|
 
|
Mens Sports |
|
Football Links Home
|
Baker
University Football News Nov. 24 Reeves, Codutti, Martinez, Halamicek named first-team All-HAAC Four Baker Wildcats were named to the Heart of America Athletic Conference first team in a vote by conference coaches Nov. 24. Junior running back Jon Reeves of Palestine, Texas, junior offensive lineman Nick Codutti of Springfield, Mo., senior linebacker Jason Martinez of Wichita and junior punter Karl Halamicek of Lucerne Valley, Calif., were the honored Wildcats. Reeves had one of the finest rushing seasons in Baker's 96-year history. He tallied 1,550 yards and 15 touchdowns on 281 carries with rushing performances of 274 and 224 yards in the final two games of the season. His 274-yard, 3-touchdown performance in a come-from-behind victory against Graceland University on Nov. 8 in Lamoni, Iowa, was the seventh-best single-game rushing performance in Baker history. His 224-yard, 4-touchdown performance on just 24 carries against William Jewell College on Nov. 15 was 16th. He set the school record for rushing attempts in a season with 281, breaking Taylor Gill's 1981 record by 40 carries. His 96-yard run against William Jewell tied a school record for longest touchdown run. Martinez was the fastest player on the Baker roster and used his explosiveness to chart 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in eight games before getting injured while blocking a punt. Halamicek averaged 38.9 yard per punt with an average of 6.5 punts per game despite an injury to his non-kicking knee. Codutti, a three-year starter, led an offensive line that helped Baker's starting quarterback, tailback and fullback all average over 4.8 yards per carry. First team OL Nick Codutti 6'4" 290 Jr.
Springfield, Mo. LB Jason Martinez 5'11" 215
Sr. Wichita, Kan. P Karl Halamicek 6'5" 200 Jr.
Lucerne Valley, Calif. Second team LB Karl Barron 6'3" 245 Sr.
Kansas City, Mo. Third team DL Luke Thompson 6'3" 230 Jr.
Olathe, Kan. LB Mark Foland 6'2" 230 Sr.
Topeka, Kan. DB Julian Parks 5'10" 160 Sr.
Kansas City, Kan. Honorable Mention TE Lee Frazier 6'4" 230 Sr.
Dodge City, Kan. OL Chance Nichols 5'9" 240 Jr.
Palestine, Texas WR Keenan Ganz 6'2" 185 Jr.
Ozark, Mo. DL James Reyes 5'11" 226 Sr.
Kansas City, Mo. Frangoulis resigns after eight seasons as head coach Baker University football coach John Frangoulis announced his resignation Monday, Nov. 17. Frangoulis has been Baker's head coach for eight years after serving three years as defensive coordinator. Frangoulis met with his players this afternoon to make his announcement. "Coach Frangoulis has made a lasting contribution to the University's program, on and off the playing field," said Baker President Daniel Lambert. "He is a valued colleague who genuinely cares for his players and makes their welfare his highest priority." Frangoulis compiled a winning record of 45-39. This season Baker was 4-6; the Wildcats were 3-8 last year and 5-6 in 2001. Frangoulis led the Wildcats to two bowl game appearances Ñ the Wheat Bowl in his initial season in 1996 and the KWTO Bowl in 2000. His teams finished in the top half of the conference in each of his first six years. Athletics Director Dan Harris said the search for a new football coach will begin immediately.
