FAYETTE, MO. - In Missouri Baptist University's first road test of the season they handled the pressure outsourcing CMU in the second half to come away with a victory to improve to 4-1 for the first time in program history.
The Eagles came out firing after they received the opening kickoff, marching 75 yards on just seven plays to get on the scoreboard first to put MBU in a 7-0 hole just four minutes into the game.
Missouri Baptist responded with a long drawn out drive that amassed just under seven minutes before Phil Jordan punched his way into the endzone from three yards out to cap off a 14 play 63 yard drive. The Spartans then forced a three and out on the following Eagle possession, and marched their way back down the field. The nine play drive ended in an unfortunate manner for Missouri Baptist with a missed field goal attempt.
Central Methodist regained possession of the lead with just over five minutes left in the first half with a 40-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-7. Looking to tie the game at 14 before halftime the Spartans took the ball 70 yards on 12 plays and reached paydirt as Jared Steward broke across the goalline with 43 seconds in the half.
Both teams punted on their first drives of the second half following an extended halftime break with Homecoming taking place at Central Methodist. Missouri Baptist got their second possession started from their own one yard line, and Jordan Simpson let the ball fly as he racked up 90 passing yards on their 99 yard touchdown drive that ended with a 34-yard touchdown pass and run from Joseph White, giving MBU a 21-14 lead.
Up by seven with just over 11 minutes left in the contest the Spartans had the ball at their 40 yard line facing a second and 21. On the next two plays MBU picked up 18 of the 21 yards and lined up to go for it on fourth down. Simpson hit Lionel Banks on a dump off that picked up six yards and extended their drive that eventually ended with Banks busting through the line of scrimmage for a 20-yard touchdown rush.
The Spartans picked up a safety following a strip sack by Rakweon Ramsey that CMU fell on late in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 16. MBU was able to hold onto the 30-14 victory placing them at 4-1 for the first time in program history.
Simpson finished the contest going 20-30 for 236 yards and a touchdown pass to White. Banks led the brigade on the ground piling up 108 yards for a 4.3 yards per rush.
Giovanoi Sanes led the defense with five solo tackles, six total tackles, and two sacks, and Ramsey also had two sacks.
