Leavenworth, Kan.—Spire football battled the Southwestern College Jinx at Charles J. Berkel Memorial Stadium in Leavenworth, despite the Spires' efforts to rally, USM fell to the Jinx with a final score of 53-21.

The first half saw the Spires struggle to contain Southwestern's strong offensive plays, concluding with a halftime score of 26-14 in favor of the Jinx. Key Spires Michael Gazzana, Kameron Smith, and Erick Covington, each found the end zone in an aggressive match up. Unfortunately, the Spires were unable to secure a lead at any point during the game.

Specific game highlights included senior Michael Gazzana, who led the Spires' receiving group with six receptions for 125 yards and a TD. Kameron Smith added 65 rushing yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Erick Covington contributed with a rushing touchdown, and on the defensive side, Amir Akins stood out with 12 tackles, showcasing his defensive capabilities throughout the afternoon.

The USM Spires will host for the last time this season the #3 ranked Friends University Falcons on Saturday, November 15^th with a 1:00 p.m. kick-off at Berkel Memorial Stadium for Senior Day.