WILLIAM JEWELL 28, BAKER 27 OT Jon Reeves had another huge game and Oliver Kurtz had 16 tackles in his final game, but Baker's extra-point attempt was blocked in overtime to give William Jewell College a 28-27 victory in the season finale. Reeves, a junior running back from Palestine, Texas, had 224 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 24 carries to lead an outstanding running game that averaged 8.7 yards per carry. Junior quarterback Blake Pearson of Valley Center gained 59 yards on just eight carries and junior fullback Gerrad Speer had 58 yards on seven carries, plus a 19-yard reception. Pearson had one of his best passing games of the year, completing seven of nine attempts for 87 yards. The Wildcats had several seniors finish their career with outstanding games. Oliver Kurtz, a senior linebacker from Olathe, had nine solo tackles, a sack and 16 stops total in his biggest game of the year. Another senior linebacker, Mark Foland of Topeka, also had his biggest game of the year with 11 tackles. Baker's top seven tacklers were all seniors. Defensive lineman James Reyes of Kansas City, Mo., had ten tackles, cornerback Pat McCollim of Abilene had seven tackles, linebacker Karl Barron of Kansas City, Mo., had six tackles of defensive lineman Karl Zubeck (Kansas City) and Antoniyo Solomon (Cleveland, Texas) had five tackles. BAKER 35, GRACELAND 21 Graceland University had no answer for Jon Reeves as Baker's star running back gained 280 yards in a 35-21 comeback victory to ruin Graceland's Senior Night. The Yellowjackets built a quick 21-0 lead just 10 minutes into the game by taking advantage of Baker turnovers on kick returns. The Wildcat running game responded quickly to Graceland's third touchdown, however, with a two-rush, 60-yard drive. Junior quarterback Blake Pearson of Valley Center gained 12 yards on the first play, and Reeves, a junior from Palestine, Texas, gained 48 for a touchdown on the next. The Wildcats scored again with a minute left in the first quarter when Pearson completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Ryan Pitts of Carson, Calif.. A 41-yard interception return by senior cornerback Julian Parks of Kansas City set up Baker's next touchdown, a nine-play, 36-yard drive capped by Pearson completing a 15-yard pass to junior Justin Cobb of Shawnee. A fumble recovery by senior linebacker Karl Barron of Kansas City, Mo., set up Reeves' game-winning touchdown. Pearson carried the ball three times for 28 yards on the drive and Reeves finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown. The game's final touchdown came midway through the third-quarter. Reeves gained three yards on the first play of the drive, then busted free for a 73-yard touchdown run on the second play. Baker nearly doubled Graceland's offensive yards, 444 to 234, in the Wildcats' highest offensive output of the year. Reeves gained 274 yards on 37 carries for a 7.3 average, and had a six-yard reception. Pearson gained 41 yards rushing and completed seven of 12 passes for 87 yards. His favorite target of the night was Pitts, with five catches for 66 yards. Freshman placekicker Paul Foltz of Perry made all five point-after touchdown kicks. Junior defensive end Luke Thompson of Olathe had seven tackles and a sack to lead a strong Wildcat defense. BENEDICTINE 17, BAKER 7 Baker nearly upset No. 18 Benedictine College Nov. 1 at home, but a late fourth quarter turnover killed a rally and led to a 17-7 defeat. The Wildcats were driving down the field down 10-7 with less than four minutes left in the game. Just moments after junior quarterback Blake Pearson of Valley Center completed a 35-yard pass to junior tight end Justin Bloomer of Wichita, Raven Brock Schwartz intercepted a pass at the Baker 10-yard line and returned it 83 yards to the Benedictine 7. The Ravens scored on the next play to put the game out of reach. Pearson passed for 89 yards and added another 63 yards rushing to lead the offense. Junior running back Jon Reeves of Palestine, Texas, had 76 yards rushing and a nine-yard reception. Junior fullback Gerrad Speer of Scott City had 32 yards rushing on just seven carries and caught three passes for another 27 yards. Senior defensive lineman Karl Zubeck of Kansas City led the Wildcat defense with 14 tackles, including seven solo stops and a pass deflection. Another senior defensive lineman, James Reyes of Kansas City, Mo., added eight tackles. LINDENWOOD 27, BAKER 23 Baker struggled to overcome inclimate conditions and a Lindenwood team psyched up for Homecoming in a 27-23 loss in St. Charles, Mo. Baker scored first on freshman Brian Drawdy's 37-yard field goal. Two touchdowns by junior running back Jon Reeves of Palestine, Texas, put the Wildcats up 15-7 entering the fourth quarter. Lindenwood answered with two touchdowns of their own to take a 21-15 lead, but senior defensive back Julian Parks of Kansas City tied the game at 21-21 with a 46-yard interception return, his second pass pick of the day. Lindenwood answered with the winning touchdown, but the Wildcats blocked the point-after kick and returned it the length of the field for a safety. Junior defensive end Luke Thompson of Olathe led the Baker defense with nine tackles, including eight solo stops. Senior lineback Jason Martinez of Wichita had 1.5 sacks to increase his season total to eight. BAKER 28, CULVER-STOCKTON 19 The Wildcats completed a 3-0 sweep of Culver-Stockton College Oct. 18 with a 28-19 victory at Liston Stadium. Earlier in the day, the women's soccer team defeated Culver 3-1 and the men's soccer team shut-out Culver 5-0. Running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas, led the Wildcats with 195 total yards and a touchdown in