Four record-setting performances by Blue Raiders keyed No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson University's comeback from a 24-point deficit in the first half to beat No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 57-31 in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series, played on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium.
Lindsey Wilson (10-1) advances to the NAIA quarterfinals round, where they will play top-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Grand View (Iowa) University (11-0) on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson fell behind the visiting Wildcats 24-0 with 1:57 left in the second quarter. But the Blue Raiders closed out the first half with an eight-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that was capped with a two-point conversion. That ignited 36 unanswered points, which put Lindsey Wilson ahead 36-24 with 4:59 to play in the third quarter. The Blue Raiders forced six Indiana Wesleyan (9-3) turnovers in the second half.
Following an Indiana Wesleyan touchdown with 1:27 left in the third quarter to pull to 36-31, the Blue Raiders sealed the win with three more touchdowns.
A big reason Lindsey Wilson outscored Indiana Wesleyan 57-7 in the final 31:57 of the game was because of four Blue Raiders' record-setting performances:
* Junior defensive back Khaleb Bridges of Atlanta set a program single-game record with four interceptions, three of which led to Blue Raider touchdowns. Bridges also recorded nine tackles to earn NAIA Defensive Player of the Game honors.
* Freshman wide receiver Max Gainey of Louisville, Kentucky, caught nine passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, setting a new Lindsey Wilson record for receiving yards in a season with 880 yards.
* Sophomore quarterback Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, threw for a career-high 382 yards on 22 of 35 passes with four touchdowns to earn NAIA Offensive Player of the Game honors.
* And junior running back Davontaye Saunders of Eminence, Kentucky, scored three touchdowns on 79 yards on 18 carries. Saunders now has 20 rushing touchdowns on the season, breaking the previous LWU single-season record of 18.
Duane Bonifer
LWU Communications
