BALDWIN CITY, Kan. | As the sun started to set on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Liston Stadium, the energy of the Baker football players was evident.</p><p>The aches and pains that cropped up during the grueling Heart of America Athletic Conference season were irrelevant.</p><p>Baker is back in the NAIA playoffs for the first time since 1993, and the players realize how much it means to the program and all the alumni.</p><p>&#8220;The stakes are higher so the intensity is higher,&#8221; junior quarterback Mack Brown said. &#8220;This is big for the program. People are starting to get back involved in Baker who were here when they were competing for national titles.&#8221;</p><p>Two buses of Baker fans are expected make the trip to Sioux City, Iowa, and watch their Wildcats, 8-3, take on Morningside College, 9-1, at 1 p.m. Saturday in a first-round game.</p><p>&#8220;These kids deserve it,&#8221; Baker coach Mike Grossner said. &#8220;The coaching staff deserves it. Our alums deserve it. People still talk like it was yesterday about 1993.&#8221;</p><p>Only two weeks ago it appeared Baker would have to wait another season to reach the NAIA playoffs. The Wildcats had just lost a 42-41 heart-wrenching thriller at MidAmerica Nazarene when the Pioneers gambled on going for two in the second overtime and converted.</p><p>The loss dropped Baker to 7-3. Not only did the Wildcats have to win their final game against Avila, but they also needed some help. Four teams above them in the polls lost, opening a spot for the Wildcats.</p><p>Naturally, the players were ecstatic how it worked out.</p><p>&#8220;I love it. I&#8217;m just glad to be a part of this team,&#8221; junior defensive end Alphaeus Williams said.</p><p>Brown admitted the Wildcats were sad after losing to MidAmerica Nazarene.</p><p>&#8220;Walking into the locker room after that game I didn&#8217;t think we had a shot at making the playoffs,&#8221; Brown said. &#8220;But on Sunday afternoon, Coach explained to us that if we took care of business and hopefully a couple of schools would come through for you and they did.</p><p>&#8220;Coach Grossner did a great job of getting our spirits back up.&#8221;</p><p>And now the Wildcats want to take advantage of the opportunity given to them.</p><p>Even though it has been well more than a decade since Baker has played in the postseason, the Wildcats believe they are tested after a tough conference season.</p><p>Baker&#8217;s two conference losses came against Lindenwood and MidAmerica, both of whom are in the playoffs.</p><p>In addition, Baker beat Missouri Valley 26-22. Missouri Valley, which barely missed the playoffs, reached the NAIA semifinals the previous two seasons.</p><p>&#8220;Playing in this conference is going to prepare you for the playoffs, especially playing against Mo. Valley, MidAmerica and Lindenwood,&#8221; Brown said. &#8220;I think we are as prepared as we can be right now.&#8221;