ST. LOUIS – Stout defense and a strong running game propelled Missouri Baptist football to a 21-12 Senior Day victory on Saturday over Taylor University in what was also the season finale.
 
In its fifth year of existence, the MBU football program finally broke through and got to win No 4 on the year after two straight seasons of finishing 3-8. With Saturday's win, the Spartans finished the 2018 campaign with an overall record of 4-7 and 2-4 in the MSFA Mideast League.
 
Offensively, Spartan running back Chris Baldwin carried the load, and for the second time this season, the junior exceeded 200 yards rushing on the day. He finished with a final line of 39 carries, 201 net rushing yards and an average of 5.2 yards per carry. It also marked Baldwin's third outing of the year with multiple touchdowns as he scored all three of Missouri Baptist's TDs against the Trojans.
 
Missouri Baptist was the first to get on the scoreboard, but not without the help of the Spartan 'D'. In what has been a stellar season of forcing turnovers, Spartan freshman Eric Taylor picked off TU's Everett Pollard at the MBU 40 and returned it 14 yards into Trojan territory. With the aid of two Trojan penalties, the Spartans appeared to have scored on a run by senior fullback Simi Skipps, but settled for a 1-yard scamper by Chris Baldwin to make it a 7-0 ballgame.
 
Hungry for turnovers, Missouri Baptist got another one in the second quarter, this time on a fumble recovery. Linebackers Dacorey McGee and Joey Morones teamed up for the turnover as McGee stripped the ball from Taylor QB Everett Pollard and Morones pounced on the loose ball. Unfortunately, after a 16-yard run by Kendell Davis to start the drive, the Spartans were unable to capitalize and led by just a touchdown heading into halftime.
 
The Trojans got a spark early in the third quarter when it stonewalled Chris Baldwin on a 4^th and 2 near midfield. Taylor seized the opportunity and scored on an 11-yard pass from Everett Pollard to Daniel Boy. The Trojans however botched the snap on the extra point and couldn't find the endzone on the last-ditch effort.
 
With just a one-point lead, MoBap looked to none other than Baldwin and receiver Isaiah King for an answer. Senior QB Chase Brown found King twice for completions of 10 and 13 yards, while Baldwin continued to move the chains on the ground. Baldiwn scored his 12^th touchdown of the year to give the Spartans a bigger cushion.
 
Finding some rhythm from its previous drive, Taylor used a 30-yard kick return and a few big plays to find the endzone once again. Trying to even the score at 14-all, the Spartans stood tall and stopped Taylor's 2-point conversion attempt.
 
Missouri Baptist scored one more touchdown in the fourth quarter for safe measures and sealed up the victory with an interception by reigning MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week Jaylen Cowley. Cowley finished the day with 10 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 INT.
 
In addition to Cowley, other strong defensive performances against Taylor included Jonathan Clements with 8 tackles, Joey Morones with 7 tackles and a fumble recovery, Dacorey McGee with 6 tackles and 2 TFL, among other. In 2018, the Spartan defense doubled its forced turnover total going from 11 in 2017 to 22 in 2018.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, 11 seniors were recognized for their contributions to the MBU football program throughout their careers. Among those honored were Chase Brown, Cam Cosey, Gunnar Griffin, Coleton Harness, D.J. Johnson, Malik Kern, Marcus Lowery, Ethan Metzler, Johnny Reed, Demetrius Shaw and Simi Skipps.