FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For the second straight week, the Missouri Baptist University football team was on the road against a top 15 opponent and came away without an upset win. In front of a crowd of 2,500, two-time defending NAIA national champion and 12^th-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.) served up a shut out in the first half and kept up the scoring after halftime to defeat the Spartans, 51-7.
 
Coming into Saturday, the NAIA powerhouse had averaged 54.5 points per game in the four previous contests against MBU while allowing just 15.75 points per game. Among the NAIA's top 10 for total defense (277.3 yards/game), the Cougars lived up to their lofty ranking by limiting Missouri Baptist to just 166 yards of total offense and just 3.19 yards per play.
 
Saint Francis started quickly out of the gate with a score on its first drive and manufactured an 8-play, 72-yard drive later in the first to take a 14-0 lead. The Cougars added one more touchdown and a field goal before the end of the half to lead 24-0 at halftime.
 
Things got worse before they got better for MBU as Saint Francis' special teams stole the show in the third quarter. With a three-and-out to begin the half, the Spartans had the punt blocked inside their own 30 giving the Cougars a short field to work with. SFU quarterback Matt Crable delivered his third passing TD of the game to increase the lead to 31-0. A few minutes later, SFU's special teams unit was back at it with a 50-yard punt return from a touchdown by Dan Ricksy.
 
Down 38-0, Missouri Baptist put together its longest drive of the day. Junior wide receiver Isaiah King led the way drawing a key pass interference call on Saint Francis defensive back Jalen Moss to go along with receptions of 35 yards and 16 yards. The latter got the Spartans down to the SFU 2-yard-line and quarterback Chase Brown capped the drive off with a 2-yard read option play for a touchdown. The 75-yard drive equaled more than half of Spartans' offensive yardage for the game.
 
Saint Francis added two more touchdowns to the fold before the game's end, both on Martell Williams runs.
 
Missouri Baptist junior running back Chris Baldwin, who ranked 10^th in the NAIA in rushing yards per game, was held in check the entire game. Baldwin finished with 48 yards on 17 attempts with no rushes longer than 9 yards. Chase Brown was 7-for-15 passing with 0 TDs and 0 INTs.
 
Defensively, linebackers Joey Morones and Kenyon Perkins led the way with seven tackles apiece, while Michael Malone, Jaylen Cowley and Collin Thomas were all credit with six stops.
 
Next on the docket for MBU is a Homecoming Week matchup with Trinity International University on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. Last year, the Spartans snuck past the Trojans late in the game for a 34-27 victory in Deerfield, Ill.