NEW-LOOK DEFENSE IMPRESSES IN 22-9 LOSS TO LYON
ST. LOUIS – A strong defensive performance wasn't enough to propel Missouri Baptist University past Lyon College on college football's opening weekend. The visiting Scots spoiled the Spartans' season and home opener with a 22-9 victory Saturday evening at CBC High School.
Locked in a defensive battle throughout, neither team surpassed the 300-yard mark in total offense. Lyon held the slight advantage in offensive production, 243-200. The first 15 minutes was a clear indication that the end result could come down to field position.
Less than five minutes into the game, fullback
Andrew Kraus broke off a 27-yard scamper to get the Spartans into Lyon territory. It marked the only time in the first quarter that a team escaped its own side of the field. Despite reaching the Scots' 35, MBU was eventually forced to punt.
The second quarter, however, provided the fans with some fireworks, particularly heading into halftime. Lyon continued its 10-play, 79-yard drive from the end of the first quarter into the second. Looking to get on the scoreboard from MBU's 10-yard line, the Spartans' red-zone defense coached by
Joe Bowden came through in the clutch with an interception by
Jaylen Cowley in the endzone.
One punt later and Lyon was back with the ball and with great field position at MBU's 31. Via a
Collin Thomas and
Coleton Harness goal-line stop, the Spartans were able to hold the Scots to just a field goal and trailed 3-0 with 5:48 remaining in the second.
Lyon quickly got the ball back on a short kickoff and muffed return by
Zack Kern, but once again the Spartan defense took care of business with two timely sacks by
Jonathan Stine and
Christian Perez.
After starting quarterback
Gunnar Griffin was knocked out of the game with an injury, backup
Chase Brown came in an orchestrated a scoring drive for the Spartans. Wide receiver standout
Isaiah King snagged not just one, but two 25-yard receptions on the drive with the latter coming in the endzone on 4
th and 1 with 12 seconds left in the half.
With a 7-6 lead following the Brown-King connection and a jolt of confidence, Lyon delivered the ultimate momentum killer by returning the kickoff 81 yards. The Scots missed the extra point, but reclaimed a 9-7 advantage.
Much like the opening quarter, Missouri Baptist and Lyon shut each other out in the third, followed by a drive into the redzone at the start of the final quarter. The Scots extended their lead to nine after avoiding another goal-line stand from the stout Spartan defense. Lyon's Titus Nelson punch it in from three yards out.
The Spartans struggled offensively in the fourth totaling just seven yards on three possessions. When there was a glimmer of life from the MBU offense, an ill-timed penalty plagued the momentum.
Lyon's Titus Nelson scored his second touchdown of the quarter with a 1-yard run with seven minutes left. The Scots PAT attempt was no good thanks to a block by sophomore linebacker
Kenyon Perkins. In fact, teammate and fellow sophomore
Michael Malone scooped up the loose ball and returned it the length of the field to give the Spartans a 2-point boost.
Taking over in the second quarter, QB
Chase Brown stepped right in for
Gunnar Griffin and led the Spartans in both passing (69 yards, 1 TD) and rushing (10 carries, 62 yards).
Isaiah King and
Anthony Taele were the favorite receiving targets on Saturday with King finishing the day with three receptions for 57 yards and Taele with five receptions for 29 yards. Unfortunately, the stat that stood out for the offensive group collectively was going 0-for-14 on third-down conversions.
Several Spartans stood out on defense with JUCO linebacker
Jonathan Clements shining bright. The junior finished with 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one sack for 10 yards, a forced fumble and at least one quarterback hurry.
Kenyon Perkins led the way in tackles with 12 (4 solo) as well as
Collin Thomas with 10 (5 solo). MBU consistently put pressure on the opposing quarterback with six sacks and got into the backfield with relative ease.
Up Next
The Spartans remain at home next weekend, however, the game will be played at nearby De Smet Jesuit High School due to scheduling conflicts with CBC. Kickoff for the Sept. 1 game and conference opener versus Siena Heights University (Mich.) is 12 p.m.
