ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Another strong defensive start for Missouri Baptist ended with the home team on the wrong side of the decision on Saturday. The Spartans allowed 407 yards of total offense to the Saint Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints and dropped their third game of 2016, 38-14.
The Fighting Saints put together the game's first scoring drive late in the first quarter as quarterback Don Butkus and running back Tyrell Mitchell moved the chains. With nine seconds left in the quarter, Mitchell got the handoff and sauntered into the end zone to give the team from Joliet the early lead.
Sergio Lopez got the nod under center for the Spartans on Saturday and showed-off his wheels early and often, but couldn't quite get the momentum rolling in Missouri Baptist's favor in the opening half.
Down the stretch of the first half, the Fighting Saints struck pay dirt twice in a matter of seconds. Butkus, again, led Saint Francis downfield and posted his first rushing touchdown of the game.
The Fighting Saints made it 14-0 thanks to a nearly six minute drive. On third and four deep in their own territory, Butkus connected with Michael Johnson for a nine yard gain to re-set the drive. On the next play, the junior signal caller hit Brandon Ruffin for a 24-yard completion, and put the wheels in motion before capping the drive minutes later with a one-yard rush into the end zone to extend the lead by a touchdown.
After holding the Spartans to a three-and-out drive, Luke Nelson made perhaps the biggest play of the game. The punt return man returned a Tyler Hach punt 59 yards to the house to give the visitors a 21-point advantage heading into halftime.
During Missouri Baptist's second drive of the second quarter, quarterback Sergio Lopez sustained an injury to his left leg and left the game. Jordan Norwine entered on the final drive of the half and remained for the entirety of the game.
In the third quarter, the Fighting Saints continued their positive momentum as the team from Joliet, Ill., put its running game on display. St. Francis marched 75 yards and capped it off with a Grayson Barnette 31-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-0.
Late in the third quarter, a familiar tandem began to find its rhythm. Jordan Norwine went back to his old, reliable receiver, tight end Kalen Petty, and put the Spartans into position to post their first points of the day. Norwine completed two passes to Petty, one for 13, the other for 25, and put the Spartans at first and 10 at the 17. That was when the Antoryio Barton went to work.
The Spartan running back, with 11 yards already on the drive, completed things for the home team with an 11-yard run to the end zone to make it a 24-7 contest with just seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Saint Francis, however, was quick to respond. The Fighting Saints needed just five plays to travel 52 yards for its fourth touchdown of the day and regained the 24-point advantage, 31-7.
As the fourth quarter headed toward its mid point, Saint Francis looked to put a bow on the game as Butkus continued to use his legs to force the issue. On fourth and four, the junior busted up the middle for a gain of 22 yards to put his team back in business deep in Spartan territory.
Just minutes later, the fourth down rush by Butkus paid dividends. The quarterback fired a 15-yard strike to Adam Morrison to extend the lead to 38-7.
Missouri Baptist had one more in the tank, however. Jordan Norwine picked-up his biggest completion of the day, a 74-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah King, and made it a 38-14 game.
With the loss, the Spartans dropped to 0-3 on the year as they will get set to host the No. 1 team in the nation in just a week's time. Missouri Baptist will welcome Marian (Ind.) the defending NAIA National Champion, on Saturday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm at CBC Field.
