MARSHALL, Mo. — Missouri Baptist University football (1–5, 0–2 Heart) hits the road Saturday to face Missouri Valley College (3–3, 0–2 Heart) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Marshall, Mo. The game will stream live on the Urban Edge Network.
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The Matchup
Missouri Baptist and Missouri Valley will meet for the third time in program history, with the series tied 1–1.
The Spartans earned their first victory over the Vikings last fall, rallying from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 29–23 Senior Day win on Nov. 2, 2024, at Spartan Field.
This season, both teams enter looking to capture their first conference win. Missouri Baptist is 0–3 on the road, while Missouri Valley is 2–1 at home.
The Spartans are coming off a 48–14 loss to No. 25-ranked William Penn, while the Vikings dropped a 36–35 heartbreaker at William Woods.
Spartans at a Glance
Quarterback Jacob Jones continues to power the Spartan offense, leading the team in both passing and rushing. Through six games, he's completed 104 of 185 passes for 1,338 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 396 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
Running back Calvin Griffin has provided balance in the backfield with 273 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while also contributing 121 receiving yards on 12 catches.
Receiver Gavin Claud remains Jones' top target, hauling in 31 receptions for 469 yards and five touchdowns. Zae Jones ranks second on the team with 19 receptions for 285 yards, and Griffin follows as the third-leading receiver.
Defensively, linebacker Evan DeWilde anchors the unit with 54 tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble.
Cornerback Jaylon Williamson continues to lead the secondary with nine pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, and 31 tackles.
MBU's defense has recorded six interceptions this season — all by different players — while the team averages 23.8 points per game offensively.
Scouting the Vikings
Missouri Valley enters at 3–3 overall and 0–2 in conference play, averaging 28.4 points per game.
Quarterback Tomele Staples leads the offense, completing 93 of 155 passes for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Running back Silas Morton is the team's workhorse with 547 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Through the air, Khalil White headlines the receiving corps with 301 yards and five touchdowns.
On defense, linebacker Jayden Maggert leads the Vikings with 45 tackles, while defensive back Nick Carlisle has a team-high five pass breakups.
Road Test Notes
Saturday marks the Spartans' fourth road game of the season. MBU's last win away from Spartan Field came in Week 9 at Graceland University last season— a 32–20 victory.
Missouri Baptist looks to snap a four-game road skid and five-game losing streak and earn its first conference win of the season.
