April 4 | Football team releases 2006 schedule

The Baker University football team announced its 2006 schedule Tuesday that features home games against the 2005 co-champions Graceland University and Evangel University.

The Wildcats will open their season on the road against traditional rival Benedictine College at 2 p.m. Sept. 2 and then will host Graceland at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the debut of Liston Stadium's new artificial surface.

Baker will face Evangel on Sept. 23 (Family Day) and has a Homecoming matchup with Missouri Valley College on Oct. 7.

2006 Schedule

March 8 | Football team announces Golf/Alumni weekend

The Baker University football team has announced plans for its annual golf tournament and alumni game to be held April 28-29.

The sixth edition of the Golf Classic is planned for 1 p.m. April 28 at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence. Registration for the event will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The alumni game will be at 1 p.m. April 29 at Gardner-Edgerton High School due to the resurfacing of Liston Stadium’s field. Registration for both events is $90 while participating in the alumni game is $50.

For more information, call Mike Grossner at 785.594.8462.

March 7 | Grossner adds to signings

Baker University has signed 20 additional football players, Baker coach Mike Grossner announced on Tuesday.

The additional members of Baker’s 2006 recruiting class are:

Feb. 1 | Baker signs over 20 for 2006 season

Baker University has signed 23 football players, Baker coach Mike Grossner announced on Wednesday.

Members of Baker’s 2006 recruiting class are:

Smith

Baker University sophomore punter Ryan Smith, the Heart of America Athletic Conference league leader with a 41-yard punting average, has received honorable mention on the NAIA All-American football team.

Baker senior defensive back Brett Wahlgren was named an NAIA Football All-America Scholar-Athlete for the third consecutive year. Seth Williams, a junior running back, was a first-time scholar-athlete selection.

Players must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average to make the scholar-athlete team.

Jan. 13 | Baker alum named Green Bay Packers head coach

Baker University alumnus Mike McCarthy, who played football for the Wildcats in the mid-1980s, has been named head coach of the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first Baker alumnus to lead a major pro sports team.

McCarthy, 42, spent the 2005 NFL season as offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers. From 2000 to 2004, he was the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator. He has helped develop NFL quarterbacks Brett Favre, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Blake, Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks.

McCarthy also spent six seasons as an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, serving as quarterbacks coach the last four years. As an offensive assistant in 1993-94, he worked closely with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and was quarterbacks coach from 1995 to 1998, coaching Steve Bono, Rich Gannon and Elvis Grbac.

McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, played tight end and was a team captain on Baker¹s 1986 team that finished 9-2 and reached the NAIA Div. II championship. He graduated in 1987 with a business degree.

Nov. 28 | Wildcats have 10 named All-Conference

The Baker University football team had several members named to the postseason All-Heart of America Athletic Conference this past week.

Punter Ryan Smith was named First Team All-Defense and the Wildcats had several others on the Second, Third, and Honorable Mention teams:

First Team:

Second Team:

Third Team:

Honorable Mention:

Nov. 7 | Baker wins final home game

The Baker University football team won its final home game of the 2005 season, defeating Culver-Stockton College 28-17 Saturday at Liston Stadium.

Senior quarterback Brian Sheppard led a second-half comeback in the team’s last game on a natural surface before it is converted to turf. Sheppard threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns after coming on for starter Kendall Bradley in the second half. On defense, senior linebacker Jeremiah Gress had 25 tackles, 10 unassisted.

The Wildcats scored first, with junior running back Seth Williams scoring on a 36-yard run in the first quarter. Culver-Stockton responded quickly with kicker Tom McDaniel hitting a 37-yard field goal and then quarterback Toby O’Cheltree hit wide receiver Benjamin Mohwinkle for a 77-yard touchdown. CSC went into the half up with a three-point advantage.

