ST. LOUIS, Mo. --- The TIU football team headed south to the Gateway city on Saturday night as they faced the Spartans of Missouri Baptist University in MSFA-Midwest League action. After nearly mounting a full comeback last week against the defending conference champions, the Trojans looked to channel their success from a week ago into their first win of the season.

After both teams punted the ball on their opening possessions of the game, MBU cracked the scoreboard first on a nine play, 68 yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown run from Jordan Benavides. The Spartans would score twice in the second quarter after TIU gave the ball away, one by punting and twice by turning the ball over on downs. With a 34-yard field goal from Collin Black and a 66-yard touchdown pass from Kameron Sloan to Josh Munn, Missouri Baptist took a 17-0 lead into the halftime break.

To open the second half, with Derrick Taylor in at quarterback, the Trojans marched 69 yards on their opening drive of the half for their first touchdown of the night, a 24-yard pass from Taylor to Marc Wallace. Trinity would be unable to capitalize on any of their next possessions in the third quarter, while MBU scored their third touchdown of the game as Jacob Tripplett found Rahkeem Hawkins for a seven yard passing score to go up 24-7 late in the third.

In the fourth quarter, with Nolan Brammer back behind center, the Trojans only possessed the ball twice, with their first possession ending in an endzone interception. TIU was able to hold the Spartans scoreless in the fourth, and tack on another touchdown Derek Lowe found the endzone on a nine yard scoring run. However, the Trojans would run out of time to continue their late push, falling 24-14 to the Spartans and 0-2 in conference play.

Brammer led TIU with 195 passing yard and one interception in the loss. While Lowe was able to find the endzone for the Trojans, he was held to just 12 net yards rushing. Gino Mastandrea caught five balls for 105 yards through the air, as Lorente Blakeney notched 14 total tackles on defense.

Additional Game Notes

• TIU falls to 0-4 all-time against Missouri Baptist after tonight's loss.

• Trinity's loss in their 13th in a row, tying the program's longest losing streak in school history from the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

• MBUout rushed the Trojans with 185-16 net yards.

• The Trojans controlled the passing game, recording 253 passing yards from Nolan Brammer and Derrick Taylor, while Missouri Baptist combined for 158 yards in the air.

• Both teams were heavily penalized in the game. Trinity drew 11 flags for 119 penalty yards, while the Spartans were flagged ten times for 102 yards.

• Derrick Taylor's third quarter 24-yard touchdown pass to Marc Wallace was his first passing touchdown as a Trojan. Taylor previously played at Cincinnati Christian before transferring to TIU this season.

• Marc Wallace's receiving touchdown in the third quarter was the third of his career.

• Derek Lowe's late fourth quarter touchdown was his third of the season, and 11th of career. His score moves him past Isaac Branch (2015-19) for the seventh most rushing touchdowns in program history.

• Lorente Blakeney's 14 total tackles led the game, double the total of MBU's leading tackler Rook Rowe.

• TIU's Kemon Reese and Logan Shears also notched double-digit tackles in the loss, both with 11 each.

NEXT UP

TIU (0-3) returns home next Saturday, March 13 as they host the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University in MSFA-Midwest league play. Due to field conditions, the game will be played at Roosevelt University's Morris Field in Arlington Heights. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00PM CST and can be watched LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network.

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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.