DEWBERRY, LEXINGTON HORSEMEN ROLL PAST EVANSVILLE IN HOME OPENER

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington quarterback Kewan Dewberry, in his first meeting against his former team, threw six touchdown passes as the Horsemen used an early 35-6 advantage in their home-opener to cruise to a 70-25 win over Evansville in Rupp Arena.

The Horsemen (2-1), who have won four consecutive home-opening games, broke a 6-6 tie just six minutes into the game and never looked back. Lexington, which lost to River City 46-39 last week in overtime, has won eight consecutive bounce-back games (games following a loss) and is a perfect 4-0 under second-year head coach Mike Zuckerman following a loss.

Dewberry completed 14-of-21 passes for 186 yards with six scores. Running back Rayshawn Askew, one of the most decorated players in indoor football history, rushed 13 times for 41 yards with three scores. Each of Askew’s three touchdowns came in the second half Saturday.

“I am pleased with the way we played today,” Zuckerman said. “Kewan just continues to improve each week as he becomes more comfortable with our offense. I am proud of the effort from our defense. We had more guys healthy and were able to come with a lot more pressure on the line.

The Horsemen passing game was the key as Lexington out-passed Evansville (1-2) 186-77. Wide receiver Harry Lewis caught six passes for 145 yards with two scores, while Chad Spencer also caught two touchdown passes.

The Horsemen jumped on the board early as Dewberry found receiver Diontea Stewart in the end-zone from 4 yards out at the 10:13 mark of the opening quarter to give Lexington a 6-0 advantage. Evansville’s Richard Johnson returned the ensuing Collin Barber kick-off 57 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 6. The Horsemen then blocked Ton Ton Luzayadio’s point-after attempt and J.T. Haskins returned it to put Lexington back in front 8-6 with 9:37 left in the first quarter. On the Horsemen’s next possession, Lewis caught a 29-yard pass from Dewberry to extend Lexington’s advantage to 15-6.

The Horsemen struck quickly into the second quarter as Lewis caught a 32-yard pass from Dewberry at the 14:07 mark to widen the margin to 21-6. Lexington backed the BlueCats up into their own end-zone, forcing Evansville’s Luzayadio to attempt a 62-yard field goal. Michael Madrazo blocked the attempt and fell on the ball in the end-zone for the touchdown.

Lexington led 28-6 after Barber’s point-after. With 48 seconds remaining before intermission, Dewberry threw a 2-yard touchdown strike to Spencer to send move the Horsemen ahead 35-6.  Evansville’s Levron Williams caught an 8-yard pass from signal-caller Nick Hart to narrow the Lexington lead to 35-13 heading into the locker room.

The Horsemen continued to pour it on in the second half as Askew ran the ball in from 2 yards out at the 10:16 mark of the third quarter to extend Lexington’s advantage to 42-13. Evansville’s Odest Shannon returned a Collin Barber kick 37 yards for a score to cut the BlueCats’ deficit to 42-19, but the Horsemen responded as Dewberry found John Cooper in the end-zone 9 yards out for the touchdown at the 6:55 mark of the third quarter to make it 49-19. Dewberry then threw a 17-yard pass to Spencer to round out the third quarter with Lexington leading 56-19.

Evansville opened the fourth quarter with a score as Hart and Williams teamed up for another touchdown, this time a 4-yard pass by Hart at the 14:16 mark of the opening quarter. Askew then recorded back-to-back touchdowns on 2 and 1 yard runs, respectively, to take a 70-25 advantage with 7:28 remaining in the game.

Saturday’s game will be re-played on PAX Cable in Lexington on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Gary Ball and Dougie Allen have the call between the Horsemen and the BlueCats.

Lexington returns to action Sunday, April 15, when it remains at home to face border rival Ohio Valley. Kick-off in Rupp Arena is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and the game will be carried live on 101.5 FM The Planet and WVLK 590 AM with Randy Wilson. Live statistics will be available at www.lexingtonhorsemen.com, courtesy of W.L. Stats.

Score by Quarters                         1            2            3            4            -             F

Evansville BlueCats                       6            7            6            6            -             25

Lexington Horsemen                      15           20           21           14           -             70          

Scoring Summary

LEX – Stewart 4 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick failed) … 10:13 1st qtr., LEX 6-0

EVA – Johnson 57 KO return (Luzayadio kick blocked) … 9:37 1st qtr., Tied 0-0

LEX – Haskins PAT return … 9:37 1st qtr., LEX 8-6

LEX – Lewis 29 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick) … 8:31 1st qtr., LEX 15-6

LEX – Lewis 32 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick failed) … 14:07 2nd qtr., LEX 21-6

LEX – Madrazo 0 FG return (Barber kick) … 10:56 2nd qtr., LEX 28-6

LEX – Spencer 2 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick) … 0:48 2nd qtr., LEX 35-6

EVA – Williams 8 pass from Hart (Luzayadio kick) … 0:03 2nd qtr., LEX 35-13

LEX – Askew 2 run (Barber kick) … 10:16 3rd qtr., LEX 42-13

EVA – Shannon 37 KO return (Team rush fumbled) … 9:44 3rd qtr., LEX 42-19

LEX – Cooper 9 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick) … 6:55 3rd qtr. ,LEX 49-19

LEX – Spencer 17 pass from Dewberry (Barber kick) … 1:58 3rd qtr., LEX 56-19

EVA – Williams 4 pass from Hart (Luzayadio kick blocked) … 14:16 4th qtr., LEX 56-25

LEX – Askew 2 run (Barber kick) … 12:44 4th qtr. … LEX 63-25

LEX – Askew 1 run (Barber kick) … 7:49 4th qtr., … LEX 70-25

Team Records:

Evansville: 1-2 (1-2 Eastern Conference)

Lexington: 2-1 (2-1 Eastern Conference)

Post-Game Notes: With the win, Lexington improves to 2-1, while Evansville drops to 1-2 with the loss … The Horsemen have now won four consecutive home openers … Lexington leads the all-time series with the BlueCats 9-1 and have won five consecutive meetings between the two teams … The Horsemen are 6-0 against Evansville when the game is played in Lexington’s Rupp Arena … Quarterback Kewan Dewberry’s six touchdown passes are the most he has thrown in a Horsemen jersey … Dewberry was facing his former team in the Evansville after serving as a back-up quarterback for the BlueCats last season … The 45-point win marked Lexington’s margin of victory this season … The Horsemen’s previous two games have been decided by fewer than 10 points … Lexington has won eight consecutive bounce-back games (games following a loss) … The Horsemen are a perfect 4-0 under second-year head coach Mike Zuckerman following a loss.

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  For more information, contact:

Gary Ball (gary@lexingtonhorsemen.com) or Sean Cartell (sean@lexingtonhorsemen.com)

at (859) 422-PASS