The Wildcats came out in the second half and outscored Culver by a 21-point margin. Sheppard hit senior wide receiver Ryan Pitts for a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarterback before O’Cheltree had a touchdown pass to running back Aaron Burgeson. With the Wildcats down three, the team took advantage of a CSC fumble deep in Baker territory and Sheppard snuck the ball in to regain the lead. He then hit Pitts for another touchdown, this time from 16 yards.

The win improves the Wildcats’ record to 3-7 before heading to St. Charles, Mo. to face Lindenwood University in BU’s last game. The Lions are 6-3 in HAAC play after defeating Avila University 37-0 this past Saturday.

Click here for stats from the Baker-Culver-Stockton game

The Baker University football team dropped its seventh game of the season, losing 44-29 to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore. Saturday.

The Wildcats threw for 258 yards in the loss, but gave up 488 yards to the Raiders, 351 of which came on the ground.

Baker got to halftime with a 10-9 lead that was eventually stretched to a 23-16 margin on a 94-yard James Hensley kickoff return. However, SOU reeled off 28 unanswered points to run away with the victory.

Senior wide receiver Ryan Pitts had a standout game, catching nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Kendall Bradley had 196 yards passing for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats, whose record is now 2-7, will face Culver-Stockton College at 1 p.m. Saturday in their final home game of the season. Culver-Stockton’s record stands at 3-6 after its 30-0 shutout against Avila University.

Click here for stats from the Baker-Southern Oregon game

The Baker football team gave another top-25 team a run for its money, but came up just short in its upset bid against NAIA No. 6 MidAmerica Nazarene University, losing 32-20 in overtime.

Sophomore quarterback Kendall Bradley once again was big for the Wildcats, going 23-39 for 328 yards with two touchdowns.  Junior running back Seth Williams ran for 95 yards on 15 carries to lead Baker’s rushing attack.

The Pioneers jumped out early, leading 7-0 after scoring on a 90-yard return on the first kickoff of the game. The Wildcats answered right back, driving down the field and getting a field goal from sophomore kicker Ryan Smith to draw within four.

Baker led 10-7 at halftime after Bradley then hit senior wide receiver Ryan Pitts on an 8-yard touchdown after an 81-yard drive.

Baker tacked on another score after Smith hit another field goal in the third quarter. However, MidAmerica would come back and score another touchdown, with senior quarterback Jimmy Werbin took two quarterback sneaks into the endzone to give the Pioneers a 20-13 advantage late in the fourth quarter.

Bradley would lead the Wildcats down the field with just a few minutes left in the game, hitting 8-10 passes on the drive, culminating in a 11-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver James Hensley to tie the game and force overtime.

After MidAmerica scored on the first play of overtime, with Werbin hitting James Perry for a 25-yard score, the Pioneers missed the point after to take a 26-20 lead.

After the Wildcats took possession, the Pioneers had two penalties to Baker on the 7-yard line. After a 3-yard loss on a carry by sophomore running back Micah Mason, the Pioneers were called for another penalty, giving the Wildcats another first down and the ball at the 6-yard line.

The Wildcats were within six yards of tying the Pioneers in the extra period, but quarterback Kendall Bradley was intercepted by Reggie Hudson, who returned it for a touchdown, and MidAmerica escaped with the win.

Click here for stats from the Baker-MidAmerica Nazarene game

The Baker University football team got its first win of the season in a big way Saturday, taking down NAIA No. 17 Missouri Valley College 45-24 in Marshall, Mo.

Sophomore quarterback Kendall Bradley was 15-31 for 232 yards and threw for two touchdowns and no interceptions. But the big key for the Wildcats was the team’s defense, which scored 23 points.

The Wildcats had a strong start, getting a field goal from freshman Ryan Smith before the defense got a safety on the next drive. Bradley then hit senior wide receiver Ryan Pitts for a 5-yard score and the Wildcats were up 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Vikings kicker Gary Burley hit a field goal halfway through the second quarter to finally put the team on the scoreboard, but Baker rattled off 19 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. Sophomore running back Micah Mason punched the ball in from the 1-yard line and then, at the end of the half, got a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown while playing defense. Bradley then hit Pitts again, this time for a 3-yard score, and Baker was up 31-3 early in the second half.

