The seniors of the Baker University football team left it all on the field in Saturday’s 10-7 victory over Benedictine College Saturday at Liston Stadium.
The Wildcats’ victory was the sixth consecutive win against the Ravens and it also came on Senior Day.
“I’m glad we got the win on Senior Day to send the seniors out on a good note at Liston Stadium,” senior Madison Morris said.
With 1:20 remaining in the game, Morris picked off a pass from Benedictine quarterback Bill Noonan to secure the win for the Wildcats.
The interception highlighted the performance of the Baker defense, which picked off three passes and sacked Noonan four times.
“To see Madison end his career here at Liston (Stadium) with a game-clinching interception was awesome,” Grossner said. “He is well-deserving and has been a four-year starter.”
The Wildcats had four forced turnovers to Benedictine’s one, and added to Baker’s nation-leading turnover margin. BU has forced 31 turnovers this season and has only turned the ball over eight times to have a turnover margin of +23.
While the defense kept Benedictine’s offense under wraps, it was aided by the special teams unit.
Senior Garrett Chumley pinned Benedictine inside its own 1-yard line on two of his eight punts on the day.
The special teams unit was also responsible for all of the Wildcats’ 10 points. BU took the lead on a blocked punt from sophomore Connor Stremel that was recovered in the end zone by junior Kyle Bolton.
“I just came free and I made the up-man miss, and I just blocked the punt,” Stremel said. “I just got a little excited and couldn’t hold onto the ball in the end zone.”
The Wildcats added on a 31-yard field goal from freshman Andrew Kimrey to go in front 10-0 before Benedictine scored its only points of the game when Noonan found Jordan Jackson open for a 77-yard touchdown pass.
BU had a difficult time containing Jackson, who compiled 178 yards on five catches, but the Wildcats were able to keep the rest of the Benedictine offense in check.
Baker improved to 5-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and 6-3 overall.
The ‘Cats have one regular season game remaining against Graceland University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Lamoni, Iowa, but they still have an outside chance of making the playoffs.
“I felt like the scenarios that I had in my mind going into weekend … number one was winning,” Grossner said. “Number two was what happened in front of us (in the rankings) and No. 15-No. 20 all won, and I had a couple of those possibly getting beat. No. 1, No. 9, No. 12 and No. 14 lost, so I don’t know. I do know this, if (Culver-Stockton College) beats Benedictine, we got a chance to be in. Stranger things have happened.”
