Blue Raiders score 28 in First Half to move to 3-0 in Mid-South Action
COLUMBIA – October 21, 2023 (summary via Lindseyathletics.com)
At Parnell Family Stadium, the Lindsey Wilson football team remained perfect in conference play and upended the visiting Patriots 48-14 behind nearly 500 total yards of offense.
Quarterback Ethan Cash completed 17 of his 29 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. It is the junior’s third output of 200 or more yards through the air this season and second second-highest. Quantae Hicks and Michael Burdick served as Cash’s primary targets on the afternoon as they each hauled in over 100 yards receiving.
On the ground, Jbias Dawson crossed the goal line twice as part of a 101-yard day, while Davontaye Saunders checked in late and compiled 62 rushing yards on eight carries.
Defensively, the Blue Raiders limited Cumberlands to 142 yards of total offense, the second-lowest effort of the season for Lindsey Wilson. The hosts were especially effective on the Patriots’ third and fourth-down attempts, holding them to just 1-of-16 combined, and came up clutch two return touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception.
The scoring began on offense, however, during the Blue Raiders’ second drive of the game. After the possession opened with three straight passes, the ball was handed off to Dawson for three straight carries. The last of those attempts went 26 yards through the hole and to the endzone.
Then, following another set of empty drives, the Patriots set up shop at their own 20-yard line. Two plays later, a pass from Cumberlands’ quarterback Jay Roberts was picked off by Darius Hylick and taken the opposite direction for another Lindsey Wilson house call to end the first quarter.
The second frame did not start off as hoped for the visitors, as their very next possession quickly went three-and-out to bring on the punting unit. Off the snap, the Blue Raiders got a strong jump to get more than a hand on the Patriots’ kick. With the ball pinballing around in the air, Griffin Swinea snatched into his arms and galloped 25 yards for a touchdown, extending Lindsey Wilson’s lead to 21-0.
A significant chunk of the second quarter passed before the Blue Raiders found the endzone again. This time, with under two minutes until halftime, Cash connected with Burdick from 40 yards out to give the senior wideout his fourth touchdown of the year.
Lindsey Wilson ballooned its advantage to 35-0 early in the third quarter off a short run from David Gardner Jr., and the Patriots followed that up with a 91-yard touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.
Despite the new life sparked on the opposing sideline, the Blue Raiders got right back to work on the next drive and took the ball 75 yards in six plays. Dawson provided the cap of the drive on a seven-yard rush and score, bringing the home side’s lead up to 41-7.
Both teams reached the endzone once in the fourth quarter. First, the Blue Raiders on a three-yard scramble by Cash, then Cumberlands five minutes later, but it was too little too late for the visitors, and Lindsey Wilson ran out the clock from there on.
The eighth-ranked Blue Raiders hit the road the next weekend for a top-25 matchup with No. 20 Georgetown (Ky.). Kick-off from Toyota Stadium is slated for 1:30 p.m. CST.