DAVENPORT, IOWA – Missouri Baptist football dropped their second consecutive road contest on Saturday afternoon with a 36-14 loss to St. Ambrose University. The Spartans are now 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the Mid-States Midwest division.
 
A handful of MBU defensive penalties on SAU's first drive followed by a lost fumble on a punt attempt helped boost the Fighting Bees to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Defense owned the second quarter with neither team adding to their totals.
 
St. Ambrose scored three minutes into the second half to widen the gap to three touchdowns.
 
First-year offensive player, Michael Malone, continued to open eyes with another impressive performance. His 12-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter pulled the team back into the game at 21-7.
 
A fumble recovery on a sack from the Spartan defense dramatically shifted the momentum toward the visitors. Josh Munn then found Malone once again with a 34-yard reception that put them in enemy territory.
 
Momentum quickly swung back the other way after SAU returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 27-7. MBU would get just one more touchdown in the fourth behind Felix Pippenger's three-yard rush before falling to St. Ambrose with a 36-14 final score.
 
Pippenger had a career day with 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts. Malone also had a career day offensively, collecting four receptions, 108 receiving yards, and a 12-yard rushing touchdown. On defense, Joe King led the defense with eight tackles while Rook Rowe collected seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
 
Spartan football finishes off its home schedule on Saturday, March 27 against St. Francis (Ill.) followed by the final road game of the season against (20) Roosevelt University on April 3.