Football 5-0, defeats Benedictine 44-37
Sophomore Mason McCormick avoids a tackle from Benedictine’s defensive back Dayton Bush. McCormick had four catches for 75 yards.
It came down to the fourth quarter for the No. 2 ranked Baker Wildcats in a 44-37 victory over Benedictine on Saturday for the NAIA Game of the Week.
After the Ravens were the first to score on a safety, Baker lead Benedictine until there were six minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens tied the game 37-37, but with a clutch pass from senior Logan Brettell to sophomore Tywonn Moss with one minute left to play, Baker took the lead and defeated Benedictine to take home the fifth win of the season.
After Benedictine’s 2-0 lead, Baker came back in the first quarter with two touchdowns from senior Clarence Clark. Brettell’s two passes to Clark totaled 113 yards. After Baker’s two touchdowns, the team led Benedictine 13-2.
The Ravens ended the first quarter with a 26-yard run from Marquis Stewart, cutting Baker’s lead to 13-9.
The Wildcats had a strong second quarter with three touchdowns, two coming from freshman Nick Snider. Snider first scored on a 39-yard pass from Brettell, followed by AJ Totta running the ball to extend the lead further. Snider then earned his second touchdown of the day with a 4-yard pass from Brettell.
Senior quarterback Logan Brettell yells in celebration of the Wildcats win over Benedictine. Brettell threw a total of 362 yards from 21 completed passes. Click here for full gallery.
With 43 seconds left, Benedictine’s Carl Hecht caught a 5-yard pass from Shaefer Schuetz giving Benedictine its only touchdown of the quarter, putting the score at 34-16 at the half.
Benedictine began to chip away at Baker’s lead in the third quarter with two touchdowns, but Baker still maintained the lead going into the fourth quarter, 34-29.
Baker extended the lead early in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field goal from senior Abram Garcia. With 5:50 left in the game, Benedictine’s Marquis Stewart scored on a 7-yard pass from Schuetz, tying the game after a two-point conversion.
Baker was able to pull off its closest game yet, keeping the season perfect at 5-0.
Senior Josh Kock lead the Wildcats defensive line with two sacks, and Clark lead the Wildcats in receiving with 125 yards. Snider followed closely to Clark with 124 receiving yards.
Baker will now face Peru State at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Liston Stadium.
