COLUMBIA, Ky. – Fourteen Lindsey Wilson football student-athletes earned All-Mid- South Conference honors, conference officials announced on Thursday.

The Blue Raiders also took home four individual awards, with Davontaye Saunders being named the Craig Mulling MSC Offensive Player of the Year and Tate Rice earning Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Lindsey Wilson Head Coach Phil Kleckler was named the Ron Finley MSC Coach of the Year, while Offensive Coordinator Jay Bright earned MSC Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

Saunders becomes the first Blue Raider to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since Cameron Dukes in 2022. He leads the MSC in rushing yards (1,464) and in yards per game with 146.4. Saunders' rushing yards per game lead the NAIA while his total rushing yards rank second. He also leads the conference with 17 rushing touchdowns while ranking fifth in the NAIA. This season, Saunders has rushed for over 150 yards in a game six times and over 200 yards twice. Saunders set the program record for rushing yards in a game with 299 against Cumberland (Tenn.) on November 8. He also owns the single-season rushing yards record and needs just two more touchdowns to break the program record for rushing touchdowns in a season.

Rice is the first Blue Raider since Cedric Washington in 2016 to earn Freshman of the Year honors. Rice this season has completed 65.6 percent of his passes (141-215), throwing for 1,954 yards with 24 touchdowns. His 1,954 yards and 24 touchdowns each rank third in the MSC. Rice has thrown three or more touchdowns in six games this season. Rice threw for a season-high 327 yards on October 18 at Campbellsville (Ky.).

Kleckler led Lindsey Wilson to a 9-1 record and its first MSC championship since 2021 going 5-1 in conference play. The Blue Raiders earned the No. 7 overall seed and a bye into the Second Round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

In his first year as the offensive coordinator, Bright leads a Blue Raider offense that is averaging 43.6 points per game and 456 yards a game. Lindsey Wilson leads the MSC in scoring and ranks second in yards per game. The Blue Raiders lead the conference in rushing yards per game with 223.9.

Joining Rice and Saunders on the first team are Larry Montgomery, Khia Sherrard, Max Gainey, Darius Moore, Cameron Rankins, and Khaleb Bridges. Preston Parks, Shadie Rankhorn, Seth Phillips, Troy Churchill, Ronald Carr, Howie Gant, and Gainey were named to the second team.

Montgomery, Parks, and Rankhorn anchor an offensive line that leads the conference in rushing yards per game and has allowed 12 sacks in 10 games. Sherrard leads the MSC in receiving yards (751), yards per game (75.1), and touchdowns with 11.

Gainey earned first-team honors in all-purpose and second-team honors as a return specialist. He has caught 46 passes for 692 yards with six touchdowns. Gainey has returned 10 punts for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while returning nine kickoffs for 157 yards. He also has one carry for 18 yards. Gainey is one of just six players in the NAIA to have multiple punt return touchdowns this season.

Moore ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (5.0) and in sacks with four. Rankins leads the MSC in tackles with 73 and ranks second on the Blue Raiders in tackles for loss with 5.5. Bridges has recorded 45 tackles, one interception, and has 12 pass breakups. Bridges' 12 pass breakups lead the conference and rank 10th in the NAIA.

Phillips has caught 13 passes for 132 yards with four touchdowns. Churchill has recorded 28 tackles with a team-leading 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss. Carr is tied for second on the team in interceptions with two and is second in tackles with 50. Gant has totaled 41 tackles this season, along with one interception.