Nov. 20 | Mason, Viehweg named to all-HAAC team

Two Baker University football players — linebacker Micah Mason and defensive lineman Travis Viehweg — have been selected to the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference first team.

Mason, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound junior from Baldwin, ranked second in the HAAC with 8.8 tackles per game. Viehweg is a 6-2, 255-pound senior from Overland Park.

Defensive lineman Andrew Patch, a 6-2, 238-pound sophomore from Overland Park, was a second-team all-HAAC pick.

Third-team selections from Baker were lineman Andy Bibb, a 6-2, 275-pound sophomore from Springdale, Ark.; defensive back Eric Allen, a 5-11, 170-pound sophomore from San Diego; and punter Ryan Smith, a 6-2, 225-pound junior from Atlanta. Allen had five interceptions to rank second in the HAAC.

Receiving honorable mention from Baker were Brad Fawcett, wide receiver; James Hensley, wide receiver; and Bruce Rogers, defensive back.

Oct. 4 | No. 10 Missouri Valley next for Baker

Baker University, reeling from consecutive losses, will play host Saturday to No. 10-ranked Missouri Valley in Heart of America Athletic Conference football. Kickoff for the homecoming contest is 2 p.m. at Liston Stadium.

The Wildcats (2-3 overall and 2-3 in the HAAC) are seeking their first victory on the new artificial surface at Liston Stadium. Baker is 0-2 at home, losing to Graceland and Evangel, co-champions of the HAAC in 2005.

“Our team needs to play a solid game in all aspects to regain some of its swagger,” said Baker coach Mike Grossner, 2-0 against Missouri Valley. “We have had the opportunity to win in four out of the five games we have played this year. Two of our losses have come with less than two minutes left in the game. We need to finish and get off to a better start. Our offense needs to score points when the opportunity presents itself.”

Meanwhile, Missouri Valley (5-0, 4-0) has been rolling offensively and defensively. The Vikings, coming off a 34-0 romp of Avila, lead the conference in scoring offense (28.2 points per game), total offense (405.8 yards per game), points allowed (9.4 per game) and rushing defense (42.2 yards per game).

“Missouri Valley is a very talented football team,” Grossner said. “What stands out when you watch them on tape is their athleticism and execution in all phases. They lead the league in offense and defense, and it's not a fluke. We will need to play very well and take advantage of their mistakes to win.”

Last season, Baker defeated Missouri Valley 45-24 for its first win of the season after opening with five losses. In that victory, Baker’s Micah Mason, playing linebacker for the first time collegiately, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and scored on a one-yard TD run in the victory over the Vikings. Mason currently leads the Wildcats in tackles with 45 stops and rushing with 29 carries for 111 yards.

Missouri Valley is led by sophomore running back Robert Holmes, second in the HAAC with a 111-yard rushing average, and senior quarterback Jason Shoulders, second in the HAAC with 225.8 passing yards a game.

Baker University needs one more victory to reach 500 wins. The Wildcats’ all-time record is 499-355-39.

Sept. 23 | No. 500 a possibility against Evangel

Baker University, coming off an overtime victory over No. 23 William Jewell, will attempt to reach the 500-victory milestone when it plays host to Evangel on Saturday. Kickoff for the Heart of America Athletic Conference football contest is 6 p.m. at Liston Stadium.

Baker’s all-time record is 499-353-39.

“Baker University football had quite a run in the ’80s and early ’90s to establish a tradition of excellence,” third-year Baker coach Mike Grossner said. “We are trying to bring back that tradition and reestablish our winning ways. We feel we are moving in the right direction with a great bunch of kids. We feel honored to represent Baker University football.”

The Wildcats (2-1 overall and 2-1 in the HAAC) received 11 votes in the NAIA poll this week to rank 29th nationally. Baker’s two victories have been decided by a total of  seven points.

“The difference in winning the close games has been the confidence and one year of experience for a lot of these sophomores,” Grossner said. “We are playing much better defense and special teams, which keeps you in football games. Our turnover ratio is plus-2 and that will help in the close ones.”

Evangel (1-2, 1-2) were co-champs of the HAAC in 2005. The Crusaders, who lost their first two games by a total of nine points, defeated Avila 21-14 last week for its first victory of the season.

