Blue Raiders battle to beat Campbellsville University

Lindsey Wilson football scored 21 unanswered points - including 14 points after a three-plus hour weather delay - en route to a 24-17 win over visiting Campbellsville  at Blue Raider Stadium.

The game which began at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, ended in dramatic fashion at 1:28 a.m. on Sunday.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson claims the “Battle of Highway 55” traveling trophy for the first time in the four-game series with the Tigers (0-1).

Leading 24-17, Lindsey Wilson defense had to defend an untimed down from its own four-yard line to secure the win.

Lindsey Wilson’s Avery Ford knocked down the would-be touchdown pass in the endzone from Campbellsville quarterback Bryan Parnes to help the Blue Raiders win their first season-opening game in the program’s history.

The defensive stand was one of many tonight for the Blue Raiders as they limited the Tigers to just four of 16 on third-down opportunities. The Lindsey Wilson defense also held Campbellsville scoreless in the second half and did not allow a point over the final 35:25 of the game.

The Tigers raced to a 17-3 lead late in the second quarter.

Jarrod Harrington opened the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give Campbellsville a 7-0 lead.

Lindsey Wilson’s Mark Corbett cut the deficit to 7-3 with a school-record 48-yard field goal late in the first quarter.

Campbellsville’s Will Ward nailed a 40-yard field goal to open up the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-3. Parnes - who finished the night 18-for-36 for 124 yards and one touchdown — followed two drives later by hitting Trevon Chatman on a slant for a touchdown from six yards out to take a 17-3 lead.

That would be the last time the Tigers would dent the scoreboard.

Over Campbellsville’s next eight drives, the Tigers would be forced to punt six times and turn the ball over twice.

Following the Campbellsville score, Lindsey Wilson used eight plays and 46 yards to score its first touchdown of the season and cut the Tiger lead to 17-10. Lindsey Wilson quarterback Brandon Cresap connected with Matt Powers - who caught his program-record 17th career touchdown — on the 15-yard score with just under one minute left the half.

As the second half began, the intrigue of the game was nearly put on the backburner as an approaching weather system neared Blue Raider Stadium.

With 8:51 left in the third quarter and Campbellsville clinging to a 17-10 lead, the officials stopped play just ahead of torrential rains and lightning hitting the stadium.

The game which began on August 31, resumed in September at 12:25 a.m. CT.

While neither team could seize the immediate momentum, Lindsey Wilson - on its third drive after the delay - struck with an equalizing touchdown 29 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Cresap found a streaking Tavis Elzy down the right sideline for a 77-yard touchdown that pulled the Blue Raiders into a 17-17 tie. Cresap finished the game 15-for-32 for 211 yards and two touchdowns, while Elzy ended with the one catch for a score.

Lindsey Wilson completed the comeback win on its next drive following Shane Fields’ first career interception.

Dakota Brown - who racked up 49 yards on 10 carries - broke several tackles in a 15-yard touchdown run to push the Blue Raiders into the lead for the first time.

With the lead in hand, the Lindsey Wilson defense once again proved to be the difference on the night forcing a second turnover and holding on the last play of the game.

Sam Wilson led the Blue Raiders with 11 tackles while Eric Shaw added 10 tackles - including eight solo - in the win. Rome Cotton led the Lindsey Wilson rushing attack with 91 yards.

Campbellsville’s Ben Axon rushed for a game-high 105 yards in the loss.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 7, as the Blue Raiders travel to Reinhardt (Ga.) in a Mid-South Conference cross-over matchup.