the victory. Starting quarterback Blake Pearson, junior from Valley Center, had 28 yards rushing and 72 yards passing, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Alford, junior from Monrovia, Calif. But it was Reeves who carried the Wildcats with 179 rushing yards on 36 carries and 18 receiving yards on four catches. The 'Cats also got a big boost from the defense shutting down the high-powered Culver-Stockton offense and forcing several turnovers. Culver-Stockton lost two fumbles and also threw two interceptions, including one that was intercepted by defensive lineman James Reyes, senior from Kansas City, Mo., and returned for a 20-yard touchdown. The touchdown, one minute into the fourth quarter, put the Wildcats ahead to stay at 28-19. BAKER 20, AVILA 13 In his first game as Baker's starting quarterback, junior Blake Pearson of Valley Center led the Wildcats to a 20-13 win over Avila University Sep. 4 in Kansas City, Mo. Pearson completed nine of 16 passes for 75 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown strike to running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas. Pearson also had 64 yards rushing on 11 carries. Reeves, the Heart of America Athletic Conference's top rusher, had 117 yards and a touchdown rushing. Placekicker Brian Drawdy, freshman from St. Mary's, Ga., had a perfect day kicking. Drawdy made both of his extra points and field goals from 32 and 29 yards. The Wildcat defense had several standouts. In his first game starting at free safety, sophomore Brett Wahlgren of Salina led the team with 11 tackles, including nine solo tackles. Junior defensive end Luke Thompson of Olathe added 10 tackles. Defensive tackle James Reyes, senior from Kansas City, Mo., had two sacks of his hometown team. Baker, 2-3 overall and in conference play, has a week off before hosting Culver-Stockton College at 2 p.m. Sep. 18 in Liston Stadium. #9 MIDAMERICA NAZARENE 31, BAKER 28 Baker came within three points of knocking off No. 9 MidAmerica Nazarene University on Homecoming Day but fell 31-28 Sep. 27. The Wildcats were down 17 points with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, but defensive end Luke Thompson forced a fumble of MidAmerica Nazarene quarterback John Booth in the end zone and recovered it for a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining in the game. Thompson has scored a touchdown off a fumble recovery in both of Baker's home games this season. Baker rotated quarterbacks Martin Updike and Blake Pearson. Updike, a senior and team captain from Muskogee, Okla., completed 11 of 23 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Pearson, a junior from Valley Center, completed 10 of 16 passes for 94 yards and had 18 yards rushing. In his first game since suffering an injury in the preseason, junior wide receiver Ryan Pitts of Carson, Calif., had five catches for 74 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown to tie the game in the first quarter. Baker's rushing attack averaged nearly six yards per carry. Running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas, had 95 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Gerrad Speer, junior from Scott City, had 88 yards on just five carries. Backup safety Brett Wahlgren, sophomore from Salina, led the team with seven tackles after filling in for an injured Ron Givan. Linebacker Jason Martinez, senior from Wichita, had two sacks. MISSOURI VALLEY 28, BAKER 7 Running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas, had another big game for the Wildcats with 158 yards in a 28-7 loss to Missouri Valley Saturday in Marshall, Mo. Reeves averaged 5.9 yards per rush and also had a six-yard pass reception. He had 128 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Evangel University and had 158 yards in the victory over Central Methodist College. He is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Fullback Gerrad Speer, junior from Scott City, also had a big night carrying the football. He gained 31 yards on just two carries and is averaging 7.9 yards per carry this season. Defensive back Ron Givan, junior from West Covina, Calif., again led the Wildcats in tackles. He had eight solo tackles against Missouri Valley and had 26 tackles in three games. BAKER 13, CENTRAL METHODIST 10 Baker's stellar rush defense led the Wildcats to a 13-10 victory over Central Methodist College Sep. 13 in the home season opener at historic Liston Stadium The Wildcat defense held the Eagles to 11 net yards rushing on 26 attempts and scored the game's first touchdown in the second quarter. Linebacker Matt Majors, senior from Highland, Calif., forced Eagle running back Branden Williams to fumble and defensive end Luke Thompson, junior from Olathe, took the ball into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. The score, just three minutes into the second quarter, gave Baker a 7-3 lead and turned around the game's momentum. Wide reciever Keenan Ganz, junior from Ozark, Mo., scored the winning touchdown less than six minutes later. Baker started the drive on Evangel's 27-yard line. Two plays later, Ganz made a diving catch in the back of the end zone from quarterback Martin Updike, senior from Muskogee, Okla., for a 29-yard gain and a touchdown. Running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas, was again the offensive leader for the Wildcats. He carried the ball 28 times for 158 yards for an average of 5.6 yards per carry. Ganz had a career-high eight receptions for 92 yards. Fullback Gerrad Speer, junior from Scott City, had 40 yards on just seven carries. Updike passed for 111 yards. Free safety Ron Givan, junior from West Covina, Calif., led the Baker defense with 11 tackles, including