The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FORMER high school teammates Mike Strachan and Rondre Knowles-Tener competed against each other on the gridiron for the first time at the collegiate level.

In the NCAA Division II matchup in the Mountain East Conference, Strachan and the University of Charleston Golden Cougars emerged with the 24-10 win over Knowles-Tener and the University of Virginia Wise Cavaliers on Saturday.

Strachan, the sophomore wide receiver, caught two passes for 41 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown, while Knowles-Tener, the sophomore defensive tackle, finished with four tackles, including one solo for a nine-yard loss.

The Golden Cougars improved to 5-3 while the Cavs fell to 3-5.

Virginia-Wise scored 10 points in the first quarter to take an early lead. In the second quarter UC responded with 17 unanswered points, capped by Strachan's 22-yard touchdown catch from Mason Olszewski. They scored on an 81-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter to secure the win.

Knowles-Tener has recorded 16 tackles on the season and one sack through eight games. Strachan leads the Golden Cougars in every receiving category - 33 receptions, 727 yards and five touchdowns on 22 yards per catch and 90.8 yards per game.

Both teams will face conference leading Notre Dame College in their next games. UC will travel to NCC on October 27 while the Cavs will host NCC on November 3.

Both players played at the high school level for Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Virgina.

Coming out of high school, Knowles-Tener originally committed to the East Carolina Pirates but eventually chose to join the programme at James Madison Dukes before he transferred to the Cavaliers.

In his stint at LCA, he earned numerous accolades, including VISAA Division I Second Team All-State as a junior, VHSL Honourable Mention All-Region 4A West and First Team All-Conference 23 as a senior and was a member of LCA's VISAA Division I state championship team as a sophomore.

Strachan a three-sport star who at LCA, was a member of the 2013 VISAA 1 State Championship team and received All Conference and Honourable Mention All-Region this year as a senior. Strachan was also ranked fourth nationally in the 500m, set a new LCA record in the event at the Hokie Invitational.