MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa – The Spartans made history in Saturday's 31-7 blowout victory over Iowa Wesleyan University, becoming the first team in program history to begin their season with a pair of wins.
After winning their first season-opener against Lyon College last Saturday, Missouri Baptist football walked into the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex with a chance to make some more history. After a slow start in the first half, Jason Burianek's squad responded in a big way in the second half, using an explosive running game and a shutdown secondary to take the road victory.
The Spartans found themselves in an early hole when a bad snap and a fumble on their first drive set the Tigers up with good field position. Five plays later, Gavin Esquivel found Braedin Ross for a 16-yard touchdown.
The visitors proceeded to fumble the kickoff but were picked up by the defense, who forced three straight incompletions to put the ball back in the offense's hands.
Ronald Allen received a handoff on the next four plays, collecting 73 yards total, including his 56-yard touchdown run that ended the drive. Jonah Cox made the point after attempt to tie the game.
On their next drive, Allen, along with help from Josh Munn and Jacob Triplett, put the team in position to take the lead. With 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Cox knocked a 36-yard field goal attempt through the uprights to put the Spartans ahead 10-7.
Defense had the upper hand during the remainder of the half. The Tigers threatened to score from the red zone early in the second quarter, but huge stops from Jeremiah Austin, Blake Kight, and Anthony Graham forced a turnover on downs at the MBU three-yard line. The game went to halftime, with MBU leading 10-7.
A blocked punt in the middle of the third quarter had the Spartans set up in the Iowa Wesleyan defensive zone with a chance to take a commanding two-possession lead. After his first attempt of the drive went for just three yards, Allen again found the endzone on a six-yard touchdown run to widen the gap to 17-7.
Zack Kern ended the Tigers' next drive early with an interception on the seventh play on the home 47-yard line. With good starting field position for the second consecutive drive, Munn found sophomore tight end Easton Locke for a 24-yard touchdown pass to put the game even further out of reach.
The defense followed up Kern's pick with Rook Rowe's encore interception to take the ball away at the Tiger 23-yard line.
Determined to get his third touchdown of the day, Allen took three straight handoffs to end the third quarter and took his first rushing attempt of the fourth quarter into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown.
The Spartans killed the remainder of the clock in the fourth quarter in their next two drives, taking home a 31-7 victory and a 2-0 record for the first time in their history.
"I am excited for our team to start the season 2-0," said Head Coach Jason Burianek. "This group has bought into the process and is really working hard. They really came out focused in the second half and made plays."
Allen tallied his second consecutive 100+ yard rushing performance out of the backfield and posted three more touchdowns to put his season total at four. Under center, Munn had a good day with 160 passing yards, no interceptions, one passing touchdown, and 46 rushing yards. Other notable stats on offense include Jacob Triplett's eight catches for 58 yards and Darius Morrison's 42 rushing yards on 11 tries.
On defense, sophomore linebacker Rook Rowe led the team with five tackles, one tackle for a loss, and an interception. Behind him in the tackle column were Andre Chandler and Blake Kight with four while reigning MSFA Midwest Defensive Player of the Week, Zack Kern, added an interception of his own.
The Spartans are back at home on Saturday, September 18, to put their undefeated record on the line against Madonna University. The opening kickoff at Spartan Field is scheduled to take place at noon.