In last week’s 27-24 overtime victory over Jewell, Baker’s special teams accounted for two touchdowns. Junior Ryan Smith kicked two field goals, including a decisive 35-yarder in overtime.

Defensively, Andrew Patch, a 6-foot-2, 238-pound defensive end from Overland Park, recorded 11 solo tackles, including four sacks, and forced a fumble to lead the Wildcats. Patch was named HAAC defensive player of the week for his performance.

Sept. 18 | Patch earns HAAC player of the week

Baker University sophomore Andrew Patch, a defensive end from Overland Park, has been named Heart of America Athletic Conference defensive player of the week for his performance in the Wildcats’ 27-24 overtime victory over No. 23-ranked William Jewell on Saturday.

The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Patch recorded 11 solo tackles, including four sacks, and forced a fumble in Baker’s first win over the Cardinals since 2000.

Aug. 25 | Top linebacker gains one more year of eligibility

Baker University senior linebacker Jeremiah Gress, the leading tackler in the Heart of America Athletic Conference last season, has
been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NAIA National Eligibility Committee.

Gress, a third-team all-HAAC pick in 2005, recorded 113 tackles last season, when he set a Wildcat record for tackles in a game with 25 in a 28-17
victory over Culver-Stockton. He had appealed for another year of eligibility because he played in one junior varsity game as a freshman in 2002 before being sidelined with a sinus infection.

"He's the veteran of our defense and solidifies our defense in the middle," Baker head coach Mike Grossner said of Gress, a 5-foot-10, 225-pounder from
Free State High School in Lawrence. "There¹s a feeling of comfort for Jason Thoren, our defensive coordinator. Jeremiah is an impact player.²"

The Wildcats open the season Sept. 2 at Benedictine. Kickoff is 2 p.m. in Atchison.

Aug. 24 | Wildcats set for break-out season in 2006

A young Baker University football team grew up last season.

After a slow start in 2005, the Wildcats won three of their final six games to finish 3-8. By season’s end, 11 true freshmen had started for Baker.

“I feel we should be able to build on the momentum we had toward the end of last season,” said Baker head coach Mike Grossner, entering his third season leading the Wildcats. “A lot of young guys got some great playing experience, and there’s nothing like playing. Our players have a positive attitude with the way we finished. They’re eager to get started on a new season. ”

The Wildcats, who open the 2006 season Sept. 2 at Benedictine College, return six starters on offense and nine on defense from a squad that lost three games by a total of 10 points and an overtime loss. Top returners are all-Heart of America Athletic Conference selections Ryan Smith, Andy Bibb and Andrew Patch.

Smith, a junior punter from Atlanta and Baker’s lone first-team all-conference pick in 2005, led the HAAC with a school-record 41.0-yard punting average. He also received honorable mention on the NAIA All-American football team.

“He’s a great one,” Grossner said of the talented punter. “He’s matured, and our players look to him as a leader.”

Bibb and Patch are key underclassmen in Grossner’s development of the program. Bibb is a second-team all-HAAC offensive lineman. Patch was named to the all-HAAC third team at defensive end.

“We’re going in the right direction,” Grossner said. “We’ve made a commitment to young guys. We’re not going to bring in a ton of transfers and try to hold a team together and have an instant fix. We’re going to bring guys in and develop them.”

Junior Kendall Bradley, Rogersville, Mo., returns at quarterback. He completed 131 of 269 passes for 1,642 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. Freshman Mack Brown, a transfer from the University of Colorado, is expected to challenge Bradley for a starting position. Brown was a standout high school player at Shawnee Mission North, where he set school records for career passing yards (4,805), touchdown passes (48) and completions (515).

“We have a healthy competition at quarterback,” Grossner said. “Kendall has a lot of experience from last year. I believe the leadership at that position will be solid.”

Senior Seth Williams, Grain Valley, Mo., enters the fall as Baker’s No. 1 running back. He had 121 carries for 447 yards and five touchdowns last season while sharing time in the backfield with Micah Mason, who has been converted to linebacker.

“With our offensive line we’re going to be able to control the line of scrimmage,” Grossner said. “Our offensive line is talented and athletic. We are going to be able to run up front. They’re going to be young and will get a chance to play a lot of games together.”

Depth at tight end should improve Baker’s ability to run after finishing last in the league in rushing (68.2 yards a game) last season. Newcomers Tylor St. Clair, Stilwell, Alfonso Nino, Houston, and Taylor Burnett, De Soto, lead the tight end corps.

