ST. LOUIS – On a record-setting day on the thermostat, Missouri Baptist football dug deep. The Spartans survived a first-half shootout and 12 penalties during the day to steal a 34-27 win from Trinity International (Ill.) in Deerfield, Ill.
On a day where game time temperatures did not reach 40 degrees, Missouri Baptist (3-6, 1-3 MSFA) trailed early thanks in part to early penalties and two sustained drives by the Trojans. After an eight play, 38-yard drive resulting in a field goal, the Trojans got into the end zone for the first time.
Trojan quarterback Danny Mattero tossed a 20-yard pass to Brad Hargis to make it a 10-0 Trinity International lead.
Missouri Baptist came right back toward the end of the first quarter.
Tim Brenneisen connected with Devin Griffin for a 50-yard score to cut the deficit to 10-7.
Penalties plagued the Spartans early and often, but the team was able to overcome those in the end. Missouri Baptist was flagged 12 times for 100 yards on the day.
Trinity International's Carter Andrade missed a field goal early in the second quarter, which helped Missouri Baptist grab its first lead of the day. Brenneisen guided the team down field with both his arm and his legs to set-up the second score of the day. Andrade finished the day 2-4 on his field goal attempts.
Deep in Trojan territory on third and six from the 16 yard line, the Spartan quarterback scrambled out of trouble down to the one yard line to set-up first and goal. On the next play,
D'Ante Cox rumbled-in on the read option to make it a 14-10 lead after an
Ethan Metzler point after.
The lead, however, was short-lived. Chris Wolcott ran the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards to the end zone and regained its lead just seconds after relinquishing it, to make it a 17-14 Trinity International lead.
With time winding down in the half, Missouri Baptist regained its lead as it became evident that the game had become a shootout. Brenneisen found Cox for a 46-yard strike to give the Spartans a 21-17 lead with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter.
A late field goal by Trinity International drew the score to within one, and after an early strike in the third quarter gave the home team the lead again, but the Spartans answered right back yet again.
Brenneisen found
D'Ante Cox for his second touchdown of the day on a 67-yard completion which gave Missouri Baptist a 28-27 lead.
Brenneisen experienced the best game of his young collegiate career on Saturday and put his team in the lead after a connection with
Isaiah King. The sophomore receiver grabbed a pass and found daylight for a 46-yard touchdown to take the lead for good.
With under three minutes remaining, the Spartans tried to ice the game with an attempt on fourth and one deep in their zone, but a big defensive stand by the Trojans stopped the quarterback sneak short which put Trinity International at first and 10 with the ball on the Spartan 29-yard line.
The Trojans had just over 2:20 to try and tie the game, but were shut down by the Spartan defense. Missouri Baptist held its ground for four consecutive plays to take the win.
Brenneisen and Cox were the story for the Spartans on Saturday. The Spartan signal-caller finished the day with a new career-high 320 yards of passing and four touchdowns, which tied the record for touchdown passes in a game at Missouri Baptist.
Two of those passing scores were to Cox. The freshman wideout completed his afternoon with 150 yards on five catches and added a rushing touchdown.
Kenyon Perkins led the Spartan defense with 12 tackles, one of three Spartans in double figures of tackles in the game. The brothers' Johnson (Donvontae and Dontrail) both finished with 10 apiece.
As a whole, the Spartans finished with 415 yards of offense.
With the win, the Spartans have tied their season-best win mark of three games, a mark they achieved last season in the final game of the year. The team will have two more games to try and get their first four-win season, beginning next weekend in Indianapolis, Ind., against Marian. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
