ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University football program begins its fifth year of existence and will open up the 2018 college football season at home on Saturday against a familiar foe in Lyon College. The Spartans will once again utilize Ross Stadium at Christian Brothers College High School as it's home field. Kickoff for the game, which will be broadcast live on the Spartan Digital Network, is set for 5 p.m.

Saturday's rubber match marks the the third meeting between the two teams in as many years. Last fall, the Scots sought to avenge a 70-38 drubbing by the Spartans in 2016. They did just that, taking advantage of seven Spartan turnovers (6 INT, 1 FUM) to claim a 28-7 victory in Batesville, Ark.

A Quick Look at the Spartans

• Offensively, Missouri Baptist will be relying on the strong play of its offensive line, which has drawn rave reviews during fall camp, to pave the way for junior running back Kendell Davis as well as protect senior quarterback and freshly-named starter Gunnar Griffin.
• The Spartans have several other weapons on offense including junior wide receiver Isaiah King, who owns a majority of the receiving records at MBU in just two short years, bruiser tight end Anthony Taele, along with Cam Cosey and Sergio Brown as the penciled in starters.
• On paper, MBU's defense is extremely young with just 7 of 22 on the two-deep representing the junior and senior classes.
• The Spartans graduated their top three tacklers from 2017 – Dontrail Johnson (80), Caleb Carver (68), Connor Bomstad (68) – but they do return sophomore standout Jaylen Cowley (68), who was second on the team in tackles for loss (9), and Donvonte "D.J." Johnson who was fifth on the team in tackles.
• The Spartans combined for 19 sacks and 89.5 tackles for loss last year ; this year's returners account for eight of the 19 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss.

Familiar Faces

• For the first time in five years, there was little turnover in the coaching staff this offseason with just one new position coach in defensive line coach and strength and condition coordinator Brighton Hill. The Spartans also added new graduate assistants in former MBU tight end Bryson Barnes (TE/OL), Jaylon Bowden (DB) who is the son of defensive coordinator Joe Bowden, former MBU receiver Brandon Hudgins (WR) and student assistant Connor Bomstad (LB/DB).

Scouting the Lyon Scots

• Lyon enters 2018 under the direction of an entirely new coaching staff led by head coach Casey Creehan. Creehan comes to the Scots after serving the past two years as defensive line coach for CFL's Edmonton Eskimos.
• The Scots will look to Sooner Athletic Conference first-team running back Titus Nelson (606 yards, 11 rushing TDs) and first-team offensive lineman Tyler Vanlandingham on offense.
• Defensively, Lyon returns four of their top defensive players from a year ago in Stephen Benedik (70 tackles), Taylor Thibeau (61), Jacob Heinrich (47) and Jonathan Hicks (43).
• Aside from the returners, the Scots will be looking to quickly integrate 60 newcomers on their squad.