LEBANON, Tenn. – Third-ranked Lindsey Wilson football scored 27 unanswered points to beat host Cumberland (Tenn.) 27-3 tonight at Nokes-Lasater Field.

The Blue Raiders improve to 7-0 on the season and 5-0 in the Mid-South Conference with the win, setting up a top-10 showdown with unbeaten Bethel (Tenn.) next Saturday at Parnell Family Stadium.

Lindsey Wilson dominated the second half outscoring the Phoenix (3-5, 1-5) 17-0 while outgaining its host 252-78 after the break en route to the win.

While the second half proved to be the difference, the Lindsey Wilson momentum started late in the first half.

Zach Thornton blocked a Cumberland punt with 1:04 left in the opening half deep in Cumberland territory giving the Blue Raider offense a short field.

CJ Fluker scored three plays later on an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Blue Raiders a lead they would not relinquish. Fluker's second touchdown run of the season pushed Lindsey Wilson in front 10-3, a lead the Blue Raiders would take into the locker room.

After the break, Lindsey Wilson's defense continued the momentum forcing Cumberland into a three-and-out -- one of three in the half.

The Blue Raider offense took the defense's cue and marched down the field and extended the lead on Ian Sauter's 26-yard field goal to take a 13-3 lead. The field goal was the second of the night from Sauter, who tied the game at 3-3 from an identical distance in the first half.

Sauter's kick was part of four consecutive scores for the Blue Raiders -- two in each half.

Following a Cumberland punt, the Blue Raiders produced their longest scoring drive of the night for a 20-3 lead. Lindsey Wilson used nine plays to go 84 yards to all but lock up the win.

Ethan Cash found Manny Scott for a 27-yard touchdown strike to give the Blue Raiders a 13-point lead. Cash finished the game 19-of-29 for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Scott had a team-high four catches for 61 yards.

The Blue Raiders capped the scoring two drives later as Cash connected with Logan Collier for a 24-yard touchdown. Collier broke a tackle and finished the touchdown run with one less shoe than when the play started to give Lindsey Wilson a 27-3 lead.

While the Blue Raider defense's streak of holding its opponents to negative rushing yards for the game ended at four games, Lindsey Wilson still posted nine tackles for a loss and four sacks. The Blue Raiders surrendered just 165 yards of total offense to the Phoenix -- 211 yards below their season average.

Michael Leslie, Ty Tevis, and Darius Hylick all finished with a team-high six tackles. Luke Bowman added five tackles, two tackles for a loss, and three pass breakups in the win.

Lindsey Wilson ended the game with 386 yards of total offense, including 199 yards on the ground.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 29, as the Blue Raiders host No. 6-ranked Bethel at Parnell Family Stadium.