ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] A bare-knuckle fight at CBC field had to end with a winner and a loser on Saturday. Olivet Nazarene mustered one final, game-winning, touchdown against Missouri Baptist in a 52-45 loss.
Missouri Baptist (0-7, 0-4 MSFA) jumped out on the Tigers early with scores on both offense and defense. On the second drive of the game for the Spartans, quarterback Jacob Hunt connected with Quinton Kornegay for a 75 yard touchdown, tying the MBU record, and quickly made it a 7-0 game.
On the ensuing drive by Olivet Nazarene, the defense chipped-in seven points of their own. Jaron Mickles picked-off Matthew Wray for a 45-yard touchdown and gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead.
The Tigers responded from its sluggish start at the end of the first quarter and captured the momentum. ONU went 15 plays for 87 yards, which was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown reception by Lucas Limberg, and cut the Spartan lead in half.
Olivet Nazarene charged through the second quarter, led by a 77 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the period, and took a 24-14 lead with 6:38 remaining in the half. It was at this point things got interesting for the Spartans.
Missouri Baptist dialed-up its second touchdown pass of the day to Kornegay, this time for a 37-yard connection from Hunt, but the Spartans were not done. On the next Olivet Nazarene drive, Maleek Ross continued one of the most impressive days of his young career. The sophomore defensive end returned a Tiger fumble 32 yards to the house, which game the Spartans a 24-21 lead heading into halftime.
Luckily for fans, the second half was equally entertaining on both sides. Olivet Nazarene regained the lead in the third quarter as they kept the Spartans off the scoreboard. On the first drive of the half, The Tigers went 10 plays for 89 yards to take a 31-28 lead.
After Olivet Nazarene tacked-on another touchdown to go up 10, the Spartans went back to work. Hunt drove MBU 20 yards before connecting with Kornegay for his third touchdown of the day, this time, a 50-yard completion to get back within three.
Maleek Ross was a man on a mission in this one. On the next Olivet drive, Ross caused a fumble and allowed Tradarius Burgess to pick-up the ball and carry it 20 yards to pay dirt, which gave the Spartans a 42-38 lead.
The Tigers wasted no time gaining the lead back once more. Eddie Caldwell led the way on the drive and rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown to give ONU a 45-42 lead.
Alex McGlassion tied the game on a 37 yard field goal just minutes later and though Olivet Nazarene fumbled the ball on the final drive, they recovered the loose ball. That final drive resulted in the game winner as the Tigers came out on top.
Missouri Baptist's Maleek Ross was simply unstoppable in the game. The defensive end from St. Louis recorded 15 total tackles, 10 of which were solo, a sack for a 10 yard loss, a forced fumble and a 32-yard fumble recovery for the touchdown. Those numbers will certainly garner him consideration for Mid-States Football Association Mideast Division Defensive Player of the Week.
Jacob Hunt was also very good in the game. The freshman quarterback threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns, and set a new MBU passing record in the process.
Quinton Kornegay also set an MBU record for most receiving yards with 167, and most touchdown receptions in a game with three.
The Spartans will regroup this week and head back on the road for the final time this season as the team will travel to Davenport, Iowa to face No. 25-ranked St. Ambrose. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
