Despite holding the lead heading into the fourth quarter of play the Spartans fell by a score of 28-21.
On the first drive of the game the Spartans had the ball rolling, but the drive ended abruptly with an interception.
MidAmerica Nazarene got on the scoreboard first on a touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
The following drive from the Pioneers also ended in a touchdown putting MBU down by two possessions.
On the Spartans' opening drive of the second quarter Carl Garmon Jr. led the team down the field with 50-yards rushing and Cooper Brown capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, and MoBap successfully completed the two-point conversion to cut their deficit to six.
The Pioneers responded quickly after a good kick return set them up with good field position and they went 35 yards on just three plays and failed a two-point conversion to extend their lead to 20-8.
Before the end of the half MidAmerica Nazarene was looking to tack a field goal onto their score, but Anthony Graham was able to block it to keep the score the same heading into the second half.
In need of some success in the second half the Spartans forced a three and out.
On the punt there was a fumbled snap that Marcellus Griffin recovered to set up the MBU offense with great field position at the 28-yard line.
On the first play Brown hit Kameron Sloan for a 23-yard pass before Darius Morrison punched in a touchdown run from one yard out to bring it 20-14.
After another three and out forced by the Spartans' defense the offense went 57-yards on nine plays and ended with a one-yard rush by Brown to take the lead 21-20.
The Pioneers regained the lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a successful two-point conversion to take a seven point lead.
The next Pioneer drive ended on the three-yard line as the MBU defense had a goalline stand to keep the game within one possession.
Pinned up against the endzone the Spartans were forced to punt with just over six minutes remaining, and MidAmerica Nazarene held onto the ball for all but five seconds and gave the Spartans one play to reach the endzone from 73-yards out.
MBU was unable to make any magic happen and fell by a score of 28-21.
The Spartans' ground game was able to get going against the Pioneers as Garmon Jr. and Lionel Banks both rushed for 75-yards.
Gavin Claud was able to haul in four catches for 93 of Brown's 169-yards passing.
Blake Kight had another stellar day on the defensive end with 11 solo tackles and one pass breakup.
Zeppelin Velder kept the receivers at bay throughout the day as he broke up two passes and brought down one interception.
Next Saturday the Spartans will return home for a contest against (18) Benedictine at Spartan Field at 1:00 pm.
