Press release submitted by Tyler Price, Baker University Assistant Athletic Director
BALDWIN CITY, Kansas – With a 42-27 win over number 8 ranked Lindsey Wilson College, the number 2 ranked Baker University football team advanced to the NAIA-FCS Semifinals for the first time since 1993 on Saturday inside historic Liston Stadium.
Baker will now face number 9 Eastern Oregon next Saturday, December 3 inside Liston Stadium in the NAIA-FCS Semifinals. Time is TBA. This will mark the first-ever meeting between EOU and Baker.
The Wildcats scored twice in the first three minutes of the game, as Logan Brettell hit Ladai Shawn Boose for a 19-yard touchdown in the opening possession.
Darrain Winston then forced a Lindsey Wilson fumble on the Blue Raiders’ first play from scrimmage, and Cornell Brown followed with a rushing touchdown to put the Wildcats up 14-0.
After a Blue Raider field goal, the Wildcats answered with another touchdown from Boose, giving the Wildcats a 21-3 lead.
Avery Parker had two interceptions on the game, one in the second quarter that led to Brettell’s third touchdown pass of the game that gave the Wildcats a 28-3 lead.
Lindsey Wilson came back to score, but the Wildcats blocked the extra point and maintained a 28-9 lead.
Both the Wildcats and the Blue Raiders scored before halftime to make the score 35-16 at the break. Lindsey Wilson’s first drive of the second half was stopped by Parker’s second interception at the two-yard line.
The Blue Raiders scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to bring the game to within one possession at 35-27, but fumbled at their own 11-yard line, where Brettell scored on a third-down scramble on an impressive 9-yard run as he dove into the pylon to take a 42-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Wildcats capitalized on six Lindsey Wilson turnovers, turning four interceptions and two fumbles into 21 Baker points. The Wildcats improved their turnover margin on the season to +28.
Two-time Heart South Co-Defensive Player of the Year Josh Kock finished the day with four sacks and tied a Baker record for sacks in a game. The senior tied his teammate Nick Becker who set the mark last week against Sterling and his also tied with alum Andrew Patch who set the mark in 2006 and current BU assistant coach Josh Saunders did it in 1994. Kock earned the NAIA-FCS Defensive Player of the Game award.
Brown now has a Baker school record with 23 rushing touchdowns in a season, he surpassed alum Ritchie Bryant who set the mark in 2008.
Following the Wildcats’ final touchdown, they were able to stop the Blue Raider offense from scoring on four occasions, two drives being stopped by Baker interceptions. Winston’s interception with less than 2:00 to go was his NAIA-leading 10th of the season.
Brettell finished the day going 18-of-30 for 254 yards and three touchdowns and he also ran for 43 yards. The junior earned the NAIA-FCS Offensive Player of the Game award.
Boose led all receivers with 116 yards, while Damon Nolan finished with eight catches for 109 yards.
Akim Francis led the squad with 14 tackles and as a unit, the ‘Cats collected 10 tackles for loss.
This marked the first-ever meeting between the Blue Raiders and Wildcats.
NAIA Football Box Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 3 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 27 |
| Baker (Kan.) | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
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