COLUMBIA, Ky. – The No. 9-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team defeated (RV) Cumberland (Tenn.) 56-37 on Senior Day Saturday at Parnell Family Stadium.
Davontaye Saunders broke a pair of program records in the win. Saunders set the single-game rushing record, tallying 299 yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns. He surpassed the previous mark of 252 yards set by Jbias Dawson on September 23, 2023. This is the second time this season that Saunders has rushed for over 200 yards, and the sixth time this season he has surpassed 150 yards. He also surpassed the single-season rushing yards record of 1,215 set by Jaylen Boyd in 2021. Saunders has now totaled 1,440 yards this season.

The Blue Raiders (7-1, 4-1 Mid-South Conference) totaled a season-high 605 yards of offense in the win. This marks the first time Lindsey Wilson has surpassed over 600 yards since November 13, 2021. The Blue Raiders have now surpassed 50 points in the three games this season.Lindsey Wilson had a season-high 385 rushing yards on 30 carries. This marks the third time this season the Blue Raiders have rushed for over 300 yards. Lindsey Wilson totaled 220 yards through the air. Defensively, Lindsey Wilson forced four turnovers with three interceptions. The Blue Raiders' four turnovers are the most since October 19, 2024, and they have recorded three interceptions in a game twice this season.

Tate Rice completed 11 of his 15 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns while throwing an interception. Three different Blue Raiders caught touchdowns, led by Max Gainey, who had three catches for 77 yards. Stevin Mack added 60 yards on nine carries and tallied a pair of touchdowns.

Cameron Rankins and Kevin Wilson led the Lindsey Wilson defense with 12 tackles apiece. Howie Gant also recorded double-digit tackles, tallying 10. Troy Churchill recorded a sack and forced a fumble. Lee Levingston, Chevis Elliott, and Kelson McKinney each recorded an interception.

The Blue Raiders needed just one play to take a 7-0 lead. Saunders took the opening carry 73 yards to the end zone. Cumberland responded with a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, tying the game at seven with  9:34 to play in the quarter. On the next Lindsey Wilson drive, Saunders ran the ball 69 yards on the first play to make it 14-7. The Phoenix answered right back, putting together a seven-play, 65-yard scoring drive to make it 14-13.

Following a Lindsey Wilson punt, Cumberland took a 20-14 lead with 9:46 remaining in the first half. On the ensuing kickoff, Byron Kirkland-Lundy returned it 55 yards to the Phoenix 43. Rice connected with Gainey on the first play for 43 yards as the Blue Raiders retook the lead 21-20.

Once again, the Phoenix answered with a scoring drive of their own. Jack Kanter connected on a 39-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 66-yard drive and give Cumberland a 23-21 lead with 2:33 left in the half. Rice found Adrienne Bailey for 61 yards on the next drive giving Lindsey Wilson a 28-23 advantage. The Blue Raiders forced the first turnover of the game on the next Phoenix possession. Levingston picked off the Jake Parker pass and returned it 26 yards to the Cumberland 19. The Blue Raiders needed just two plays to find the end zone with Rice throwing a seven-yard pass to Seth Phillips to make it 35-23.

Lindsey Wilson forced the second Phoenix turnover on the first drive of the second half. On third and eight at the Blue Raider 24, Churchill strip-sacked Parker, which Rankins recovered at the Lindsey 28. The Blue Raiders were unable to capitalize on the turnover as Rice threw an interception into the end zone.

Cumberland took advantage of the Lindsey Wilson turnover, scoring in six plays, trimming the Blue Raider lead to 35-30 with 5:19 to play in the third.  Saunders scored his third touchdown of the day on the next drive, putting the Blue Raiders back up by 12. In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Letavion Everly made a fourth-down stop at the  Blue Raider 18.

Mack scored his first touchdown on the next drive, giving the Blue Raiders a 49-30 lead with 11 minutes to play. The Phoenix scored their final points of the game on their next drive. After a Lindsey Wilson punt, McKinney intercepted Parker at the Lindsey 29, returning 11 yards. Mack scored his second touchdown of the game from 33 yards out.

Lindsey Wilson closes out its regular season with a trip to McKenzie, Tennessee, next Saturday to face (RV) Bethel (Tenn.) at 1 p.m. CT.