No. 6 Lindsey Wilson University Football Opens 2026 Season with 52-24 Win over No. 23 Reinhardt University.

football opener COLUMBIA, KY. (08/28/2026) The Lindsey Wilson University football team opened the 2026 season with a top-25 win over visiting Reinhardt (Georgia) University on Thursday night, Aug. 27, at Parnell Family Stadium.

The Blue Raiders, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA, blitzed the No. 23-ranked Eagles 45-0 in the first half and then cruised to a 52-24 victory.

For the game, Lindsey Wilson posted 483 total yards of offense, including a game-high 177 rushing yards by senior running back Davontaye Saunders of Eminence, Kentucky, who ran for three touchdowns. It was the ninth time Saunders has run for over 100 yards and the seventh time he's rushed for more than 150 yards in a game. Saunders now has 2,271 career rushing yards, the second most in Lindsey Wilson history. His three touchdowns give him 26 career touchdowns, the fifth most in LWU history.

Junior quarterback Tate Rice of Manchester, Kentucky, threw three touchdowns on 11-of-16 passing for a game-high 181 yards. Rice's three touchdowns were thrown to sophomore wide receiver Max Gainey of Louisville, Kentucky, who had a game-high 158 receiving yards.

Lindsey Wilson's next game is against Ave Maria (Florida) University at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Parnell Family Stadium.

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