After coming back from a 10-point deficit at halftime, the Baker University football team took the game into overtime against Culver-Stockton College Saturday but came up short with a score of 20-17.
The two teams played back and forth in the first quarter, but both teams remained scoreless until the second quarter when Culver-Stockton scored a touchdown and kicked one through the posts to put the team up 10-0 going into halftime.
“We only have 19 plays the first half,” head coach Mike Grossner said. “We had the game under control, and it got away from us.”
Grossner said the Wildcats came out the second half and started making up for lost time.
“In the second half, I think we played as good as we could play on both sides of the ball,” he said.
Junior Ryan Smith started the third-quarter scoring by kicking a 37-yard field goal to put three points on the scoreboard. Sophomore Eric Allen intercepted his fifth pass of the season, which he returned 40 yards for a touchdown. Allen currently leads the Heart of America Athletic Conference in interceptions and is tied for sixth in the nation.
“A lot of times coach looks to players to make plays, and I had given up a touchdown early in the game, so I told my teammates I was going to get a touchdown back for us,” Allen said. “Then somehow it happened, and it was good.”
Freshman quarterback Mack Brown connected with sophomore James Hensley for a 48-yard touchdown after the ‘Cats recovered a fumble.
“When you win the turnover game and lose the game … that rarely happens,” Grossner said.
With Culver-Stockton tying the game with only minutes left in regulation, the ‘Cats set up for a 32-yard field goal. A bad snap and turnover sent the game into overtime.
“(The snap) wasn’t that bad, but it was bad enough,” Allen said. “It’s just one of those things that happen. You can practice it a million times, but sometimes something just goes wrong.”
During overtime, Culver-Stockton kicked a field goal during its possession. When the ‘Cats were forced to kick a 42-yard field goal to go into double overtime, Smith missed it left to end the game.
Brown threw for 174 yards and was 18 for 29 in completed passes.
Grossner said he wants the team to finish strong and carry what it’s learned into the off-season.
“We need to finish the season in style with a win,” Grossner said. “I’m happy with the progression of our team. The key to our future is player development for our young players. They now have experience.”