Number 2 Baker Football Advances to NAIA Quarterfinals with 44-21 win over Number 13 Sterling

Press release submitted by Tyler Price, Baker University Assistant Athletic Director

---

BALDWIN CITY, Kansas – The number 2 ranked Baker University football team moved to 12-0, as they defeated number 13 Sterling, 44-21, on Saturday in the NAIA-FCS First Round and advances to its ninth NAIA Quarterfinal round in program history.

With the loss, Sterling ends its season 8-3 and the Wildcats move to 13-1 all-time against the Warriors.

Nick Becker was named the NAIA-FCS Defensive Player of the Game with 11 tackles, seven tackles for loss and he tied a Baker record with four sacks in a game.

He tied alum Andrew Patch who did it in 2006 and current assistant wide receivers coach Josh Saunders who accomplished that in 1994 with those four sacks in a single contest.

Cornell Brown had a huge game for Baker and was named the NAIA-FCS Offensive Player of the Game. Brown accounted for four touchdowns, two receiving and two rushing. The Baldwin City product ran for 187 yards and caught seven passes for 84 yards.

Logan Brettell threw for over 300 yards for the 10^th time this season, as he went 25-of-32 for 311 yards and three TD’s.

Jaylen Rose had the other TD reception from Brettell, as he scored from 38-yards out in the 3^rd quarter.

The Wildcats caused four turnovers on the day, as Akim Francis had two interceptions and Avery Parker had another. Austin Jackson forced and recovered a fumble as well.

Francis finished with 10 tackles, while Parker had nine and Hayden Jenkins added five. On the day, Baker had 15.5 tackles for loss.

The Baker defense held the nations leading receiver, TJ Brown, to 10 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Clarence Clark had a solid day in the kicking game, going 3-for-4 hitting field goals of 41-yards, 21-yards and 31-yards. He also went 5-for-5 on extra points.

The Wildcats had 585 yards on offense, while Sterling finished with 394 yards. 

Baker University football team will host number 8 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) next Saturday, November 26 at 1 p.m. in the NAIA-FCS Quarterfinals inside Liston Stadium.

This will mark the first-ever meeting between these two teams, as the Blue Raiders began its football program in the 2010 season.

This will be Baker’s ninth all-time appearance in the NAIA quarterfinals, with a win for the Wildcats, they will compete in its first NAIA national semifinal since 1993.

The 12-0 Wildcats will host an 11-1 Blue Raider team that just defeated Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Grand View on Saturday, 34-27, in overtime at home.

The squad from Columbia, Ky., is competing in its third NAIA-FCS Playoffs, while Baker is competing in its 15^th.

Lindsey Wilson is the number 3 ranked scoring offense in the NAIA averaging 48.3 points per game.

Quarterback Dylan Beasley ranks number 5 in the NAIA in total passing yards with 3,391 yards and has thrown 42 TD passes this season.

Baker’s QB Logan Brettell ranks number 1 in the country in total passing yards with 4,150 and he is tied with Beasley in TD passes with 42.

BU’s Cornell Brown now leads the NAIA in total scoring with 162 points with his 21 rushing and six receiving touchdowns.

The Baker defense has held its opponents to 21 points or under in eight of its 12 games this season and the Wildcats feature the number 7 ranked scoring defense in the country, allowing just 18.3 points per game.

Baker safety Darrain Winston also ranks number 1 in the NAIA in interceptions with nine.

NAIA Football Box Score

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Sterling (Kan.)	0	14	0	7	21
Baker (Kan.)	17	7	10	10	44