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne (12-2) and forced four turnovers.

Bears’ quarterback Grayson Willingham, a Weddington High product who threw a winning touchdown pass in a second-round victory last Saturday over Wingate, fired a touchdown pass against Saturday but was also intercepted three times.

Lenoir-Rhyne’s final touchdown, with 48 seconds left, was thrown by freshman Gunnar Anderson of Alexander Central High.

Valdosta State will play in the Division 2 semifinals next Saturday, against an opponent to be named.