Batesville, Ark. – A promising football season got off on the wrong foot on Saturday as the Spartans dropped the opener 14-10 on two second-half touchdowns by Lyon College. While the outcome may not have been what the Spartans wanted, they had several notable performances on both sides of the ball.
 
The first quarter started predictably stale as both teams were still trying to shake the rust off that built up in the off-season. Lyon was set up to put three on the board at 3:21 with a field goal attempt until Kenyon Perkins thwarted that plan with a blocked kick and a fumble recovery.
 
In the second it was more of the same. Jaquez Washington came up big at 3:54 with an interception in his own territory. With 11 seconds left in the half, Joey Morones forced and recovered a fumble to put the Spartans at the Lyon 11-yard line. Lyon got the ball right back on the next play with an interception and kneed the ball on offense to end the first half.
 
MBU broke the scoreless tie on their second drive of the second half after a forced fumble and recovery by Evan Lowry set the stage for Landon Pickens' first career field goal.
 
Four minutes later, Baldwin led a charge downfield with a 57-yard run the put his team in position to go up by two possessions. After two more running attempts, John Lux found Sergio Lopez in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown reception, his first as a Spartan.
 
The defense continued to play hard up by 10. Unfortunately, the special teams unit let them down after giving up a punt return touchdown that brought back the painful memory of Lyon's kickoff return touchdown in the opener last season. The Spartans held the lead 10-7 as time expired in the third.
 
Lyon, with all the momentum on their side, drove down the field for a touchdown on their first drive in the fourth, erasing the 10-0 deficit.
 
MBU took over with 7:07 left in the game and saw a promising drive end at the Scots 33-yard line. They got another chance to take the lead with two minutes but did not get anything going against the stingy opposing defense.
 
The visitors had several strong performances on both sides of the ball but at the end of the day, a loss went in the record book. Defensively, Missouri Baptist shut out Lyon in the first half and only gave up 14 points total. Offensively, Chris Baldwin produced in the backfield with 93 yards on 13 attempts and Anthony Taele posted 73 yards on five receptions.
 
The Spartans will look to even their record up next Saturday, September 7, against St. Ambrose in their home opener.