Baker survives Missouri Valley stays unbeaten on football season
Baker was able to keep its record unblemished Saturday, but it wasn’t easy.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, rallied with a late touchdown and beat No. 9 Missouri Valley College 31-28 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference showdown in Baldwin City, Kan.
Baker, which improved to 10-0 on the season, built a 24-7 lead in the first half but then had trouble putting points on the scoreboard.
Missouri Valley, meanwhile, got back in the game with three touchdowns, capped by a 18-yard touchdown pass play from Jake Bridges to Chvon Richardson that put the Vikings up 28-24 with just over six minutes left in the game.
But the Wildcats mounted a 68-yard drive and got into the end zone on a 2-yard run from Cornell Brown for what turned out to be the winning score. Brown finished with two touchdowns.
Baker quarterback Logan Brettell completed 26 of 45 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns.
Linebacker Kharon Brown had 10 tackles, including two sacks.
Missouri Valley running back Kenny Sanford, who came into the game averaging 114.8 yards per game rushing, finished with 75 yards in 20 carries. He has 993 rushing yards on the season.
Baker will play host to Evangel next Saturday, as the Wildcats try to complete a perfect regular season
Missouri Valley, which dropped to 8-2, will play host to MidAmerica Nazarene next Saturday.
Other highlights
MidAmerica Nazarene 49, Central Methodist 27: The Pioneers scored 42 points in the first half and cruised from there in the game in Olathe. Pioneers star running back Javon Taylor rushed for 211 on 27 carries with two TDs, including a 68-yarder that put MidAmerica Nazarene up 21-0 in the first quarter. It was Taylor’s second straight game rushing for 211 yards. He did the same last week in a 64-3 win over Avila. Taylor has 1,257 yards rushing on the season with 16 touchdowns. Overall, the Pioneers had 570 yards of total offense on Saturday.
Northwest Missouri 28, Fort Hays State 7: The Bearcats, ranked No. 1 in Division II, improved to 10-0 on the season with the win at Hays, Kan. The Bearcats will close out the regular season with a home game against Missouri Western. Northwest has won 25 straight games.
Emporia State 27, Missouri Western 14: The Hornets improved to 9-1 by rallying in the fourth quarter with 17 unanswered points for the win in St. Joseph. Emporia State receivers Mitchell Foote and Justin Brown both had big days. Foote caught ten passes for 118 yards with a TD, and Brown had nine receptions for 102 yards with two TDs.
Central Missouri 59, Northeastern State 21: The Mules returned two interceptions for touchdowns as part of their rout in Tahlequah, Okla. Central Missouri quarterback Garrett Fugate threw three TD passes and rushed for another score.
Washburn 31, Central Oklahoma 28: Central Oklahoma missed a 33-yard field goal try with 14 seconds left, and the Ichabods held on for the win in Edmond, Okla. Washburn had leads of 24-7 and 31-14. Ichabods quarterback Derek McGinnis threw for 298 yards with three touchdowns. Bryce Chavis caught ten of those passes for 176 yards with a touchdown.
William Jewell 48, Lincoln 17: William Jewell ended its season, and at home, with its first victory of the year. Darrick Strzelecki, a senior, ran for 122 yards in 22 carries with three TDs for the Cardinals.
This story was originally published November 5, 2016 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Baker survives Missouri Valley stays unbeaten on football season."