PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- No. 8-ranked Lindsey Wilson football scored 25 unanswered points to sprint past host Pikeville (Ky.) 39-9 today at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

Ian Sauter connected on a career-best 48-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to start the run and give Lindsey Wilson a 17-9 lead at the break. The Blue Raiders held the high-powered Bear offense without a point in the second half while scoring three touchdowns, including a defensive score to all but seal the win and improve to 10-0 all-time against Pikeville.

While the Bears managed 431 total yards of the offense -- the most against the Lindsey Wilson defense this season -- Pikeville struggled to put points on the board against the NAIA's leading scoring defense.

In addition to protecting its end zone -- the Blue Raiders allowed just one touchdown in Pikeville's five trips inside the red zone -- the Lindsey Wilson defense recorded three interceptions. Tyler Johnson returned the middle pick 45 yards for a touchdown. Lindsey Wilson entered the game with two interceptions this season and Johnson, Cordarien Trice, and Zach Thornton more than doubled that output in a single game.

While the defense was limiting the Bears, the Blue Raider offense tallied 426 yards of total offense, including 268 rushing yards. The 268 yards mark the third time in four games the Blue Raider running game has eclipsed 200 yards. In the fourth game, Lindsey Wilson posted 199 rushing yards.

Lindsey Wilson jumped out to lead on a 10-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. Ethan Cash found Manny Scott in the back corner of the end zone from 18 yards out for the early lead. The touchdown toss is Cash's seventh of the season while Scott collects his third touchdown catch of the year.

While the Blue Raiders scored first, it was Trice's second interception of the season that allowed Lindsey Wilson to take the early lead. On the first drive of the game, Trice picked off Pikeville quarterback Xavier Malone in the end zone to keep the game scoreless.

Following the Lindsey Wilson touchdown, Pikeville responded with a touchdown of its own. But the Blue Raider defense halted the Bears' two-point attempt to preserve the 7-6 lead.

The Blue Raiders extended their lead to 14-6 on the subsequent drive. CJ Fluker took a draw 35 yards on fourth-and-nine to the end zone for his third touchdown of the season.

The two teams exchanged field goals over the final three minutes of the half.

Joseph Sandorf hit a 27-yarder with 2:33 left only to have Sauter answer with his 48-yard kick with seven seconds remaining to give the Blue Raiders the eight-point lead at the break.

Lindsey Wilson continued its momentum in the early stages of the third quarter. The Blue Raiders took the first drive of the second half 61 yards on five plays to extend the lead to 25-6. Kobe Belcher was the workhorse on the drive covering 53 of the 61 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run. Belcher narrowly missed his second straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 94 yards on just 11 carries.

Reid Brickey connected with Therone Orr for the two-point conversion to give Lindsey Wilson a 19-point lead with 13:09 left in the third quarter.

Johnson provided more cushion late in the third quarter with Lindsey Wilson's second pick-six of the season and the first since the season opener.

Will McDonald and Elvin Fofanah closed out the scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game as the pair connected on a 14-yard touchdown for the 39-9 lead and eventual win.

Luke Bowman led the Blue Raider defense with 10 tackles while Deven Holmes added nine stops. Roman McDonald finished with both Lindsey Wilson sacks.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 12, as the Blue Raiders host No. 18-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) on Senior Day.