Football | 9/4/2026 1:53:00 PM
COLUMBIA, Ky. - The No. 6-ranked Lindsey Wilson football team welcomes Ave Maria (Fla.) to Parnell Family Stadium for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders enter Saturday's matchup coming off a 52-24 victory over No. 23 Reinhardt (Ga.) at home on August 27. Lindsey Wilson totaled 483 yards, with 231 coming on the ground. Reigning Mid-South Conference Offensive Player of the Week
Davontaye Saunders, ran for 177 yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns. Saunders now ranks second in career rushing yards with 2,271 and fifth in career touchdowns with 26.
Max Gainey tied the program record with three receiving touchdowns in a game. Gainey caught five passes for 158 yards in the win.
Tate Rice was 11-of-16 for 181 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Blue Raiders limited Reinhardt to just 119 passing yards.
Coty Johnson II led the Blue Raider defense with six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Layne Alford tallied two tackles for loss a sack and a forced fumble, while
Troy Churchill also added a sack. Reigning MSC Special Teams Player of the Week
Jadan Burns connected on all seven of his extra point attempts and made a 37-yard field goal.
Ave Maria went 3-7 last season and 2-5 in The Sun Conference. The Gyrenes averaged just 14.4 points per game in 2025. Ave Maria averaged 190.6 yards per game, 119.8 passing yards per game and 70.8 rushing yards per game last season. Defensively, the Gyrenes allowed 34.7 points and 424.6 yards per game. Ave Maria recorded 15 interceptions in 2025 ranking 15th in the NAIA.
The Gyrenes return leading rusher Reggie McBride. McBride ran for 543 yards on 144 carries with two touchdowns in 2025. On the defensive side of the ball, Ave Maria returns Gregory Thomas III. Thomas III led the team in tackles for loss with eight and in sacks with six.
Saturday's matchup is the third all-time meeting between the two programs. Lindsey Wilson leads the all-time series 2-0 including a 37-3 victory last season at Ave Maria. The lone meeting in Columbia took place on September 8, 2018 with the Blue Raiders winning 44-15.
This Saturday's match-up will kick off at 7 p.m. CT from Parnell Family Stadium. Fans can also tune in to WAIN 101.9 FM or the Lindsey Wilson Sports Network for the live broadcast.
