CROWLEY, Texas – The No. 20 ranked Lindsey Wilson football team opened its season Thursday with a 34-24 loss to Texas Wesleyan at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The Blue Raiders outgained the Rams 278-261 and held a 153-55 edge in rushing yards.
David Gardner Jr. led the Lindsey Wilson rushing attack with 68 yards on 16 carries while
Davontaye Saunders had 42 yards on five rushes.
Pryor Lamb completed five passes for 78 yards while
Reid Brickey completed four passes for 47 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Brickey also added a touchdown on the ground.
Taborie Reed caught a pair of passes for 40 yards while Saunders had two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively,
Deuce Morton II led the Blue Raiders with 10 total tackles.
Troy Churchill had two tackles for loss and a half a sack while
Lou Burchfield had a half sack and an interception.
Jeremiah Fergerson also had an interception.
The Blue Raiders got the ball first and scored on their first possession as
Shaun Morse connected on a 21-yard field goal that capped off a 15-play 74 yard drive that took 8:50. Texas Wesleyan responded taking a 7-3 lead with 3:09 left in the first quarter. Lindsey Wilson got the first turnover on a Fergerson interception off a deflection and returned it 51 yards to the Rams 44. The Blue Raiders looked to have a promising drive going as they got the ball down to the Texas Wesleyan 18. On the next play, Daylon Rodgers intercepted the Brickey pass taking it all the way to increase the lead to 14-3 with 11:10 to play in the first half.
Texas Wesleyan recorded its second defensive touchdown returning an interception for a touchdown taking a 21-3 lead with 7:22 left in the half. The Blue Raiders responded with Saunders returning the kick 92 yards to make it 21-10. Lindsey Wilson kept the momentum going with a Burchfield interception at the Rams 25 taken to the 15. The Blue Raiders capitalized scoring six plays later on a Brickey three-yard run trimming the Ram lead to 21-17 with 3:18 left in the half.
Lindey Wilson trailed 24-17 with 38 seconds left in the half after a 39-yard field goal by the Rams.
Logan Neufeld retuned the ensuing kick to the Lindsey Wilson 40. On a 3rd and 2, Saunders ran for 31 yards to the Rams 21. Brickey found Saunders in the endzone on the next play tying the game at 24 right before halftime.
Texas Wesleyan began the second half with a 12 play 75-yard drive to retake the lead at 31-24 with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter. The Blue Raiders were unable to get anything going on their first drive of the second half going three-and-out. After a penalty extended the Texas Wesleyan drive, Churchill recorded two tackles for loss and a sack forcing a Rams punt. The Blue Raiders went into the fourth quarter trailing 31-24. After a penalty extended the Rams drive, the Blue Raider defense was able to make a stop on 4th and 1 giving Lindsey Wilson the ball on its own 31 with 10:45 to play. Lindsey Wilson was unable to capitalize on the stop giving the ball back to the Rams on the next play.
Texas Wesleyan capitalized on the Blue Raider turnover on the next drive. The drive was aided by a pair of Blue Raider penalties as the Rams made a 31-yard field goal to make it 34-24 with 6:28 to play. Lamb found Reed on the first play of the drive for 32 yards to get the ball on the Rams 32. The Blue Raiders got one yard on their next three plays before missing a 48-yard field goal. Lindsey Wilson forced a Rams punt and got the ball back on its own eight yard line with 2:50 remaining. The Blue Raiders got the ball down to the Texas Wesleyan 44 before turning it over on downs with 1:03 left.
Lindsey Wilson is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 7 when they travel to Valley, Alabama to take on Point (Ga.) at 11 a.m. CT.
