ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist University football (1-3, 0-1 Heart) returns home Saturday to host No. 3 Benedictine College (4-1, 0-0 Heart) at 1 p.m. at Spartan Field. The game will stream live on the Urban Edge Network.
Game Notes | Live Stream | Live Stats
The Matchup
Missouri Baptist and Benedictine will meet for the third time in program history, with the Ravens holding a 2-0 series lead. The Spartans are 0-1 against Benedictine at home and 0-1 on the road.
In last year's meeting in Atchison, then-No. 8 Benedictine pulled away for a 48-14 victory. MBU's points came in the third quarter on a Lionel Banks rushing touchdown and a 21-yard pass from Jordan Simpson to Shane Becker.
The Ravens enter the week ranked No. 3 in the NAIA coaches' poll. They are riding a three-game winning streak and coming off a 70-30 win over Peru State. Their only loss came in Week 1 to No. 1 Grand View, 27-24.
Spartans at a Glance
MBU is coming off a 41-39 road loss at No. 23 MidAmerica Nazarene in which the Spartans totaled 539 yards of offense, their most ever against a ranked opponent.
- QB Jacob Jones has thrown for 1,000 yards and six touchdowns on 81-of-145 passing and rushed for 250 yards and four scores. He accounted for 414 total yards and four touchdowns last week.
- RB Calvin Griffin leads MBU with 219 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He posted 96 yards and a score at MNU, adding a two-point conversion late in the game.
- WR Gavin Claud leads the team with 22 receptions for 332 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks second all-time at MBU in career receiving yards (1,613), receptions (119) and receiving touchdowns (11).
- WR Zae Jones has 245 yards and two touchdowns through four games.
- LB Evan DeWilde leads the defense with 30 tackles.
- CB Jaylon Williamson has six pass breakups, including five last week at MNU, and is second on the team with 20 tackles.
- LB Justin Lehn has 15 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Scouting the Ravens
- QB Jackson Dooley, the program's all-time leading passer, has thrown for 1,654 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, averaging 330 passing yards per game.
- RB Xavier Ugorji leads the ground attack with 357 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
- WR Tanner Zimmerman has 443 yards and five touchdowns.
- S Dylan Witherspoon leads the defense with 28 tackles.
- S Isaiah Hasten has five interceptions.
Records to Watch
- RB Lionel Banks has 21 career rushing touchdowns. He needs three more to become MBU's all-time leader with 24.
- QB Jacob Jones has thrown a touchdown pass in every game this season.
Home Field Notes
Saturday marks the Spartans' third home game of the year. MBU is 1-1 at Spartan Field this season and 5-3 at home since the start of 2024. A win would mark the program's first against a ranked opponent and first ever against a top-five team.
From the Sideline
"Come show up. Be loud. Don't let the Benedictine Ravens take over our stadium. Come out and support us. We're gonna give a heck of an effort and it's going to be an exciting game!" — Head Coach Jason Burianek
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Field in St. Louis, Mo.
