Lakers Blow Out Missouri Baptist 41-3 to Earn First MSFA Midwest League Victory of the Season

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 22^nd ranked Roosevelt University football team celebrated Homecoming with a 41-3 defeat of Missouri Baptist University to earn its first MSFA Midwest League victory of the season on Saturday, October 8 at Morris Field.  The Lakers are now 4-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The first quarter got off to a slow start offensively for both teams, but the Lakers' defense came up with a turnover with Jalen Perkins intercepting a pass to give RU the ball at the Spartans' 41-yard line.  Quarterback Luke Wilson completed a 13-yard pass to Jerrell Calhoun and Tyler Tenner rushed for 10 yards to give the Lakers first and goal at the six-yard line.  Benjamin Little came in at quarterback and ran a draw down to the one-yard line with Tenner rushing in for a touchdown and a 7-0 Roosevelt lead with 57 seconds to go in the opening quarter.

Two plays into Missouri Baptist's next possession, Perkins came up with his second interception of the game to give the Lakers the ball at their own 45-yard line.  With RU facing third and 13, Wilson connected with Calhoun on a 58-yard touchdown toss to push the Lakers' lead to 14-0 with 14:43 to play in the second quarter.

The remainder of the second quarter featured three turnovers with two by the Spartans and one by the Lakers, but neither team was able to capitalize.  Late in the half, the Spartans drove down the field from their own 15-yard line to move into field goal range, connecting on a 42-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to cut the RU lead to 14-3 at the half.

The Roosevelt defense held Missouri Baptist to a three and out to begin the third quarter and the Lakers' offense proceeded to march 70 yards on an 11 play scoring drive with Tenner capping it off with a one-yard run for a 21-3 lead.  The big play of the drive was a 34-yard pass completion from Wilson to Roderick Gaskins.

Missouri Baptist forced a fumble on Roosevelt's next possession to gain good field position at the Lakers' 33-yard line.  The Spartans drove down to the Lakers' 12-yard line, but the RU defense held the visitors to a field goal attempt and special teams took over with Corties Draper blocking the kick attempt to keep it a 21-3 game.

The Lakers blew the game wide open in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points during the final 15 minutes of the contest.  With 12:08 to play, Benjamin Little ran in from two yards for the score, which was set up by back to back completions of 29 and 13 yards by Wilson to Calhoun.  Corties Draper then intercepted a Cooper Brown pass and took in from 32 yards out on the Spartans' next possession for a 35-3 margin.  Tenner closed out the scoring with his third touchdown of the night, scoring on a 28-yard run for the 41-3 final score.

KEY STATS

• Tyler Tenner rushed for 111 yards & three touchdowns on 23 carries
• Jerrell Calhoun made five catches for 122 yards & a TD
• Xavier Alvarez had a team high eight tackles
• Corties Draper & Jalen Perkins each had two interceptions
• Luke Wilson threw for 198 yards with a touchdown & interception on 9-of-25 passing
• RU had 412 yards of total offense compared to 195 yards for MBU
• The Lakers held a 21-12 first down advantage
• RU maintained a 35:08 to 24:52 advantage in time of possession

NEWS & NOTES

• This was the Lakers first MSFA Midwest League of the season
• RU is now 3-0 all-time versus MBU
• Click here to view the current MSFA Midwest League standings

NEXT UP

The Lakers continue with MSFA Midwest League action when they travel to Deerfield, Ill. to square off against Trinity International University.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm at Leslie Frazier Field on the campus of TIU.