ST. LOUIS, MO. – Spartan Field hosted its first game on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Missouri Baptist University as the football program lost their home opener to Olivet Nazarene with a 62-3 final score.
 
The Tiger offense was firing on all cylinders against the MBU defense for 521 total yards while they stifled the Spartan attack allowing only seven first downs and 116 total offensive yards.
 
Senior Jaylen Cowley started out what would be a huge day for him with a 66-yard fumble return on an ONU lateral gone wrong. With the ball on the 12-yard line, the Spartans were able to pick up four yards before being forced to kick a field goal.
 
Collin Black put his team up 3-0 on a 25-yard field goal with 7:05 remaining in the first quarter.
 
It took two plays for Tiger running back Max McClendon to punch one into the endzone from his own 41 that swung the momentum the visitors' way. It also started a string of 62 unanswered points allowed by the Spartans, dashing their hopes of opening the new football field with a win.
 
Jaylon Cowley kicked off his senior season with a bang, pairing a 66-yard fumble recovery with 11 tackles and a pass break up. Terrell Powell stepped up on defense as well with a clutch second-quarter interception and a pass breakup. Other notable stats include Jordan Benavides' 44 rushing yards and Kohl Williams' pass breakup.
 
The Spartans dropped their seventh straight season opener to Mid-States rival ONU with a 62-3 final score. Even though Olivet Nazarene is in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest division, the game will not count toward the conference standings.
 
Their next matchup will be a rematch with the Tigers in Bourbonnais, Illinois that will be counted as a conference game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.