MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The No. 24 ranked Lindsey Wilson football team defeated Faulkner (Ala.) 47-21 in the Mid-South Conference opener Saturday at Billy D. Hilyer Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (3-1, 1-0 MSC) tallied 314 yards on the ground. Lindsey Wilson's 314 rushing yards was the first time the Blue Raiders have surpassed 300 yards since 2021. Defensively, the Blue Raiders recorded six sacks and forced four turnovers. Lindsey Wilson held Faulkner to just 22 rushing yards.
Davontaye Saunders had 124 yards on six carries with a touchdown.
David Gardner Jr. ran the ball 13 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns while
Jamari Wilson had 59 yards on eight carries.
Stevin Mack ran it three times for 33 yards with a touchdown while
Reid Brickey had nine carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. Brickey completed just five of his passes for 36 yards.
Defensively,
Cameron Rankins and
Lou Burchfield led the way with six tackles apiece. Rankins also recorded a team-high two sacks while
Howie Gant and
Kameron Barnett each had an interception.
The Blue Raiders went three-and-out on their first drive. Faulkner got across the Lindsey Wilson 30 on its opening drive. The Eagles went for it on fourth down from the Blue Raider 27-yard line and threw an incomplete pass giving the ball to Lindsey Wilson. On the next drive, Lindsey Wilson punted, and Faulkner fumbled the punt giving the Blue Raiders the ball on the Eagles 18. The Blue Raiders took advantage of the turnover scoring five plays later on a Gardner Jr. eight-yard run giving Lindsey Wilson a 7-0 lead with 4:15 to play in the first quarter.
Saunders capped off a quick four-play drive taking a carry 62 yards for a touchdown giving the Blue Raiders a 14-0 lead with 12:52 to play in the first half. Duece Marshall connected with Cam Bulluck for 41 yards to get Faulkner on the board. The Eagles missed the extra point keeping the Blue Raider lead at 14-6 with 7:47 left in the half. Following a Blue Raider three-and-out, Faulkner put together a six-play, 45-yard drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass from Marshall to Lamarie Mitchell. Faulkner was successful on the two-point attempt tying the game at 14.
The Blue Raider defense recorded two pick-sixes on Faulkner's first three drives of the second half. On the Eagles' fifth play of the second half, Barnett intercepted the Marshall pass returning it 44 yards to give Lindsey Wilson a 21-14 lead. The two teams then traded punts on the next two possessions. Gant intercepted the Eagles pass on the first play of the drive taking it 26 yards for the touchdown. After the missed extra point, Lindsey Wilson led 27-14 with 8:39 to play in the third quarter. Gardner Jr. scored his second touchdown of the game on a 43-yard run increasing the Lindsey Wilson lead to 34-14.
In the fourth quarter, Faulkner put together a seven-play, 91-yard drive capped off by a 30-yard pass from Evan Eschbach to La'Derrick Bell to make it 34-21 with 8:42 remaining. The Blue Raiders responded as the Blue Raiders put together an 11-play, 64-yard drive scoring drive with Brickey running it in from three-yards to go up 40-21. Following a Faulkner fumble, Mack ran it 33 yards for a touchdown making it 47-21.
The Blue Raiders are back in action on October 12 when they travel to Cumberlands (Ky.) for a conference matchup at 1:30 p.m. CT.
