MCKENZIE, TENN. – The No. 8-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team closed out the regular season with a 33-14 victory at Bethel (Tenn.) on Saturday at Walter Butler Stadium.
With the win and the Campbellsville (Ky.) loss to Georgetown, the Blue Raiders (9-1, 5-1 Mid-South Conference) captured the MSC regular season title and the MSC's automatic bid into the NAIA Football Championship Series. This marks the sixth MSC championship for Lindsey Wilson and the first since 2021.
Lindsey Wilson held a 415-338 edge in total yards over the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3 MSC) and a 189-42 advantage in passing yards. The 42 passing yards allowed by the Blue Raiders are the fewest allowed in a game since November 4, 2023.
Max Gainey hauled in nine passes for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Stevin Mack led the Lindsey Wilson rushing attack with 135 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown.
Tate Rice completed 12 of his 28 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns.
Khia Sherrard caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. Sherrard is now tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns in a season with 11.
Esley Cornelius III led the Blue Raider defense with four tackles while
Troy Churchill and two tackles for loss and a sack.
The Blue Raiders struck first on their first possession of the game. Lindsey Wilson went on an eight-play, 72-yard drive capped off by a nine-yard pass from Rice to Gainey to make it 7-0. On the ensuing kickoff,
Jadan Burns kicked it to the Bethel 26, and it was recovered by the Blue Raiders. On the fourth play of the drive, Rice connected with Sherrard for 10 yards to increase the lead to 13-0 with 8:51 remaining in the first.
After the two teams traded punts, Lindsey Wilson forced the first turnover of the game. Bethel was on its sixth play of the drive on the Blue Raider six when Cornelius III forced and recovered a fumble at the four. The Blue Raiders were unable to capitalize on the turnover, going three-and-out. Following a Bethel punt, the Wildcats forced a Blue Raider turnover, taking over at the Lindsey 37. The Wildcats did not capitalize on their forced turnover, missing a 41-yard field goal. Burns increased the Lindsey Wilson lead to 16-0 with 8:18 left in the half, connecting on a 33-yard field goal. Following a Bethel three-and-out, Mack capped off an eight-play, 62-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown, making it 23-0 with 1:52 left in the half.
The two teams traded punts to open the second half. Lindsey Wilson put together an eight-play, 33-yard scoring drive on its second possession of the second half. Burns capped off the drive with a 27-yard field making it 26-0 with 7:20 to play in the third. Following a Bethel punt, Rice found Gainey for his third touchdown of the day on the first play of the drive, increasing the lead to 33-0. Bethel got on the board on a 75-yard run on the first play of its drive to cut the Blue Raider lead to 33-7 with 4:31 to play in the third.
Bethel and Lindsey Wilson traded punts to begin the fourth quarter. The Wildcats needed just one play on their next drive with a 64-yard rush to make it 33-14 with 7:32 remaining. Lindsey Wilson closed out the game with an 11-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 7:29 giving the Blue Raiders the victory.
The NAIA FCS field is scheduled to be released on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT on the NAIA YouTube page.
