Blue Raiders Flood Skyhawks

COLUMBIA, Ky. – When it rains it pours, and did the Blue Raider football team ever pour it on in the second half to ground the Skyhawks of Point University 57-7 at Parnell Family Stadium.

Despite the challenges of mother nature, Lindsey Wilson embraced the cold, rain-soaked field conditions to run for 122 of its 185 rushing yards in the third and fourth quarters. All told, the home team posted its second-highest single-game offensive output of the season with 378 total yards to Point's 103.

In the first quarter, the two sides traded empty drives before the Blue Raiders opened the scoring. A 33-yard tightrope catch by Logan Collier eventually set up Jbias Dawson with a catch of his own from Ethan Cash for 14 yards and a Lindsey Wilson touchdown. Then, less than two minutes later, the Skyhawks punt attempt was foiled by a bad snap and the ball careened out of the back of the endzone for a safety.

Point earned its lone points of the day early in the second quarter to cut the Lindsey Wilson lead down to 9-7, but the Blue Raiders were quick to respond when Cash connected with Michael Burdick from 12 yards out to bump the lead up to 17-7 with a two-point conversion. An ensuing five-play drive by the 'Hawks ended with a 31-yard punt to Quantae Hicks, who after a few missed tackles, tip-toed down the sideline 69 yards for Lindsey Wilson's first punt return touchdown since last September.

Hicks would find the endzone again later in the quarter. This time as a receiver when his fellow Tennessee native quarterback Cash found him wide open on a 20-yard completion for six.

Harris Nichols went on to add two field goals before the break, giving Lindsey Wilson a 37-7 lead heading into the locker room. That's when the rain clouds rolled in, coupled with lightning to force a 90-minute delay.

After the break, the Blue Raider defense took control and pushed the Skyhawks back into their own territory before pressuring the punting unit to a frantic 10-yard clearance. The Lindsey Wilson offense then assumed full advantage with a three-play, 33-yard drive that culminated with a 29-yard house call by Davontaye Saunders. The defense, though, was not fully satisfied as they continued to stuff Point on the ground and challenge the Skyhawks' quarterback to tell them through the air, which immediately backfired only 56 seconds after the Blue Raiders scored.

A pass in the direction of the Point sideline met the hands of Darius Willis Jr. and the senior from Nashville followed the convoy of blockers in front of him for a pick-six and Lindsey Wilson's first defensive touchdown of the season.

The Blue Raider barrage ultimately ceased last in the fourth quarter, but not before a nine-yard score from Griffin Swinea to give Lindsey Wilson a dominating 57-7 victory.

Swinea ended up pacing the home side with 95 total rushing yards, while Saunders added 54.

Cash closed his third start of the season going 14-for-24 for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, Willis Jr. pulled in two interceptions, Deven Daniels added one, and Cameron Rankins provided the only sack of the day for the Blue Raiders.

Lindsey Wilson travels to Bluefield University next weekend for a 1:30 p.m. CST kickoff along the Bluestone River.