The first road test for the Baker University football team did not go as the Wildcats planned Saturday against Evangel University in Springfield, Mo.
The Crusaders scored on their first drive to take an early 7-0 lead and never looked back as they went on to knock off the ‘Cats 34-27.
Despite 480 yards of total offense, the Wildcats struggled to score touchdowns inside the red zone. Baker settled for three field goals under 25 yards. Freshman Andrew Kimrey converted field goals of 20, 23, 24 and 40 yards.
“Coach (Miguel) Regalado and I have talked, and we knew going in that that might be where some of our weaknesses are,” Grossner said. “I don’t think we have to go crazy and reinvent the wheel, but we have to get better at some things we are doing.”
The Evangel defense shut down the Baker running game, but sophomore Jake Morse threw for 412 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“It was 412 yards, but it wasn’t enough to win the game,” Morse said. “That is all that matters at the end of the day is winning the game. We didn’t make enough plays to win the game.”
BU had trouble stopping Evangel running back Tommy Meyer. Meyer rushed 20 times for 140 yards and a touchdown and tacked on 62 receiving yards with a touchdown catch.
Although coach Grossner said Baker expected to be 3-0 at this point in the season, the Wildcats are still near the top of the HAAC standings.
Missouri Valley College and Evangel are the only teams in the HAAC that are 1-0 in conference play, while Baker and four other teams sit at 1-1.
The ‘Cats will look to get back on track against Central Methodist University at 6 p.m. Saturday at Liston Stadium.
Baker shut out the Eagles 34-0 in its final game of the 2010 season, but the Wildcats are not going to take Central Methodist lightly.<br/>
The Wildcats will have the task of shutting down Central Methodist’s wishbone running attack.
The Eagles rushed for 350 yards last week against Avila University, including 140 yards from James Cody, Sr. and 108 yards from Burton Iosefa.
Quarterback Bryant Jackson also poses as a threat to carry the ball himself in the offensive scheme.
“They have a pretty good offense,” junior Josh Fairley said. “They have a really athletic quarterback, so defensively we’re really going to focus on him running the option. Offensively, they like to keep the ball in his hands. Our coaches do a pretty good job of preparing us for teams like that with athletic quarterbacks, and I think with the loss we just took (Saturday), it just really motivates us to get prepared for this week’s game.”
Central Methodist was shut out by MidAmerica Nazarene University 24-0 in its season opener and then bounced back to post a 30-0 shutout of its own Saturday against Avila.
