COLUMBIA, Ky. – The No. 25 ranked Lindsey Wilson football team defeated Bluefield (Va.) 44-20 in the home opener at Parnell Family Stadium Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (2-1) gained a season-high 522 yards of offense in the victory. Lindsey Wilson's 523 yards is the first time they have totaled over 500 yards in a game since Sept. 23, 2023 against Bluefield. The Blue Raiders also set season-highs in rushing yards (265) and in passing yards with 257.
Reid Brickey completed 16 of his 18 passes for a career-high 212 yards with three touchdowns.
David Gardner Jr. rushed for a career-high 155 yards on 19 carries, scoring a pair of touchdowns. This marks the first time that Gardner Jr. rushed for over 100 yards.
Boyce Smith caught two passes for 59 yards and a touchdown while
Zach Campbell had three receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown.
Henry Cason and
Jamari Wilson each had a touchdown reception.
Pryor Lamb completed one pass for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Lindsey Wilson limited the Rams to just 60 yards on the ground while Bluefield tallied 250 yards in the air.
Jeremiah Fergerson led the Blue Raider defense with eight tackles while
Cameron Rankins and
Lou Burchfield had seven apiece. Burchfield and
Sam Taylor each had a tackle for loss while
Howie Gant had an interception.
The Blue Raiders started the game with the ball and put together a 14-play 75-yard drive that took 8:06 and was capped off by a Gardner Jr. three-yard touchdown. After forcing a three-and-out, Lindsey Wilson was driving again before a fumble gave the Rams possession at their own 22. Just three plays later, Gant intercepted the Nathan Herstich pass giving the Blue Raiders the ball at their own 35.
Harris Nichols increased the Lindsey Wilson lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter connecting on a 43-yard field goal. Bluefield got on the board on a three-yard run from Cortarius Gilmore with 6:16 left in the first half to trim the Blue Raider lead to 10-7. Lindsey Wilson answered back when Brickey found Cason for a 28-yard touchdown increasing the Blue Raider lead to 16-7 with 1:54 to play in the half. The Blue Raiders forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 52 seconds left in the half. Lindsey Wilson put together a five-play 65-yard drive that took 39 seconds. Brickey evaded two Rams defenders and found Wilson for a 14-yard touchdown pushing the Blue Raider lead to 23-7.
Bluefield and Lindsey Wilson each punted once to begin the third quarter. On the Rams second drive of the quarter, Bluefield got to the Lindsey Wilson 42 before failing on a fourth down attempt. The Blue Raiders capitalized needing just two plays to increase their lead heading into the fourth quarter. Gardner Jr. ran it 54 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the quarter increasing the lead to 30-7.
The Rams responded with a 10-play scoring drive and failed on the two-point conversion making it 30-13 with 10:03 to play.
Logan Neufeld set Lindsey Wilson up with great field position taking the kick 51 yards to the Bluefield 41. The Blue Raiders needed just three plays to score as Brickey connected with Campbell for a 35-yard touchdown. After forcing a Bluefield three-and-out, Lamb connected with Smith from 46 yards for a touchdown making it 44-13 with just over five minutes left. Bluefield found the endzone one more time late in the fourth quarter to make it 44-20.
The Blue Raiders head into a bye next week and return to action on Sept. 28 for a homecoming matchup against St. Andrews (N.C.) at 2:30 p.m. CT at Parnell Family Stadium.
