WICHITA, Kan. – The No. 7-ranked Friends University Falcons fell for the first time this season 40-21 to the No. 23-ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders today (Oct. 24) at Adair-Austin Stadium. It's also nearly two years to the day of the Falcons' last KCAC loss, a 24-21 setback at home to Evangel University on Oct. 26, 2024.
Turnovers helped put the Falcons in an early hole, starting with a fumble on Southwestern's ensuing kickoff following a field goal that the Builders capitalized on with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Odom to Noah Roberts that made it 10-0 before the Falcons ran an offensive play.
The Falcons then fumbled again on the fourth play of their next drive that the Builders again took advantage of, this time on a two-yard score by Christian Steward to suddenly make it 17-0.
After another fumble on the kickoff, the defense stood up and forced a turnover of their own with a strip sack by Chris Scott that Tyson Wallace recovered. The Falcons made the most of it as Joey Millspaugh broke free for a 37-yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 17-7.
The Builders produced a 42-yard field goal on their next drive, but the Falcons answered when a 47-yard pass from Walker Overman to Samuel Becker set up a six-yard scoring scamper by Elon Conley to bring the margin within 20-14 at the half.
Jud Cheatham then set the Falcons up in good shape with a 54-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half, but a turnover on downs gave the Builders possession at their own 38.
Following an exchange of punts, Southwestern got on the board again with a 19-yard pass from Odom to Dazurre Paggett to push the lead to 26-14 after the two-point conversion failed.
Millspaugh kept the Falcons in it and ran 73 yards to pay dirt on the first play of the Falcons' next possession to make it a five-point game at 26-21 going to the fourth.
But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Odom found Bryce Chambers for a 70 yard scoring strike on 2nd and 14 to answer back for the Builders and again make it a two-possession game at 33-21.
Lopez tried to provide another answer for the Falcons and ran 50 yards on 3rd and 12 to the Builder 16. But facemask and false start penalties helped stall the drive as the Falcons turned it over downs.
Odom then ran seven times on Southwestern's next possession, culminating with a two yard touchdown that capped a 14 play, 79 yard drive to put it away for the Builders.
Millspaugh gained 110 yards on his two scoring runs to lead the Falcons (7-1, 1-1 KCAC Bissell).
Odom passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns, with Steward gaining 149 yards on the ground for Southwestern and Chambers catching six passes for 122 yards.
Wallace led the Falcon defensive unit with 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
Isaiah Yehudah paced the Builders' (7-1, 2-0 KCAC Bissell) defense with eight tackles.
The Falcons will now look to bounce back next Saturday (Oct. 31) at (RV) Kansas Wesleyan University for a 1 pm kickoff in Salina, Kan.
