FREMONT, Neb. – Missouri Baptist football put their first win on the schedule Saturday defeating the Midland Warriors 47-44 in an offensively charged showdown, improving their record to 1-4 on the season. The Spartans tallied 504 offensive yards (337 passing, 167 rushing) and six offensive touchdowns to take down the Warriors in the back and forth affair in Fremont, Nebraska.
 
The two teams began the first quarter relatively quiet, but the Spartans were able to strike first when Isaiah King reeled in a three-yard touchdown pass off the arm of John Lux. Midland scored on the ensuing drive with an 11-play, 63-yard series that ended with a Payton Nelson passing touchdown.
 
MBU was eager to regain the lead as the second quarter began. Their 94-yard drive was capped off by a touchdown from the Spartan career rushing yards leader Chris Baldwin. The visitors then forced the Warriors to punt on the ensuing drive.
 
Later in the second quarter, Midland found their offensive traction behind the quarterback play of Payton Nelson. The senior restored the tie by completing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Colby Stevens.
 
Just two and a half minutes later, the once dormant Spartan offense struck again on Baldwin's second touchdown run of the day. A missed extra point made the score 20-14 in favor of the Spartans at the half.
 
The scoring frenzy continued into the third with the Warriors scoring on Nelson's third passing touchdown of the game to give his team the lead 21-20.
 
Michael Malone saw to it that the lead did not stand long. After the touchdown, Austin Heim's kickoff was received by Malone and taken to the house for a 93-yard touchdown. This added to Malone's already impressive season as a kick returner as he ranked ninth in the nation in average yards per kick return coming into Saturday's game (29.40 yards/attempt).
 
Two plays later, Garry Cannon stole the lead for Midland once more with a 65-yard touchdown run. Chris Baldwin scored his third touchdown of the game on the next drive and the Warriors answered yet again with one minute remaining in the quarter.
 
With just a minute remaining, the Spartans got into the end zone one last time on a 48-yard touchdown pass completed to King for his second score of the game. The two teams combined for 43 points and six touchdowns in the high-scoring third quarter. Missouri Baptist held a 40-37 lead heading into the final frame.
 
The fourth quarter only saw one touchdown per team. Cannon rushed for his second touchdown of the game on Midland's first drive of the quarter to give his team a 44-40 lead, effectively setting the stage for late-game heroics from the Spartans.  
 
The Spartans faced a similar situation in week one when they were losing to Lyon College with less than four minutes to play down by four. This time they prevailed. MBU took nine plays to march 50 yards on the home team's defense for a touchdown. Baldwin powered it over the goal line for his fourth touchdown of the game and a 47-44 lead.  
 
The defense stepped in at the right time and shut down the next Midland drive to give the Spartans a 47-44 victory, their first of the season.
 
On offense, John Lux completed 23/36 passes while throwing for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah King caught 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, Anthony Taele also had a solid day with 53 yards on three catches. Lastly, Chris Baldwin had a four-touchdown performance, the second of his career. He touched the ball 28 times for 133 yards with an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
 
Defensively, Joey Morones led the team with eight tackles, one tackle for a loss, and one sack. Right behind him was DaCorey McGee with seven tackles. The pair continues to lead the team in tackles on a weekly basis.
 
Missouri Baptist football takes the field at home next week at De Smet Jesuit High School against Olivet Nazarene University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.