Lindsey Wilson Falls Short of Grand View in Defensive Battle

Football | Sat, Nov. 26, 2022 at 9:10 PM

Story Courtesy of Lindsey Wilson Athletics
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Lindsey Wilson football team saw their season come to a close this afternoon at Dukes Williams Stadium with a close 10-7 loss to No. 2 Grand View (Iowa).

After being tied at 7-7 for most of the contest, the Vikings were able to pull ahead thanks to a field goal. Grand View drove to the Lindsey Wilson 31-yard line after using six plays for 29 yards. Nathan Hamilton hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at 10-7 with 2:41 to play.

Lindsey Wilson went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but the Blue Raider defense stood tall, forcing Grand View into a three-and-out of their own. LWC took over at their 26-yard line with 1:40 to play.

The Blue Raiders strung together an eight-play, 72-yard drive to the Viking two-yard line. Lindsey Wilson had first and goal at the Viking eight-yard line with the clock stopped with 11 seconds to play.

Ethan Cash found Manny Scott over the middle but was stopped short of the end zone. Out of timeouts, Lindsey Wilson attempted to line up to clock the ball, but time expired before the snap.

Michael Leslie finished the game with a team high eight tackles as two came for a loss. Cashawn Beasley added seven tackles and an interception while Luke Bowman added another interception in the game.

Cash was 18-of-36 passing for 146 yards. Kobe Belcher produced 66 rushing yards and the lone LWC score in the game. Jaleel Warren led all receivers with seven catches for 56 yards.

With just over five minutes to play in the opening quarter, Bowman’s interception set up Lindsey Wilson deep in Grand View territory at the four-yard line. Bowman intercepted Johnny Sullivan’s pass over the middle and return it 51 yards.

The defensive effort allowed the LWC offense and Belcher to scamper into the endzone on the following play.

Grand View leveled the score early in the second quarter after going six plays and 65 yards. With 13:54 on the clock, Sullivan connected with Damon Street for five yards and the score.

The score held at 7-7 till the halftime break. Lindsey Wilson failed to convert on two field goal attempts in the half while Grand View missed one of their own. Ian Sauter’s attempts came from 39 yards and 56 yards with the latter coming with under 10 seconds to play in the half.

Beasley recorded Lindsey Wilson’s second interception of the game during the Vikings’ opening drive of the second half. Taking over at the Grand View 36-yard line, Lindsey Wilson moved the ball to the 21-yard line. The Blue Raiders failed to convert on their third field goal attempt of the game, this one from 39 yards.

More physical defensive play continued till deep into the fourth quarter when Grand View was able to pull ahead.

Grand View held the Blue Raider offense in check all afternoon as LWC finished the game with just 232 yards of offense. The Lindsey Wilson rushing attack was limited to just 73 rushing yards. Lindsey Wilson’s defense was just as effective during the game, holding Grand View to 316 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.

With the loss, the Blue Raiders finish the season with a 10-2 overall record while making their eighth NAIA FCS appearance.