Lindsey Wilson Defeats Bethel 42-10 to Advance to NAIA FCS Quarterfinals

Football | Sat, Apr. 17, 2021

Story by Lindsey Wilson College Athletics

COLUMBIA, Ky. – For the second straight season, the Lindsey Wilson football team will be advancing on to the NAIA FCS Playoff Quarterfinals.

The Blue Raiders dropped Bethel (Kan.) today at Blue Raider Stadium by a final of 42-10, improving to a flawless 8-0 on the season.

LWC, who led just 14-10 at halftime, pushed forward 28 unanswered points while corralling an interception by TJ James in the win.

Today was also a special day for running back Jaylen Boyd, who now stands as the program’s all-time leading rusher. With his team-high 15 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns today, Boyd now has 2,244 career rushing yards which is good enough to move past the 2,219 career rushing yards from Blake Ingleton who was with the team from 2016-18.

Boyd was joined offensively by the good company of quarterback Cameron Dukes, who went 11-of-18 passing for 144 yards while tossing two touchdowns and one interception. Joshua Lewis, who was the favorite target for Dukes today, caught a team-best five passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Luke Bowman grabbed a team-leading 11 total tackles while Michael Leslie was close behind with nine. James, who pulled in a big interception for his defense in the third quarter, was joined by Peyton Doles and David Hylick with seven total tackles, respectively.

Overall, the Blue Raiders outgained the Threshers in total offense by a mark of 373-to-309. Total passing (144-to-108) and total rushing (229-to-201) were both won by Lindsey Wilson. Despite this, Bethel easily won the possession margin by 13 minutes and 12 seconds. Defensively, each team notched a turnover. 

The Threshers got the edge on the scoreboard first by amassing a powerful 14 play, 68 yard opening drive which resulted in a 29 yard field goal. BC held this 3-0 lead for the full length of the first quarter.

Despite an interception on the opening drive, the Blue Raider offense stepped back on the field a drive later and produced the game’s first touchdown. The 15 play, 74 yard drive was capped off by a Dukes five yard rushing score.

The lead was lost, but it didn’t bother Bethel, who quickly jumped back in front after a 59 yard passing touchdown gave the Threshers a 10-7 advantage as the half neared its end.

The answer came on the next offensive possession by Lindsey Wilson, who used up just 2:45 on the game clock in an eventual four yard passing touchdown from Dukes to Lewis. This gave the Blue Raiders a 14-10 edge at the half.

LWC took a spot in the driver’s seat and never looked back in the second half, scoring a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.

After the crucial interception by James in the endzone on Bethel’s second half opening drive, the Blue Raiders needed just one play for Dukes to launch an 80 yard touchdown pass to Lewis which gave the team an 11-point cushion.

Lindsey Wilson turned the Threshers over on downs a drive later, and would capitalize with a 5 play, 13 yard drive that was concluded when Boyd found his way in the endzone for a one yard rushing touchdown.

Play moved into the fourth quarter, and the Blue Raiders continued to execute on both ends of the ball. After forcing Bethel to turn the ball over on downs once again, Boyd broke free for a 36 yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the drive.

The final score of the game came after another executed turnover on downs sequence by the LWC defense. Off the turnover, a 10 play, 48 yard drive was capped off by a three yard rushing touchdown by Kobe Belcher.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson advances on into the NAIA FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. An opponent and location for this game will be announced at a later time.