MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The No. 5-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team was defeated by No. 14 St. Thomas (Fla.) 17-7 on Saturday at AutoNation Field.
The Blue Raiders (3-1) were outgained by the Bobcats (4-0) 340-243. Lindsey Wilson was limited to just 37 yards on 25 carries in the loss. The seven points, 243 yards and 37 rushing yards were all season-lows for the Blue Raiders.
Tate Rice went 14-of-39 for 206 yards.
Stevin Mack led the way with two catches for 76 yards, while
Max Gainey hauled in six passes for 62 yards.
Davontaye Saunders rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown. Saunders is now tied for third all-time in program history with 32 career rushing touchdowns.
Jamahl Gentry led the Lindsey Wilson defense with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Howie Gant added eight tackles, while
Qua'darious Lightner and
Kelson McKinney each had seven. Lightner also recorded an interception.
Braden Ford recorded a sack, while
Coty Johnson II and
Troy Churchill added 0.5 sacks apiece.
The Blue Raiders got the ball to begin the game. Lindsey Wilson got two first downs on its first drive before punting to the Bobcats. St. Thomas struck first with a 77-yard pass from Jalen Daniels to Alfred Jordan with 8:36 to play in the first quarter. Following a Blue Raider three-and-out, the Bobcats put together a 12-play, 51-yard drive that lasted over six minutes. On a fourth and four at the Blue Raider 15, Daniels' pass was incomplete, giving Lindsey Wilson the ball with 18 seconds left in the quarter.
Following a Lindsey Wilson punt, Lightner picked off the St. Thomas pass at the Blue Raider 35 with 13:21 to play in the first half. The Bobcat defense responded, forcing a Lindsey Wilson three-and-out.
Tucker Swindler pinned St. Thomas at the seven with a 62-yard punt.
Lindsey Wilson took over on its own 39 after a Bobcat punt with 5:35 to play in the half. On the first play of the drive, Rice found Saunders for 35 yards to the St. Thomas 26. Following back-to-back penalties that made it 1st and 25, Rice connected with Gainey for 39 yards to the Bobcats two. Saunders got the Blue Raiders on the board with a one-yard touchdown with 2:31 to play in the half to tie the game. Lindsey Wilson forced its third straight three-and-out and took over on its own 35 with 1:38 to play in the half. On the first play of the drive, a pass interference call on St. Thomas put the ball on the 50. Rice was sacked on the next play and the Blue Raiders punted it back to the Bobcats a few plays later. St. Thomas ran one play to end the half as the teams headed to the locker room tied at 7-7.
St. Thomas opened the second half with the ball. The Bobcats went for it on a fourth-and-one when
Layne Alford made the stop, giving the Blue Raiders the ball on the St. Thomas 41. The Blue Raiders turned the ball over on their fourth play of the drive and after a penalty the Bobcats took over at their own 42. St. Thomas went on a 10-play, 62-yard drive capped off by a Jay Giunta 28-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 5:16 to play in the third. Following a Lindsey Wilson three-and-out, St. Thomas put together a six-play, 68-yard touchdown drive, taking a 17-7 lead with 58 seconds left in the third.
Following back-to-back pass interference penalties on St. Thomas, the Blue Raiders had the ball on the Bobcat's 36. Two plays later, St. Thomas forced a Blue Raider fumble and recovered at the St. Thomas 16. The Blue Raider defense responded as St. Thomas punted the ball back to Lindsey Wilson with 9:53 left. On their next drive, a holding penalty negated a 40-yard Bobcat field goal. St. Thomas then punted, pinning the Blue Raiders on their own four.
On the 13th play of the drive, Lindsey Wilson was stopped on fourth down at the St. Thomas 35, giving the Bobcats the ball with 2:17 left. The Blue Raider defense came away with a three-and-out, giving the ball back to the Lindsey Wilson offense with 1:56 to play. Facing a fourth and 10, Saunders ran it 14 yards to the Blue Raider 43. Two plays later, Rice connected with Mack for 56 yards, down to the Bobcat two. The St. Thomas defense held strong and recorded a sack on fourth and goal.
Lindsey Wilson looks to bounce back next week traveling to Barbourville, Kentucky, for a matchup against Union Commonwealth at Williamson Stadium at 1:30 p.m. CT.
