Missouri Baptist's fifth and final fourth-down conversion proved to be a back-breaker as the Spartans were able to hold off St. Ambrose 38-35 Saturday night in St. Louis, Mo.

Facing a 4th-and-1 from the SAU 34-yard line while nursing a 31-27 lead midway through the fourth quarter, MBU went for it. The running back broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run to pad the Spartan lead with 6:27 to play.

The Bees still had their opportunities.

But the ensuing 10-play, 54-yard drive came up empty as SAU missed a 36-yard field goal that would have cut the deficit to 38-30.

St. Ambrose got the ball back and needed just two plays to climb back into the game as Alec Ponder found Joseph Spaulding down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Brennan Wilson scored on a two-point try to trim the score to 38-35 with 1:26 remaining.

That was it though as the Spartans recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Missouri Baptist converted 5-of-6 fourth-down tries leading to a big edge in time of possession (37:46 to 22:14).

St. Ambrose was able to stay close thanks to a quick-strike offense.

After MBU grabbed a 7-0 lead, SAU needed just 1:29 to cover 71 yards in five plays as Ponder connected with Spaulding on a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Early in the second quarter, the Bees grabbed the lead as Tre Jenkins scored on an 11-yard run that capped a four-play, 48-yard drive in 62 seconds.

The Spartans would score the next 24 points. That included 17 points in the final 8:15 of the second quarter. MBU added a touchdown on the first possession of the second half to go in front 31-14.

Maximo Vasquez and Zaire Wilcox each scored on a one-yard touchdown run to get the Bees to within 31-27 before the Spartans were able to take back momentum on that final fourth-down conversion.

Along with the missed field goal, St. Ambrose also missed an extra point and threw two interceptions, one at the MBU 15-yard line and the other in the Spartan end zone.

Ponder completed 24-of-43 passes for 353 yards and the pair of touchdown tosses to Spaulding. Spaulding had a team-best seven catches for 98 yards while Braden Downs had six receptions for 99 yards. Kameron Bohnsack, Jaylen Brazzle, Vasquez, Wilcox and Mikey Hellwig also had catches in the loss.

Jenkins carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards. Vasquez finished with 50 yards on 10 rushes and Wilcox added 32 yards on seven attempts.

Nolan Obert led the SAU defense with 10 total tackles. Andre Cobige was in on eight tackles. Colin Gudella recorded seven tackles, and Caden McDermott and DJ Twymon Jr. were each in on six stops. Obert, Gudella and Emmanuel Howard registered two tackles-for-loss apiece.

St. Ambrose will play its home opener Saturday against Central Methodist. Kickoff from Jack and Pat Bush Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.