WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College showed heart, offensive balance, and second-half resolve but couldn't overcome an early 21-point hole, falling 42–28 to Friends University on Saturday afternoon at Jantz Stadium in KCAC play.
The loss drops the Moundbuilders to 6–2 overall and 1–1 in conference action, as they battled one of the KCAC's hottest offenses to the wire behind a strong performance from quarterback Jamie Odom and a resilient group of playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Friends came out fast, capitalizing on short fields and quick-strike efficiency to take a 21–0 lead midway through the first quarter. Falcon quarterback K'Vonte Baker threw touchdown passes of 22 and 28 yards before running back E'Derian Sykes added a 12-yard scoring run to cap the early surge.
Despite the rough start, Southwestern refused to fold. Odom and the offense regrouped in the second quarter and began to establish rhythm through a mix of balanced play-calling and disciplined execution.
The Builders struck first with a 79-yard drive orchestrated by Odom, who connected with receivers Joe Smyth and Matthew Holthusen on a pair of third-down conversions. Odom capped the drive by finding Smyth on a 19-yard touchdown strike over the middle to make it 21–7.
After a quick defensive stop, Southwestern's offense went right back to work. Odom led a nine-play, 67-yard march, highlighted by hard running from Smyth and Joshua Mazyck behind a physical offensive line anchored by Arnold Portillo. Odom finished the drive himself, keeping the ball on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to pull Southwestern within 21–14.
Friends responded with a short touchdown run from Baker before halftime to make it 28–14, but the Builders entered the locker room with belief.
Southwestern came out firing in the third quarter, and Odom continued to find his rhythm. On the opening possession of the half, Odom delivered a perfectly placed 28-yard touchdown pass to Holthusen, who made a leaping grab in the end zone to trim the margin to 28–21.
Holthusen continued to shine in the second half, becoming Odom's go-to target as the Moundbuilders clawed their way back into contention. In the fourth quarter, Odom connected with Holthusen again — this time on a 40-yard strike down the right sideline — cutting the deficit to 35–28 with just over six minutes to play.
Holthusen finished the afternoon with five receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Odom completed 17 of 28 passes for 212 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. The duo combined for several key plays in pressure situations that kept Southwestern within striking distance late in the game.
Wide Receiver Joe Smyth provided balance with 48 rushing yards on five carries, while Mazyck added 49 yards on the ground, including a 19-yard burst that set up one of Odom's scoring drives. The Moundbuilder offensive line consistently created running lanes and protected the pocket, allowing Southwestern to total 358 yards of offense — 146 on the ground and 212 through the air.
The Builders' defensive unit forced multiple third-and-long situations in the second half and kept the Falcons scoreless for much of the third quarter. Safety rotations tightened coverage downfield, allowing the Builders to regain possession multiple times with a chance to tie.
However, Friends managed to put the game away late with a clock-draining, 84-yard drive that ended in Baker's 1-yard touchdown plunge with under two minutes remaining, sealing the 42–28 final.
Though the result didn't go their way, Southwestern's comeback effort highlighted its depth, resolve, and balance against one of the conference's top teams. The Moundbuilders' offense outgained Friends in the second and third quarters and continued to show an ability to respond under pressure — traits that bode well heading into the final stretch of KCAC play.
Southwestern returns home next weekend for Senior Day, where the Builders will look to bounce back and continue their push toward postseason contention at Jantz Stadium.
