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WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- The Lindsey Wilson College football team's comeback effort fell just short in a 52-45 loss at No. 2-ranked University of the Cumberlands today at James H. Taylor II Stadium.

The No. 14-ranked Blue Raiders (5-1, 1-1 in the Mid-South Conference East Division) trailed 31-0 in the early stages of the second quarter only to battle back within a touchdown (52-45) late in the game.

Cumberlands (5-0, 3-0) managed to run out the final 4:22 of the game to preserve the seven-point win.

Lindsey Wilson quarterback Branden Cresap threw for a program-record 460 yards and tied his own record with five touchdown tosses in the game. Chaz Barnes (146 yards) and Chris Dobbins (141) each finished with over 100 receiving yards as the Blue Raiders outgained the Patriots 530 total yards to 425.

Cumberlands' Terrance Cobb ran for a team-best 153 yards in the win.

Cumberlands showed why they are the No. 2 team in the country early building a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots extended their lead to 31-0 before the Blue Raiders got off the mat.

During the opening run, Cumberlands' Cobb, Adam Craig and Iquan Deed all rushed for a score and Craig found Hunter Lewis in the end zone for a touchdown pass to build the lead.

After finishing the opening quarter with minus-12 total yards, the Blue Raider offense started to click scoring 21 unanswered points.

Cresap found Dobbins for a 26-yard score and Matt Powers for a 63-yard strike. Sandwiched in between was a Rome Cotton rushing score from the five-yard line. Cotton led the Blue Raider running attack with 70 yards and the touchdown.

The three scores cut the Blue Raider deficit to 31-21 with 1:35 left in the half.

Cumberlands regained the momentum heading into the locker room with a six-play, 66-yard scoring drive to push the lead to 38-21 at the half. Cobb completed the drive with a three-yard run for his second touchdown of the day.

The two defenses proved stout in the third quarter as each allowed just one touchdown apiece in the period.

Deed took a handoff and threw a 17-yard touchdown to Maleek Rooks for a 45-21 lead.

The Blue Raiders answered with an 11-play, 79-yard drive capped off by a Cresap to Tavis Elzy score from the 20-yard line. Elzy pulled down his fourth touchdown catch of the season between a pair of defenders on fourth and 11. Lindsey Wilson closed the third quarter trailing 45-27.

The Lindsey Wilson defense opened the fourth quarter by forcing the Patriots into a three-and-out. The Blue Raider defense held the Patriots -- who lead the NAIA averaging 398.5 rushing yards per game -- 90 rushing yards below their season average and more than 100 yards below their total yards average.

The Blue Raider offense took their cue and needed just four plays to trim the deficit to 45-35. Cresap found Dobbins all alone over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown.

As quickly as Lindsey Wilson cut it to a two-score game, Willie Gibson pushed the Patriots back out to a 17-point lead with a 74-yard kickoff return with 12:22 left in the game.

Lindsey Wilson marched back down the field again, this time for 10 plays and 75 yards to move within 52-42 with 10:04 left. Cresap found Tyler Williams for his fifth touchdown pass of the day and 23rd of the season.

The Lindsey Wilson defense produced a second straight defensive stand giving the ball back to the Blue Raider offense with just over six minutes left in the game. The Blue Raider defense did not allow a Cumberlands offensive score in the final quarter.

Lindsey Wilson reached the Cumberlands' 20-yard line on the subsequent drive but had to settle for a 43-yard Mark Corbett field goal to climb within 52-45.

Cumberlands managed a pair of first downs -- and coupled with Lindsey Wilson having just one timeout left -- was able to run out the clock and preserve the win.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 12, as the Blue Raiders host Kentucky Christian University at Blue Raider Stadium.

http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/4953.php