Quarterback Seth Dazet completed 23-of-37 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns as MidAmerica Nazarene beat Missouri Baptist 31-17 on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Pioneer Stadium in Olathe.
The homecoming win pushed the Pioneers to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Heart South play, according to MNU Athletics. Missouri Baptist dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the division.
MNU jumped ahead early. The Pioneers marched 75 yards on their opening possession, with Dazet hitting receiver Zane Hall for a 24-yard score. The defense then created back-to-back turnovers in the second quarter. Carson Alfonsi picked off a pass to set up Devin Andrews' 1-yard touchdown run. Matthew Potucek recovered a fumble, and placekicker Luke Hardman drilled a 48-yard field goal to make it 17-0.
Missouri Baptist cut the lead to 17-7, but Dazet found Isaiah Coppage for a 31-yard touchdown to restore a 17-point cushion. The Spartans scored again before halftime, trimming MNU’s lead to 24-14.
A Spartans field goal to open the third quarter cut the margin to 24-17.
That's when Dazet and the offense took over.
Starting from their own 13-yard line in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers strung together a 13-play, 87-yard drive that chewed 6:24 off the clock. Dazet found Hall for an 11-yard touchdown with 6:52 remaining to seal the two-score margin.
"It's hard to win games in this conference so anytime that you can get a win you have to enjoy it," head coach Ivan Cordova said after the game.
MNU piled up 452 yards of total offense. Andrews finished with 16 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown. Coppage led all receivers with six catches for 109 yards and a score. Hall added five receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Hardman went 4-for-4 on extra points to go with his long field goal.
Defensively, the Pioneers forced three turnovers. Alfonsi and Deon Burtin each recorded an interception, while Potucek added the fumble recovery.
MNU received votes in Monday’s STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches Poll released Monday, Oct. 12. The Pioneers' next test is a trip to No. 3 Benedictine College in Atchison at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.
