After the Baker University football team suffered its first loss of the 2011 season to Evangel University 34-27, the Wildcats were not about to allow the Crusaders to repeat themselves.
The Wildcats avenged the loss from last season by defeating Evangel 48-17 in their home opener Saturday at Liston Stadium.
Baker took control of the game from the opening drive after Jesse Schultz gave the Wildcats a 7-0 advantage.
“That was a 4th and 1 (play),” head coach Mike Grossner said. “You know, they had just stuffed Jesse, and (Offensive Coordinator Miguel Regalado) felt really confident up front that we were going to put it in their hands, and I thought Jesse made a great decision to go over the top.”
The 7-0 score would hold for the remainder of the first quarter, but the Wildcats did not waste time to get on the scoreboard again in the second quarter. Adam Steele recorded the second interception of the game for the Wildcats on the first play of the quarter and then Joel Murphy hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Sam Vossen on the ensuing play to push BU’s lead to 13-0.
The ‘Cats added to their lead a few minutes later when Kyle Bolton found the end zone on a 39-yard touchdown run.
“Kyle is a threat and we’re starting to utilize him in all ways, which I love,” Grossner said. “We just got to get the ball in his hands quickly and let him run.”
Although Bolton’s run put BU on top 20-0, the Crusaders managed to fight back.
Evangel ended the shutout with a field goal and then cut Baker’s lead in half with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Mark Brimhall to Jesse Vaughn.
The Wildcats’ offense responded, though, when Jermaine Broomfield broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run to give Baker a 27-10 lead going into halftime.
Vossen and the BU offense did not let up in the second half as the senior quarterback connected with Jake Green for his second touchdown pass to give the Wildcats a 34-10 advantage.
The running game continued to work for the Wildcats as well with Broomfield adding his second touchdown carry to increase Baker’s lead to 41-10.
“Jermaine ran hard and he secured the football,” Grossner said. “Dillon Baxter was gimpy and he gave us a bit early, but Jermaine, we knew he had to carry the load for us in the run game well into the fourth quarter.”
The Crusaders answered with an 81-yard touchdown pass from Brimhall to Otis Brown, but that ended the scoring for Evangel.
Murphy capped off the Wildcats’ win with his second touchdown catch to secure the victory.
While the Wildcats put up a season-high 48 points, the BU defense recorded four more interceptions and was led by Andre Jolly with three sacks.
Baker will look to improve to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference when it takes on Central Methodist University at 6 p.m. Saturday in Fayette, Mo.
