No. 7-ranked Blue Raiders overcome 24-0 deficit to beat No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 57-31 in NAIA second-round game played at Parnell Family Stadium.
by Duane Bonifer
COLUMBIA, KY. (11/30/2025) Four record-setting performances by Blue Raiders keyed No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson University’s comeback from a 24-point deficit in the first half to beat No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 57-31 in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series, played on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium.
Lindsey Wilson (10-1) advances to the NAIA quarterfinals round, where they will play top-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Grand View (Iowa) University (11-0) on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson fell behind the visiting Wildcats 24-0 with 1:57 left in the second quarter. But the Blue Raiders closed out the first half with an eight-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that was capped with a two-point conversion. That ignited 36 unanswered points, which put Lindsey Wilson ahead 36-24 with 4:59 to play in the third quarter. The Blue Raiders forced six Indiana Wesleyan (9-3) turnovers in the second half.
Following an Indiana Wesleyan touchdown with 1:27 left in the third quarter to pull to 36-31, the Blue Raiders sealed the win with three more touchdowns.
A big reason Lindsey Wilson outscored Indiana Wesleyan 57-7 in the final 31:57 of the game was because of four Blue Raiders’ record-setting performances:
* Junior defensive back Khaleb Bridges of Atlanta set a program single-game record with four interceptions, three of which led to Blue Raider touchdowns. Bridges also recorded nine tackles to earn NAIA Defensive Player of the Game honors.
* Freshman wide receiver Max Gainey of Louisville, Kentucky, caught nine passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, setting a new Lindsey Wilson record for receiving yards in a season with 880 yards.
* Sophomore quarterback Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, threw for a career-high 382 yards on 22 of 35 passes with four touchdowns to earn NAIA Offensive Player of the Game honors.
* And junior running back Davontaye Saunders of Eminence, Kentucky, scored three touchdowns on 79 yards on 18 carries. Saunders now has 20 rushing touchdowns on the season, breaking the previous LWU single-season record of 18.
Lindsey Wilson University football coach Phil Kleckler is congratulated by his wife, Randi, and son, Rory, following the Blue Raiders’ 57-31 win over Indiana Wesleyan University in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson advanced to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson University junior defensive back Khaleb Bridges of Atlanta, right, collects his program-record fourth interception of the game in the Blue Raiders’ 57-31 win over Indiana Wesleyan University in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. Bridges, who also recorded nine tackles, earned NAIA Defensive Player of the Game honors. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson advanced to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson University junior wide receiver Taborie Reed of Pinson, Alabama, celebrates a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, to give the Blue Raiders a 43-31 lead over Indiana Wesleyan University in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson won the game 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson University freshman wide receiver Max Gainey of Louisville, Kentucky, is pulled down by Indiana Wesleyan University defensive back Vincie Solano on a 50-yard pass play from Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, to conclude the third quarter of Saturday’s second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson won the game 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa. For the game, Gainey caught nine passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, setting a new record for receiving yards in a season with 880 yards.
Lindsey Wilson University junior running back Davontaye Saunders of Eminence, Kentucky, pulls away from a pair of Indiana Wesleyan University defenders on his way to a an 18-yard pass play in the third quarter of the second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson won the game 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa. For the game, Saunders scored three touchdowns on 79 yards on 18 carries. Saunders now has 20 rushing touchdowns on the season, breaking the previous single-season record of 18.
Lindsey Wilson University linebacker Lou Burchfield, a graduate student from Maryville, Tennessee, left, and Indiana Wesleyan University quarterback Arjun Lothe, a senior from Greenwood, Indiana, were presented the Champions of Character Award following the second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson won the game 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson University sophomore quarterback Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, is presented the NAIA Offensive Player of the Game award by NAIA game official and Cumberland (Tennessee) University football coach Tim Mathis following the second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson beat No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa. Rice threw for a career-high 382 yards on 22 of 35 passes with four touchdowns.
Lindsey Wilson University junior defensive back Khaleb Bridges of Atlanta is presented the NAIA Defensive Player of the Game award by NAIA game official and Cumberland (Tennessee) University football coach Tim Mathis following the second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson beat No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 57-31 to advance to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa. Bridges set a program single-game record with four interceptions, three of which led to Blue Raider touchdowns. Bridges also recorded nine tackles.
Lindsey Wilson University sophomore quarterback Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, threw for a career-high 382 yards on 22 of 35 passes with four touchdowns to lead No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson to a 57-31 win over No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University in the second round game of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Parnell Family Stadium. Tate was presented the NAIA Offensive Player of the Game award. Lindsey Wilson advanced to the quarterfinals round against top-ranked Grand View (Iowa) University on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university’s 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Duane Bonifer – Lindsey Wilson University)