Led by electric offense, Baker football will play for national title Saturday

There have been six individual NAIA national championships won at Baker University, three by wrestlers and three by track and field athletes. But when Baker’s undefeated (14-0) football team takes on Saint Francis (Ind.) on Saturday, it could become the first group in Baker’s athletic history to win a team NAIA national title.

The two schools have faced off before; Saint Francis won their 2012 first-round playoff matchup 22-17.

This time around, Baker is No. 2 in the country, and riding the momentum provided by a high-powered offense led by former Blue Valley quarterback Logan Brettell. The Wildcats are top five nationally in total pass offense (5,169), pass offense per game (369.2), first downs per game (26.3), total scoring offense (698), total offense per game (546.1) and scoring offense per game (49.9).

Saint Francis ranks in the top 10 nationally in a couple of defensive categories – fourth in rushing defense and sixth in scoring defense.

Baker’s only other appearance in an NAIA national championship game came 30 years ago in 1986.

Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 5:05 p.m. The game, which will be played at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, will be streamed live on ESPN3.

This story was originally published December 16, 2016 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Led by electric offense, Baker football will play for national title Saturday."