nine solo tackles and two pass deflections. Thompson added seven solo tackles and had six tackles for losses. Linebacker Karl Barron, senior from Kansas City, Mo., had seven tackles. #9 EVANGEL 28, BAKER 15 Despite outscoring the Crusaders 13-0 in the second half, Baker fell to Evangel University 28-15 in it's season opener Sep. 6 in Springfield, Mo. Baker running back Jon Reeves, junior from Palestine, Texas, carried the Wildcat offense in the first half with 80 yards rushing, including a 30-yard run. Quarterback Martin Updike, senior from Muskogee, Okla., rallied the offense in the second half by completing 13 of 18 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Six of those receptions for 65 yards went to wide receiver Keenan Ganz, junior from Ozark, Mo. The Wildcats began to rally midway through the third quarter. A strong defense forced the Crusaders to punt from their own 10-yard line. After a punt, the Baker offense took over at the 40 yard line. Facing third-and-nine, Updike and Ganz connected for a 38-yard completion that put the 'Cats on the Evangel one-yard line. Reeves scored on the next play with a strong second effort to cut the score to 28-9 with 4:39 left in the third quarter. The defense put the Baker offense in good field position again late in the fourth quarter after safety Ron Givan, junior from West Covina, Calif., intercepted a pass at the Evangel 27-yard line. Updike completed a short pass to Ganz, then put Baker in the end zone with a 23-yard pass to running back Justin Cobb. Givan led the Wildcat defense with seven tackles, four of them solo stops. Linebacker Jason Martinez, senior from Wichita, also had a stellar game with five tackles and three pass deflections. Defensive end Luke Thompson, freshman from Olathe, had two tackles for a loss and two quarterback sacks. TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED Four Wildcats were chosen by their teammates as team captains for the 2003 season. Those chosen are senior linebacker Karl Barron of Kansas City, Mo.; junior wide receiver Keenan Ganz of Ozark, Mo.; senior defensive lineman Jarrod Steffens of Scott City; and senior quarterback Martin Updike of Muskogee, Okla. Steffens and Updike were NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes in 2002. Barron and Updike were honorable mention All-Heart of America Athletic Conference. Updike was also a captain in 2002. SEASON OUTLOOK A strong group of seniors fresh from an overseas trip is giving head coach John Frangoulis a sense of deja vu, back to the last season when the Baker Wildcats went to a bowl game. "This group reminds me of the one we had three years ago that went 9-2," said Frangoulis, referring to the 2000 squad that won the KWTO Bowl and finished the season ranked 18th nationally. "I'm not talking about talent, because that group didn't have the most talent in the conference. We won that year because of attitude and leadership. This year's group reminds me of that group." Like the 2000 squad, the 2003 edition of Wildcat football features over 20 seniors. And like the 2000 squad, the 2003 team was given an opportunity to travel to Europe to play football against a semi-pro team. The Wildcats dominated the Munich Monarchs of Germany 63-0 on May 31 in Munich. Players said the trip helped bring the team together and broke down any barriers that existed. "We were able to see each other in a different light and play football in a less-serious atmosphere," senior defensive lineman Jarrod Steffens said. Many of this year's seniors were freshman when the leaders of the 2000 squad were repeatedly stopping Campbellsville University on the goal line in the fourth quarter to preserve a 14-9 bowl victory and they know what it took to succeed three years ago. "They had a lot of team unity and knew what it took to win a football game," senior offensive lineman Bill Dower said. "They always had a positive attitude." This year's team is loaded not only with seniors, but also with returning starters. Third-year starting quarterback Martin Updike will have third-year starters Nick Codutti and Scott Alexander protecting him at the tackle positions and second-year starter Chance Nichols snapping him the ball. Updike was named All-Heart of America Athletic Conference last year as his statistics improved dramatically during offensive coordinator Marc Bergan's first year. The 'Cats improved in nearly all offensive categories during Bergan's inaugural season, including total yards, touchdowns, points, yards per rush and pass completion percentage. "I felt more comfortable with the offense as the year went on," Updike said. "I got more acquainted with it this spring and we should be able to have more big plays." Lance Corbin will begin his eighth year as defensive coordinator with an abundance of talented, experienced linebackers to lead a perenially strong unit. Seniors Oliver Kurtz, Karl Barron, Jason Martinez, Matt Majors and Mark Foland all saw significant playing time last season. The defensive line also has experienced players returning at every position. May - Seven members of the 2002-03 football team were named Heart of America Athletic Conference Scholar Athletes. Senior Aaron Anderson and juniors Bill Dower, Mark Foland, Jeff Frenya, Ben McMahan, Jarrod Steffens and Martin Updike fulfilled the three criteria set by the conference. The three criteria are minimum cumulative GPA of 3.40; a minimum of 60 semester hours and five semesters, and attended the nominating institution for at least two semesters prior to being nominated; and must be a varsity sport participant, having made a significant contribution to their team and school.
|
|
|
About Baker Football PO
Box #65 / 618 Eighth Street |
|||
