ST. LOUIS – It was a record-breaking Saturday for the Missouri Baptist football as Chris Baldwin and Chase Brown combined for eight touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 56-23 rout of Trinity International University on Homecoming Weekend at CBC's Ross Stadium.
 
Junior running back Chris Baldwin, who already held the single-season rushing record in yards and touchdowns coming into the game, was a difference maker against the Trojans. The 5-10, 210 pounder rumbled for a record-breaking 243 rushing yards on 35 carries (6.94 yards/carry). In the fourth quarter, he eclipsed 1,000-yards rushing and etched his name in the record books as the first running back in program history to do so. Baldwin broke one more record along the way, becoming the first back to register four rushing TDs in a single game.
 
While the MBU offensive line supplied big running lanes for Baldwin, it also provided great pass protection for starting quarterback Chase Brown, who had his own banner day. The O'Fallon, Mo., native had just two incompletions, throwing for 296 yards on 15-of-17 passing. Brown's impressive completion percentage of 88.2 bested Tim Brenneisen's 83.3%, which also came against the Trojans last year in Deerfield, Ill. Like Baldwin, Brown also had four TDs on the day, connecting with top receiver Isaiah King twice as well as Dominic Demerath and Zachary McBride. Brown's four TDs through the air ties the record for passing touchdowns in a game.
 
Despite the offense grabbing the headlines, it was the defense that got the ball rolling for the Spartans. On Trinity International's first drive, nose tackle Marcus Paddack was credited with both a forced fumble and fumble recovery to give the Spartans a short field to work with. All MBU needed was four consecutive Chris Baldwin rushes to get on the scoreboard.
 
On the next possession, the Spartan 'D' was back at it again as cornerback Chris Lang intercepted Jonathan Santos' pass and returned it 44 yards to the TIU 21. This time around, MBU needed just two plays with Chase Brown finding Dominic Demerath in the endzone for a 20-yard strike.
 
Trinity International stopped the bleeding and got a big boost from running back Derek Lowe when he scampered for a 36-yard TD run to cap off a 4-play, 81-yard drive.
 
By the end of the first quarter, the Spartans led 28-7 after adding a pair of touchdowns on their next two possessions. Isaiah King pulled in a 37-yard TD reception and Baldwin added another rushing touchdown to the ledger. MBU's first-quarter scoring output matched a program record for points in a single quarter.
 
Missouri Baptist kept up the momentum scoring 14 points in both the second and third quarters. A scoreless fourth quarter for the Spartan offense was moot with the game already out of reach for the visiting Trojans.
 
Defensive backs Jaylen Cowley and D.J. Johnson led the defense in tackles on the day with 7 and 6, respectively. Offensively, eight difference players recorded a catch with Isaiah King and Cam Cosey pacing the Spartans. King finished with a stat line of 5 receptions for 123 yards and two TDs, while Cosey had 3 catches for 50 yards.
 
With Saturday's win, MBU improved to 3-6 overall and for the second straight year the Spartans have matched a program best in wins (3). Head coach Jason Burianek's squad has two more chances at home to surpass the 3-win mark with undefeated and No. 2-ranked Marian University coming to town on Nov. 3 and Taylor University (3-5, 1-3 MSFA Mideast) scheduled for Senior Day on Nov. 10.