DUBUQUE, Iowa - MBU showcased a stellar ground attack throughout the day as they ended with 326 rush yards for just under seven-yards per carry on the road to win 31-13 over Clarke University.
The first quarter of the contest went by quietly as the two teams were deadlocked at zero going into the second quarter.
Clarke got on the scoreboard first as they got a 29-yard touchdown pass with a missed point after attempt to go up 6-0.
Quickly, the Spartans answered with a five play 74-yard drive capped off with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Simpson to Gavin Claud to take the lead at 7-6.
MoBap suffered an interception shortly after taking the lead, setting Clarke up with great field position, but the Spartans' defense stood strong to force a turnover on downs on their own 17-yard line.
7-6 was the score at halftime as both teams only found paydirt once in the first half.
Similar to the first half, Clarke struck first as they got in the endzone on their first drive of the second half to make it 13-7.
Looking to respond, Simpson found Claud and Kameron Sloan on back to back passes for 19-yards and 23-yards, respectively, but the drive fizzled out and the Spartans sent out Jonah Cox for a 46-yard field goal that went through the uprights.
Down 13-10 going into the final 15 minutes of action the Spartans had the ball and were moving down the field smoothly, Cooper Brown finished off the drive and ran the ball into the endzone from two yards out to give MBU a 17-13 lead.
With just over seven minutes left and following a three and out that the Spartans' defense forced Darius Morrison broke loose for a 61-yard scamper to the endzone to extend their lead to 11 points.
Clarke's next drive did not last long either as MoBap got a strip sack in the endzone that Ke'Vaughn Gaines got a hold of for an MBU defensive touchdown.
The Spartans dominated the fourth quarter 21-0 as it propelled them from down by three to winning by 18.
Morrison led the charge in the run game as he racked up 134-yards trailed by Carl Garmon Jr. with 80-yards.
Claud had another impressive game as he hauled in four catches for 87-yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Blake Kight and Cade Biedscheid were all over the field with 15 and 12 total tackles, respectively.
With the win the Spartans have broken into the win column before going into conference play next week at 1-4.
MBU will be on the road again on Saturday as they will be in Marshall, Mo. to take on Missouri Valley at 2:00 pm.
