ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Baptist football fell 45-37 at the hands of the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees after a 23-point first quarter. The day was marked by strong offense from both teams and a three-touchdown day from Morgan State transfer Darian Pollion.
 
After the Fighting Bees deferred, the Spartans started the game off on the wrong foot offensively sending out freshman Josh Munn to punt. Luckily, they got a second chance when Collin Thomas retrieved the fumbled punt return by St. Ambrose.
 
On their second attempt, the Spartans marched down to the one-yard line where Greg Burnett Jr. came up big for the Bees. Burnett stopped Chris Baldwin before he could cross the goal line on a run up the middle to preserve the 0-0 tie.
 
The next play after the turnover, Garret Tiarks was stopped behind the line of scrimmage for a safety that put MBU up 2-0.
 
Darian Pollion got his day kick-started in the next drive with a 51-yard pass play thrown by John Lux. Baldwin powered his way across the goal line moments later to increase the lead to 9-0 just five minutes into the contest.
 
The Fighting Bees began to show that fight scoring in the next three minutes to pull within two.
 
The Spartans began yet another scoring drive with 6:15 in the first quarter when a 25-yard pass to Anthony Taele set the stage for Isaiah King's first touchdown reception to push the lead to nine once more.
 
The lead grew to 23-7 when another miscue by St. Ambrose put MBU in a good position to score on Pollion's first rushing touchdown as a Spartan.
 
The Bees scored quickly on their next drive just before the end of the first quarter to make it 23-14.
 
After the first quarter, things begin to go downhill for the Spartans. In the second, the offense was held scoreless while SAU completed the comeback with a touchdown as time expired in the half.
 
The offensive slide continued until their last drive of the third quarter when Sergio Lopez came on to throw a touchdown pass to Pollion for his second of the afternoon. With 15 minutes left to play the home team trailed by one point.
 
St. Ambrose found the end zone two more times in the fourth followed by a brief answer from Pollion's third touchdown of the day. Ultimately, the Fighting Bees were able to overcome the early deficit to defeat MBU 45-37 in their home opener.
 
John Lux had a solid day going 26/48 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah King and Anthony Taele both reeled in more than 60 yards and King earned his first touchdown of 2019. Lastly, Pollion put up 90 yards on six receptions and three touchdowns (one rushing) to lead the MBU attack.
 
The Spartans will look to end the current two-game skid next Saturday in Marion, Indiana against Indiana Wesleyan. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.