ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Missouri Baptist football takes on the 23rd-ranked Saint Xavier Cougars on Saturday, hoping to end their three-game skid after beginning the year with three straight wins.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The Cougars are perennial contenders for the conference championship, and they roll in St. Louis on Saturday as the 23rd-ranked team in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top-25 poll. In their last matchup, Saint Xavier fell to 13th-ranked Olivet Nazarene 45-38 and hope to bounce back with their fourth win of the season.
Starting quarterback Stuart Ross has the offense rolling midway through 2021, averaging 221.5 passing yards per game for an SXU squad that averages 363.3 total. Ross has found his top three wideouts for five touchdowns and can also surprise the defense with his legs with two rushing touchdowns under his belt so far. His main targets on the outside are Justin Pringle, Mason Gray, and Brandt Hixson. His top option has been Pringle, who has reeled in 16 catches for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Gray and Hixson both have a touchdown catch as well, combining for 422 yards on 32 catches. Amari Venerable has been solid on the ground as the starting running back, posting 87.8 yards per game and two touchdowns on 71 attempts.
On defense, the Cougars have a boatload of talent. Defensive back Ron Carroll is having an all-conference caliber season through his first four games with 39 tackles, two interceptions, and seven batted passes. In the middle of the field, SXU has a trio of playmaking linebackers in Joey Markasovic (35 tackles, 1.5 TFLs), Peyton Nigro (29 tackles, two sacks), and Caleb Marconi (28 tackles, two sacks). Jaleel Holloway has also been a menace on the defensive line, sacking the quarterback three times, hurrying the quarterback three times, and taking down six players in the backfield.
SPARTANS LOOKING FOR THEIR FOURTH WIN OF 2021
After a record-breaking 3-0 start to their season, MBU football is still searching for the elusive fourth win of the season. The Spartans are coming off a disappointing 34-17 homecoming loss to (RV) Roosevelt University and hope to get back over the .500 mark with their program's first win over Saint Xavier on Saturday.
The Spartan offense has been good this season, averaging 347.7 yards per game, with 180 yards coming on the ground and 168 yards through the air.
Ronald Allen and
Darius Morrison pose as a formidable running back duo, combining for 332 yards and five touchdowns over the last four games. Through the air, starting quarterback,
Josh Munn will continue looking for
Tyler Ball (25 catches, 330 yards) and
Jacob Triplett (26 catches, 211 yards) as the outside threats, with the ability to rush the ball to the tune of 39.2 rushing yards per game and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Spartans set up nicely, led by
Rakweon Ramsey and
Jaylen Cowley. Ramsey has been in the opposing team's backfield all year, posting six tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries already in 2021. Cowley, the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, leads the team in tackles with 39.0 while the secondary continues to put the MSFA on notice with big plays coming from all over the lineup.
Overall, the Spartans feature a strong running game and an impressive pass defense that will set up against the Cougar's pass-first offense. Both teams are looking for a crucial mid-season win in Saturday's matchup at Spartan Field with massive MSFA Midwest standing implications on the line.
GAME COVERAGE
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Location: Spartan Field
Watch: www.spartandigitalnetwork.com
Live Stats: bit.ly/3AKqLOn
Tickets:
bit.ly/3lRoBZf