Mason added another interception return for a touchdown and junior defensive back CJ Boram returned an 100-yard interception for another touchdown to round out the Wildcats’ scoring.

Baker, now 1-5, next faces off against NAIA No. 6 MidAmerica Nazarene University at 6 p.m. Saturday at Liston Stadium.

Click here for stats from the Baker-Missouri Valley game

Sophomore kick returner Mark Kabbany attempts to get past a William Jewell tackler during the Wildcats' 27-6 loss Saturday at Liston Stadium.

Despite yet another strong performance in the air and an emergence of a running game, the Baker University football team fell to 0-3 after losing to William Jewell College 27-6 Saturday at Liston Stadium

Senior quarterback Brian Sheppard had 193 yards of passing and a touchdown after replacing an injured Kendall Bradley and sophomore running back Micah Mason had 89 yards of rushing on 20 carries to average 4.5 yards per carry.

The Cardinals started the game on fire, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter to put the game out of reach before it had really started. Jewell quarterback Daniel Forest hit wide receiver Lorenzo Selectman for a 35-yard touchdown five minutes in, and then proceeded to pass to receiver Brett Jones and running back Leon Wiggins for two more touchdowns.

The Wildcats then held Jewell to just a field goal in the second quarter from kicker Stephen Bader and then scoreless in the third, but Bader hit another field goal in the fourth to put Jewell up 27-0. Sheppard then hit sophomore wide receiver Brandon Crosby in the corner of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown with 4:09 remaining, but the Wildcats would pull no closer after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The Wildcats will travel to Springfield, Mo. to face Evangel University at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Crusaders are currently 2-1 after defeating Avila University 41-18 Saturday.

Click here for stats from the Baker-Jewell game

The Baker University football team was given its second consecutive loss, falling to the Graceland University Yellow Jackets 51-25 in Lamoni, Iowa Saturday.

Graceland’s superior running game was a deciding factor in the game, with the Yellow Jackets outgaining Baker 377 yards to 49 on the ground. 404 yards of passing from Baker quarterback’s senior Brian Sheppard and sophomore Kendall Bradley couldn’t help the Wildcats.

The teams were tied after the first quarter, with Sheppard hitting sophomore wide receiver Paul Foltz for a 2-yard touchdown pass. However, that was matched by a 62-yard touchdown run from Graceland running back Julius Strong on the next drive.

Graceland then reeled off 37 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to put the Wildcats away.  The Yellow Jackets got points on the ground, in the air, and on defense to pull away from Baker.

After a 85-yard fumble recovery from senior defensive end Matt Coffman, Bradley hit junior wide receiver Brandon Crosby for a 44-yard touchdown pass and junior fullback Pete Diaz for a 4-yard touchdown to close out the game.

With the loss, Baker falls to 0-2 heading into Satuday’s game against William Jewell College at 6 p.m. at Liston Stadium.

Click here for stats from the Baker-Graceland game

Wide receiver Barnard Pierre follows a block from lineman Andy Pinnell during the second half of the Wildcats' 31-27 loss to Benedictine College Saturday at Liston Stadium.

Despite 277 yards of passing from senior quarterback Brian Sheppard, the Baker University football team could not hold defeat conference rival Benedictine College Saturday, losing 31-27 at Liston Stadium.

The Wildcats main downfall was the fact it only picked up 25 yards rushing while the Ravens rushed for 298 yards, including 166 from running back Jason Garland.

The game started off in the Wildcats' favor. Sheppard hit senior tight end Josh Buford for a 13-yard score and junior defensive back CJ Boram returned an interception 30-yards to put Baker up 14-0 in the first quarter. Benedictine pulled one score back with a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback Wes Tanner.

In the second quarter, Sheppard added to the Wildcat lead with a 40-yard bomb to freshman wide receiver James Hensley. The Wildcats went into the break up 21-7.

