COLUMBIA, Ky. – No. 8-ranked Lindsey Wilson football captured the program's first Mid-South Conference East Division title today with a 35-28 upset of fifth-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) at Blue Raider Stadium.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson claims the Mid-South East's automatic bid into the NAIA Football Championship Series, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 22 at various sites across the NAIA.

With its national ranking, Lindsey Wilson is likely to host an opening round game next weekend. The 16-team field and brackets will be announced on Sunday.

Lindsey Wilson sprinted out to a 35-7 lead in the early stages on the second half, but needed a defensive stand to secure the program's first nine-win season.

After Georgetown scored three straight touchdowns and was driving for the potential tying score, the Lindsey Wilson defense recorded back-to-back sacks to set up a 4th-and-20 from the LWC 31-yard line.

Andrew Wahl -- who owns the program's single-season record with 10-1/2 sacks -- recorded the first sack and Corrion Cooper and Chris Oldham combined for the Lindsey Wilson's fifth sack of the day to set up the desperation down for the Tigers.

Georgetown quarterback Neal Pawsat's sideline throw to AJ Johnson fell short of its intended target giving the Blue Raiders the ball back on downs with 1:55 left in the game.

Lindsey Wilson's Josh Haney and Cory Davenport combined for three runs and 12 yards to give the Blue Raiders a first down. A knell down by Lindsey Wilson quarterback Branden Cresap secured the win and the title.

The Blue Raiders improve to 9-2 overall and close out the regular season with a 6-0 mark in the MSC East. Georgetown slips to 8-2 and 5-1 in the East.

Lindsey Wilson scored the game's first points on its first offensive play from scrimmage as Cresap threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cortez Barber giving the team a 7-0 lead two minutes into the game. The touchdown marked the 100th touchdown pass of Cresap's career.

On the next Georgetown series, Pawsat threw the first of four interceptions during the game. Michael Brooks snagged his first interception of the season and returned it to the Georgetown 24-yard.

Six plays later, the Tiger defense forced the Blue Raiders into a field goal attempt. A botched snapped led to holder Michael Thrower trying to pass for a first down. Max Nuessbaum stepped in front of the errant pass and returned it 85 yards for a 7-7 tie.

Lindsey Wilson quickly brushed aside the Georgetown score and once again seized the momentum with 28 unanswered points that ultimately led to the 35-7 lead.

Haney started the scoring barrage with a four-yard scamper into the end zone for a 14-7 lead with 6:22 left in the first quarter. Haney finished with 37 yards on 11 carries and the one touchdown.

Following a defensive stop, Cresap went 5-for-6 passing to lead the Blue Raiders on a seven-play, 76-yard touchdown drive for a 21-7 lead. Cresap hooked up with senior teammate Chaz Barnes for the first of two scores with a 13-yard touchdown in the back corner of the end zone.

Cresap and Barnes were at it again two drives later.

This time, Barnes snagged a 29-yarder to give Lindsey Wilson a 27-7 lead. Thrower made it 29-7 after he picked up a bobbled snap and ran it in for a two-point conversion.

Barnes finished the game with five catches for 68 yards and the two scores.

The Blue Raiders took the 29-7 lead into the break.

Out of the locker room, the Blue Raiders looked as if they were going to stretch out its lead as Lindsey Wilson drove the length of the field. But, Georgetown's Devon Daniel picked off Cresap in the end zone -- the lone mistake on Cresap's stat line.

Cresap finished 21-of-37 for 280 yards, three touchdowns and the one interception.

Lindsey Wilson defense gave the Blue Raiders a 35-7 lead on the ensuing Georgetown drive.

Pawsat -- who was often under pressure during the game -- dropped back on a screen pass only to have Jerry Long II haul in his first interception of the year. Long returned the pick 49 yards to give the Blue Raider defense its eighth defensive score of the season, including its fourth pick-six.

Down by four touchdowns, Georgetown mounted its comeback.

With 4:14 left in the third quarter, Pawsat found Joe Ganci for nine yards in the back of the end zone to cut the Blue Raider lead at 35-14. Pawsat ended the day 27-of-49 for 277 yards and a touchdown.

After Georgetown forced a three and out, Tigers running back Demonte Smith scored from 10 yards out to inch within two scores with just over 13 minutes remaining. Smith added his second touchdown from one yard out with 7:06 remaining in the game to make it 35-28.

With less than three minutes left, Georgetown drove the ball down to the Blue Raider 21-yard line. Wahl, Cooper and Oldham stood tall and turned away the Tigers and all but sealed the Lindsey Wilson win.

Barber led the team with 122 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions, while Tavis Elzy contributed five catches for 68 yards.

Thanks to their second-half comeback, the Tigers finished with 377 total yards compared to Lindsey Wilson's 337. Georgetown ended the game with 13 more offensive plays and nearly an eight-minute time of possession advantage.

The Lindsey Wilson defense finished with four takeaways against a Tiger team that entered the game with a conference-best six turnovers on the season. The Blue Raiders now have 41 takeaways this season.

The NAIA pairings will be announced at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 16 during a live selection show on the NAIA.org.