PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College freshman quarterback Branden Cresap's quarterback sneak for a touchdown with 2.1 seconds left in the game propelled the visiting Blue Raiders to a 28-24 win over University of Pikeville today at Hambley Athletic Complex.

The game-winning drive -- spanning 11 plays and 80 yards -- completed the third come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter this season for the Blue Raiders. Lindsey Wilson improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-South Conference East Division.

While the Blue Raiders' drive to the win included five plays of 10 or more yards, the final play needed just one foot. But to complicate matters, Lindsey Wilson was facing fourth and goal and coach Chris Oliver had to determine whether to go for the win or attempt to tie the game and force overtime.

"I told the entire team that I believe in them and that we are going to score," Lindsey Wilson football coach Chris Oliver said during the timeout prior to the play. "We got a great push from our offensive line. There was no doubt we got in."

The officials were not so sure as the men in stripes pulled Cresap from underneath the pile before signaling touchdown. Cresap finished the game with two scores on the ground.

While the Blue Raider offense -- who outgained the Bears 515-391 for the game -- closed out the win, it was the LWC defense that proved to be the deciding factor.

UPike (4-2, 1-1) entered today's game as the highest scoring offense in the MSC (39.2) and second in the conference in both total offense (447.4) and passing (331.4). But the Blue Raiders limited Pikeville quarterback Trevor Hoskins to just 16-of-39 passing for 232 yards -- his lowest output this season.

The Lindsey Wilson defense also limited the potent Bear offense to five plays or less on 12 of their 15 drives during the game, including five three and outs.

Lindsey Wilson opened the game strong with touchdowns on two of its first four drives.

Cresap scored the first of his two touchdown runs with a keeper on fourth and one at the 5:28 mark of the first quarter. A little more than four minutes later Cresap connected with a wide open Cameron Murrell in the back of the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown to give Lindsey Wilson a 14-0 lead with 1:17 left in the first quarter. Cresap finished 25-of-46 for 364 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions.

Pikeville cut the Blue Raider lead to 14-7 with 7:36 left in the first half as Hoskins connected with Jordan Amis for a 34-yard strike.

The Blue Raiders responded on their next possession with a four-play, 64-yard drive capped off by sophomore Dakota Brown's 25-yard run to take a 21-7 lead. Brown finished with a program-record 132 rushing yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.

Lindsey Wilson led at the break 21-7.

Following the break, Pikeville -- thanks in large part to Danny Smith's running -- scored on a seven-play, 85-yard drive to cut the LWC lead to 21-14. Smith contributed 52 of his team-high 114 rushing yards on the scoring drive.

UPike continued to apply the second-half pressure one possession later with a 34-yard field goal from Grayson Quick to cut the Blue Raider lead to 21-17 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

After the two teams exchanged a pair of punts, the Bears grabbed their first and only lead of the game with 10:48 left in regulation as Hoskins hit Shawntez Johnson on 10-yard score to go up 24-21.

Despite back-to-back Lindsey Wilson interceptions, the Bears could not put the game away thanks to the Blue Raider defense. Lindsey Wilson forced UPike into a three and out and a four-play drive setting up the game-winning drive.

The win is the fourth straight road victory for the Blue Raiders dating back to last season. Lindsey Wilson is 2-0 this season on the road.

"I'm proud of the way we competed today, especially on defense," Oliver said. "We really executed our gameplan and it was a great team effort."

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, October 15, as the Blue Raiders travel to Union College in Barbourville, Ky.

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