However, in the third quarter, Benedictine would reel off 17 unanswered points to put the game away. It began with a 20-yard touchdown run from running back Mike Steen. Then Baker junior running back Seth Williams was tackled in the end zone for a safety. Wide receiver Jim Neuhoff then scored on a 24-yard run and after a successful two-point conversion, the Ravens had taken a 24-21 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Garland put an exclamation point on the Ravens win with a 6-yard touchdown run. With .01 second left, the Wildcats received the ball back after BC turned the ball over on downs and Sheppard hit junior wide receiver Brandon Crosby for a 16-yard score in the corner of the end zone to pull the score within six points. However, the point after attempt was no good, and that was the way the score remained.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 0-1 and will try to even their record up at Graceland University at 6 p.m. Saturday. A broadcast of the game can be heard here for those fans that can not make it to the game.

Click here for stats from the Benedictine-Baker game

Baker football head coach Mike Grossner believes improved depth could play a huge difference for this year's team.

Explosive offense was the highlight of the 2004 Baker University football season and second year head coach Mike Grossner said he expects this year will not be any different.

“Our guys on offense are going to have to carry the load until defensively we figure out our personnel and our identity,” Grossner said. “We have more team speed on both sides of the ball, we have better team speed on our special teams, but I feel offensively we have the weapons to attack people.”

Grossner seems to have plenty of weapons at disposal with quarterback Brian Sheppard (5-11, 195) of Destrehan, La. returning from a junior campaign where he threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sheppard will have plenty of targets this year, with receiving corps Grossner said goes five deep and includes last year’s top receiver senior Ryan Pitts (6-5. 190) of Carson, Calif., who caught eight touchdowns and averaged 14.4 yards per catch, and junior Brandon Crosby (5-10, 180) of Newport Beach, Calif. who Grossner said will be “our special guy on offense.”

Other weapons include running backs sophomore Micah Mason (6-0, 226) of Baldwin City, who Grossner said will be the running game’s “main guy” and junior Seth Williams (5-11, 203) of Grain Valley, Mo. Mason and Williams are both “north to south” runners whose power game will provide a stark contrast to the spread-out aerial assault Sheppard and company will be bombarding HAAC defenses with this fall.

On the other side of the ball, Grossner said the team should have additional support for its starters, something it lacked last year and was evident late in the season.

“We will have competition this year,” Grossner said. “You are going to fear for your job. You’ve got to come out everyday in practice and perform to the highest level or you’re going to step back and the next guy’s in. We didn’t have that as much last year — our depth was very poor. If you don’t have competition and fear you don’t work as hard. This new atmosphere should promote an attitude of getting better everyday.”

Experience in the secondary is abundant. Last season’s leading tackler senior Bruce Rogers (5-11, 205) of Palestine, Texas will be making the transition from linebacker to safety, joining seniors Brett Wahlgren (6-0, 177) of Salina and Brandon Bell (5-11, 205) of Las Vegas, Nev. as well as junior Brandon Hubbard (6-1, 185) of Hutchinson.

Freshman Eric Allen (5-11, 165) of San Diego, Calif., who received scholarship offers from NCAA Div. I schools, is a player Grossner said he felt could have an instant impact at the cornerback position, giving some competition for the already loaded secondary.

Transfer Greg Moore (6-0, 238) of San Diego, Calif. and senior Jeremiah Gress (5-10, 210) of Lawrence are two linebackers that Grossner said he felt will more than fill the absence Rogers left. Moore transferred from San Diego Mesa Community College and Gress had 22 tackles, a sack and an interception for the Wildcats in the 2004 season.

Grossner said improved depth will be a key trait for this year’s team, despite the relative youth of the team. In fact, Grossner said he thinks the recklessness of youth could help the Wildcats surprise some people in the 2005 season.

“I feel good about this football team — they’ve worked hard,” Grossner said. “We’re still young which can sometimes create problems but it can also give you an air of they don’t know any better. They think they’re good and we think they’re good, so we think we have a chance to knock off some people early.”