Leavenworth, Kan.--Spire football faced off against the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes in the first game after the KCAC bye-week and the first Bissell Division action. The cloudy Saturday afternoon unfolded as the Spires tried to leverage their home field advantage but ultimately fell short, losing 42-21 to the Coyotes.

USM had a strong start in the first quarter, initially trailing but swiftly turned the tables with two touchdowns. Quarterback Erick Covington's efficient passes to Michael Gazzana and Tyrell Nelson shifted the momentum, Gazzana had a huge afternoon, amassing 118 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Senior Michael Gazzana's reception in the first quarter earned him a place in Spire football history as he became the all-time leader in TD receptions with 24 (and counting). Sophomore Tyrell Nelson also had a notable day, including a 22-yard touchdown. By the end of the first period, Saint Mary led 14-7, buoyed by their aggressive offensive efforts.

Despite leading at the end of the first, the Spires could not maintain their momentum into halftime, with the scoreboard reading Kansas Wesleyan 28-14 Saint Mary. The second half saw the Spires struggling to regain their early game form. On defense, Degeorge Hudson and Amir Akins each contributed with 4 tackles, showing resilience despite the challenging gameplay from the Coyotes.

Looking ahead, the Spires are set to travel to top 20 ranked McPherson Bulldog territory on Saturday, October 25^th in McPherson, Kansas with a 1:00 p.m. kick-off.