DUBUQUE, Iowa (October 2, 2021) - The University of Dubuque scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to break open a one-point contest and the Spartans handed the Buena Vista University football team a tough 31-16 road loss at Chalmers Field on Saturday.

Both teams went scoreless over the first 15 minutes of play and then traded a pair of touchdowns during the second quarter. The Spartans marched 80 yards down the field in just six plays to grab an early 7-0 second quarter lead, but it was short-lived as BVU had an answer on the first play of its ensuing possession. Senior Eric Pacheco hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass, but the Beavers missed the PAT and trailed 7-6 with 12:09 left in the opening half.

Pacheco gave BVU its first lead of the contest with 4:59 remaining in the quarter with his second touchdown grab of the game - this time from three yards out - to cap a 12-play, 72-yard drive.  The Spartans had one final first-half push left in them, getting a 35-yard touchdown pass, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive with under three minutes left.  BVU was poised to potentially take the lead just before halftime, driving all the way down to the Dubuque 30-yard line before being intercepted with 51 seconds left.

Each team made a field goal in the third quarter to make it a 17-16 contest heading into the final frame, but the Spartans scored a pair of touchdowns in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter for the game's final score.

The Beavers turned the ball over four times in the final quarter, including twice on downs.

BVU finished with 382 yards of total offense compared to 345 by the Spartans.  The Beavers also had seven more first downs.

"We have a lot of respect for Dubuque and their football team today," said BVU head coach Grant Mollring. "They executed two or three key plays better than us in crucial spots in the game. Our defense played well enough to give us a chance to win the game, and I am pleased with what they did today. We struggled to execute consistently against a top defense and especially did not convert like we needed in the red zone. I had it in my head that we were a play away in the 4th quarter from changing momentum and we just didn't get one. Effort and Unity were the best we have had all season and we are looking forward to a good second half of the season." 

Brandon Kyles completed 24-of-39 pass attempts for 276 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.  Pacheco finished with seven catches and 137 yards and the two scores.  Keaton Huebner carried the ball 14 times for 55 yards while Kyles added 44 yards on 17 attempts.  The Beavers totaled 106 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Reed Kruse and Brandon Lance each posted nine total tackles with Kruse also intercepting one pass.  

Jacob Keller passed for 209 yards and one touchdown for the Spartans, while the team chalked up 129 yards and three scores on the ground.  Keller had 46 of those on six rushes.

With the win, the Spartans improve to 3-1 overall (2-0 A-R-C) while the loss drops Buena Vista to 2-3 overall (1-2 A-R-C).  The Beavers will now have a bye week next Saturday before returning home to host Nebraska Wesleyan for Homecoming/Hall of Fame Day on October 16.  Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. inside J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.