The seniors on the No. 12 Baker University football team earned a 40-7 victory over Graceland University Saturday in what was likely their final game at Liston Stadium.
The Wildcats look to have a spot in the 16-team NAIA playoffs, which will begin next week after finishing the regular season 8-2, but their first-round game figures to be on the road.
“We’ll go wherever or hopefully stay home, but it’s going to be a fun week of preparation,” head coach Mike Grossner said.
In Baker’s victory Saturday, the Wildcats punished the Yellowjackets with heavy doses of junior running back Dillon Baxter. After rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown against Benedictine College Nov. 3, he topped that by racking up 188 yards and two scores against Graceland in two and a half quarters of play.
“Dillon Baxter has really stepped up,” Grossner said. “He’s running and getting the tough yards and starting to get the breakaway runs. He adds a dimension to our football team that we need moving on here.”
While Baxter controlled the running game, Sam Vossen shined on Senior Day by completing 10 of 15 passes for two touchdowns and one interception.
“With Jake Morse going down with his ACL shifting on him against Benedictine, I’m very glad that Sam can step up and get it done,” senior Aaron Rieschick said. “He thanks (the offensive line) all of the time for great protection and tells us to keep pushing and keep going. He’s one of those guys you want on your side. Whenever you call on him, he’s going to do whatever he can to get the job done.”
Vossen’s touchdown passes were to fellow seniors Jake Green on a 12-yard scoring play and Reggie Harris on a 59-yard strike down the sideline.
Although the Wildcats tallied 525 yards of total offense, Grossner credited a group of players not in the stat book for playing a big role in the win.
“The offensive line the last two weeks has really taken command of the line of scrimmage,” Grossner said. “We knew going into this game, even though the wind played a big factor in the game plan, but we knew we had to grind it out against this team and kind of wear them down. We’ve got over 600 yards rushing in two games, so kudos to the (offensive) line.”
Rieschick and the rest of the offensive line helped protect Vossen and pave the way for Baxter and the other BU running backs Saturday, but the Holton native was also recognized for his efforts in the classroom earlier in the the week as he was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-District football team. Rieschick said he and the rest of his teammates have been motivated to clinch a spot in the playoffs after coming up short the past three years.
“Really we’re just trying to get our coaches to the playoffs,” Rieschick said. “I’ve been here for four years and we’ve haven’t stepped on the playoff field. (Offensive coordinator Miguel) Regalado has done a really good job of putting us all on the same page. Our technique down to the last step is very detailed.”
The Baker defense was not about to be outdone by the offensive unit as sophomores Mike Stevenson and Andre Jolly led the way for the Wildcats.
Jolly entered the game tied for the Baker single season sack record, but he has it all to himself now after getting to Graceland quarterback Mike Fink three times and forcing a fumble. He has 16 sacks on the season.
Stevenson made his presence known early in the second half with a pick six returned 42 yards for a touchdown. He then forced a fumble of his own, which freshman Tucker Pauley recovered.
With the Wildcats in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the pairings for the first round of the tournament will be announced at 3 p.m. Sunday.
“I think we just have to come to work every single day with our hard hats on ready to go and prepare like we have never prepared before and we’ll be fine,” senior Scott Schrag said.
