COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson football team opened the 2025 season in dominating fashion with a 45-10 upset over No. 10-ranked Texas Wesleyan Thursday at Parnell Family Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (1-0) out gained the Rams (0-1) 497-221 in the victory. This marked the first time the Blue Raiders surpassed 400 total yards since September 14, 2024 against Bluefield (Va.). The Lindsey Wilson defense limited Texas Wesleyan to just 29 rushing yards on 26 carries.
Khia Sherrard caught five passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Sherrard's 215 receiving yards broke the program record of 169 set by Matt Powers on October 9, 2010 against Pikeville.
Pryor Lamb completed 15 of his 27 passes throwing for 333 yards with four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Lamb is the first Blue Raider quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since
Cameron Dukes on October 9, 2021.
Davontaye Saunders led the Lindsey Wilson rushing attack with 86 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Max Gainey became the first Blue Raider to total over 100 punt return yards since Noel Patterson on September 24, 2022.
Defensively,
Khaleb Bridges led the Blue Raiders with nine tackles.
Cade Rouse,
Darius Moore and
Letavion Everly each recorded a sack. Everley and
Cameron Rankins each forced a fumble.
Gainey got the game started with a 48-yard kickoff return taking it to the 47. The Blue Raiders were unable to capitalize after a bad snap on the third play of the drive gave the Rams the ball at Blue Raider 48. Texas Wesleyan struck first after the turnover connecting on a 24-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 9:12 to play in the first quarter.
The Blue Raiders responded needing just three plays in 48 seconds capped off by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Lamb to Sherrard to take a 7-3 lead. On the next Rams drive, Lindsey Wilson forced a three-and-out before throwing an interception on its next possession. Texas Wesleyan was held to another three-and-out. On the ensuing punt, Gainey took it the distance for 66 yards to give Lindsey Wilson a 14-3 advantage with 5:07 left in the first.
Rankins forced a Texas Wesleyan fumble which was recovered by
Michael Hinton at the Rams 28. The Blue Raiders were not able to capitalize on the fumble as they turned it over on downs. Texas Wesleyan went on an 8-play, 72-yard drive capped off by a Mark Benjamin two-yard run to make it 14-10 with 12:43 remaining in the first half.
The Blue Raiders responded with a scoring drive of their own putting together an 11-play, 76-yard drive ending with a 14-yard pass from Lamb to Saunders to increase the lead to 21-10. On the next possession, Texas Wesleyan had an 11-play drive that lasted 5:40 and ended with a missed 33-yard field goal with 1:33 left before halftime.
Lindsey Wilson took advantage of the missed field goal going 80 yards in just six plays that took 1:17. The drive was capped with a 31-yard pass from Lamb to Sherrard to increase the lead to 28-10.
The Blue Raiders needed just one play to increase the lead to 35-10. Lamb took the snap and handed the ball to
Henry Cason who then threw it back to Lamb. Lamb then fired it to an open Sherrard downfield who took it in for the score. Lindsey Wilson increased its lead to 42-10 with 3:08 to play in the third quarter on 10-yard Saunders touchdown run. The Blue Raiders tacked on three more points on a 34-yard field goal from
Jadan Burns with 7:48 to play.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action on Saturday, September 6 with a trip to Ave Maria, Florida to take on Ave Maria at 6 p.m. CT at Gyrene Field.
