JACKSON, Ohio – The sixth-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team played its first road game of the season, picking up a 61-12 victory over Rio Grande (Ohio) on Saturday at Holzer Field at Alumni Stadium.
For a second straight week, the Blue Raiders (3-0) totaled 500 yards or more. Lindsey Wilson outgained Rio Grande 541-177. The Blue Raiders racked up 335 yards on the ground on 41 carries while limiting the RedStorm (0-2) to just 34 yards on 30 carries. Lindsey Wilson eclipsed 300 yards for the first time since November 8, 2025, where they had 385. The Blue Raiders' 61 points are the most since last season, when they scored 62.
Davontaye Saunders scored two touchdowns on 18 carries for 146 yards. With his two touchdowns, Saunders is now second all-time in career rushing touchdowns with 31.
Stevin Mack ran for 116 yards on 12 carries, scoring twice.
Max Gainey caught three passes for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Tate Rice went 8-for-13, throwing for 166 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Letavion Everly and
Brody Klem led the Blue Raider defense with five tackles apiece. Klem also recorded a sack and forced a fumble.
Layne Alford recorded two tackles for loss, while
Coty Johnson II also had a sack.
Christian Douglas recorded an interception in the victory.
Rio Grande kicked an onside kick to open the game and recovered on the RedStorm 46. The RedStorm faced a 4th-and-2 at the Lindsey Wilson 33 and went for it.
Howie Gant and Alford made the stop, giving the Blue Raiders the ball on their own 32.
Lindsey Wilson needed just four plays to strike first, with Rice finding Gainey on a deep ball for 54 yards, giving the Blue Raiders a 7-0 lead. The Blue Raiders got great field position on their next drive after a 28-yard punt by Rio Grande to its own 36 was returned to the 27. Following a holding penalty on the first play of the drive, Saunders ran it three straight times, scoring from three yards out, giving the Blue Raiders a 14-0 advantage with 7:10 to play in the first quarter.
Following another Rio Grande three-and-out, Lindsey Wilson needed just two plays to increase its lead. For a second time in the quarter, Rice connected with Gainey this time for 24 yards to make it 21-0. The RedStorm ran the ensuing kick back 97 yards to get on the board. A bad snap on the extra point attempt was recovered by Jamahl Genty and ran back for two points to make it 23-6.
Rio Grande intercepted Rice on the fifth play of the next drive, returning it eight yards to its own 44. On the first play of the second quarter, Trey Dunn found Knowledge McDaniel for 51 yards to make it 23-12. The RedStorm were stopped on the two-point conversion attempt.
The RedStorm forced a fumble on the first play of the next Lindsey Wilson drive. The Blue Raider defense responded to the sudden change, forcing a three-and-out. Lindsey Wilson put together a six-play, 80-yard drive with all runs capped off by a seven-yard touchdown from Mack with 9:57 left in the half to lead 30-12. After stopping the RedStorm on fourth down on their own 17, Saunders scored his second touchdown of the day to increase the Blue Raider lead to 37-12. The Blue Raiders added two more touchdowns in the first half, with Mack scoring from one yard and Rice connecting with
Tyler Campbell for 23 yards to take a 51-12 lead into the locker room.
On the second Rio Grande drive of the second half, Klem forced a fumble that was recovered by
Qua'darious Lightner at the RedStorm 44. Rio Grande recorded a takeaway on the next Lindsey Wilson drive. Later in the third quarter,
Logan Ford connected on a 23-yard field goal to make it 54-12.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Douglas intercepted a Jacob Winters pass, returning it 18 yards to the Blue Raider 45. The Blue Raiders' last touchdown of the day came on a 15-yard pass from
Pryor Lamb to
Patrick Kelly.
The Blue Raiders are back on the road next week for a top-20 showdown against No. 16 St. Thomas at AutoNation Field in Miami Gardens, Florida, for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff.
