COLUMBIA, Ky. – Davontaye Saunders totaled five touchdowns as the No. 6-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team defeated Cumberlands (Ky.) 62-13 in a Mid-South Conference matchup Saturday at Parnell Family Stadium.
The Blue Raiders' (6-0, 2-0 MSC) 62 points are the most since November 6, 2021 when they scored 77 against Campbellsville (Ky.) Lindsey Wilson outgained the Patriots (3-3, 0-2) 436-335 in the victory and held Cumberlands to 146 passing yards. This marks the fourth time this season Lindsey Wilson has surpassed 400 yards of offense. Lindsey Wilson totaled 327 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. This is the second time this season that the Blue Raiders have recorded over 300 rushing yards. The six rushing touchdowns are the most since November 6, 2021 when the Blue Raiders had seven. Defensively, the Blue Raiders recorded three interceptions returning two for touchdowns. The three interceptions are the most since last season against Campbellsville.
Davontaye Saunders ran for 207 yards on 17 carries and had four touchdowns. Saunders has now surpassed 150 yards in four straight games. He becomes the first Blue Raider to rush for over 200 yards since Jbias Dawson had 201 on October 14, 2023. Saunders' four rushing touchdowns are the most since Jalen Boyd on October 26, 2019. He also caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Saunders' five total touchdowns match the program record set by Blake Ingleton on November 18, 2017. His 266 all-purpose yards are the third-most in program history.
Tate Rice went 8-for-12 throwing for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively,
Cameron Rankins and
Jamarques Frank led the way with seven tackles apiece.
Khaleb Bridges,
Ronald Carr, and
Lee Levingston each recorded interceptions. Bridges and Carr each returned their interceptions back for touchdowns. This is the second time this season that Carr has returned an interception for a touchdown.
The Blue Raider defense stopped Cumberlands on a 4th and 3 from the Patriots 37, giving Lindsey Wilson the ball on the Cumberlands 39 for its first drive. Lindsey Wilson capitalized on the fourth down stop needing just four plays to get on the board first. Saunders capped the drive from five-yards out giving the Blue Raiders a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Cumberlands responded right back with a 13-play, 83-yard drive scoring on a one-yard rush from Drew Gregg. The Patriots went for two and were stopped keeping the score at 7-6 with 3:50 left in the Quarter.
On the first play of the next drive, Saunders took a carry 61 yards to endzone for his second touchdown and increasing the Blue Raider lead to 14-6. Lindsey Wilson forced a three-and-out on the next Patriot drive. Again it was Saunders on the first play of the drive this time for 57 yards giving the Blue Raiders a 21-6 advantage. The Patriots answered with a three-play, 69-yard scoring drive making it 21-13 with 22 seconds left in the quarter.
Following a Blue Raider three-and-out, the Lindsey Wilson defense came up with its second fourth down stop of the half stopping the Patriots on their own 43. Lindsey Wilson took advantage of the field position putting together a 9-play, 43-yard drive. Rice capped off the scoring drive with a one-yard run increasing the Lindsey Wilson lead to 28-13 with 7:15 to play in the half.
On the fifth play of the next Cumberlands drive, Bridges picked off the Gregg pass taking it 48 yards to the endzone to make it 35-13. Levingston picked off Gregg returning it 46 yards to the Cumberlands 12 late in the first half. The Blue Raiders looked to increase their lead with a 24-yard field from
Jadan Burns. The Patriots were able to block the kick keeping the score at 35-13.
The Blue Raiders needed just three plays on the first drive of the second half to increase their lead. Rice found Saunders for 36 yards to give Lindsey Wilson a 42-13 lead. After a Patriot three-and-out, the Blue Raiders went on a nine-play, 70-yard drive capped off by Saunders' fourth rushing touchdown of the game. Carr stepped in front of the Gregg pass on the first play of the next drive taking 26 yards to give the Blue Raiders a 56-13 lead with 6:20 to play in the third.
Cumberlands had a second and goal on the Blue Raider seven before a personal foul put the ball on the 22. The next two Patriot plays were incompletions before
Coty Johnson recorded a nine-yard sack on fourth down.
Byron Kirkland-Lundy scored the final Lindsey Wilson touchdown on a 56-yard run on second play of the next Blue Raider drive.
The Blue Raiders return to action next week as they travel to No. 10 Campbellsville (Ky.) for the Battle of Highway 55 at 12:30 p.m. CT at Finley Stadium.