“I’m a run guy, believe it or not,” said Grossner, whose squad finished second in the HAAC last season in passing (257.4 yards a game). “Last year we had to hang our hat on throwing the football. If we got it to the 30-yard line, we had to look to score right away with a pass. We struggled to bang it into the end zone without a tight end or two.”

Grossner believes the Wildcat defense has the manpower to improve. Baker surrendered 31.5 points a game last season.

“At times we played very good defense but we had some breakdowns on third down,” Grossner said. “The biggest glaring weakness on defense was tackling. We gave up the big play. If we can get more three and outs, and tackle better we’re going to be pretty good on defense.”

Mason, a junior from Baldwin City, anchors the linebackers. He moved to defense at midseason last year against Missouri Valley. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 45-24 victory and finished the season with 50 tackles.

“We have a solid group of linebackers,” Grossner said.

Senior CJ Boram, Lauderhill, Fla., has moved to wide receiver. He set the school record for longest interception return (100 yards) in the victory over Missouri Valley last season.

Senior Travis Viehwig, sophomore Philip Weinmaster and Patch bolster the defensive line.

“I feel our front four athletically are going to be as good as anybody,” Grossner said.

In addition Smith at punter and place kicker, other key special teams players are senior long snapper Tanner Purdum, Hewitt, Texas; sophomore returner James Hensley, Rosehill; and junior Paul Foltz, Perry. Purdum has received interest from the Green Bay Packers. Hensley finished last season with 1,196 all-purpose yards, including 501 on kickoff returns. Foltz, also a backup receiver, blocked six kicks last season.

The Wildcats are aiming for their first winning season since going 9-2 in 2000.

“I would be disappointed if we didn’t break through with a winning season and compete for a title,” Grossner said.

Aug. 7 | Do-it-all kicker pre-season All-American

Ryan Smith, do-it-all leg man for the Baker University football team, has been named a 2006 NAIA First-Team Pre-Season All-American.

Smith, a 6-2 225 lbs. native of Atlanta, Ga., was named to the First-Team Defense in Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Last season for the Wildcats Smith broke the school record for average yards per punt (41.0) and was named a NAIA First-Team All-American.

Smith was also named to the Victory Sports Network’s Defensive Super Six, in their annual NAIA Preview. Don Hansen’s Football Gazette is entering its twentieth year.

Aug. 7 | Pre-season ranking has Baker finishing seventh in HAAC

Baker University is ranked seventh in the Heart of America Athletic Conference football coaches' poll.

The Wildcats, 3-8 last season, received a vote for second place and had 48 points overall.

Evangel, co-champ of the HAAC last season, was picked first. The Crusaders received five first-place votes and 93 points overall.

Lindenwood, Graceland, Benedictine, MidAmerica Nazarene and Missouri Valley were ranked second through sixth.

July 26 | Two standout receivers commit to Baker

Brad Fawcett and Cody Conover, standout wide receivers from Grapevine (Texas) High School in the Dallas area, have committed to play football at Baker University, Wildcat coach Mike Grossner announced on Monday.

Fawcett, a 6-foot, 180-pounder, was a three-time all-conference player and named to the second-team all-District 5-5A team in 2005. Also a cornerback, Fawcett was named Grapevine’s defensive player of the year as a senior.

“He will make an immediate impact on our offense,” Grossner said. “He is a tough receiver who will give you yards after the catch.”

Conover is 6-3 and 180 pounds.

“He has big-game experience and gives us a big-framed receiver to throw to in the red zone,” Grossner said of Conover.

July 17 | Former Colorado Buff QB to join 2006 team

Mack Brown, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback from the University of Colorado, has transferred to Baker University, football coach Mike Grossner announced.

Brown, who played high school football at Shawnee Mission North, sat out the 2005 season at Colorado as a freshman redshirt. He will have four years of eligibility at Baker.

"He's an NCAA Div. I type quarterback who will have four years to develop with us," Grossner said of Brown, who played high school football for his father, Sam. "He is ahead of the game knowledge wise because he is a coach's son. He has an opportunity to battle for a starting position right away."

Brown was a three-year letter winner and all-Sunflower League performer at Shawnee Mission North. He holds the school record for career passing yards (4,805), touchdown passes (48), completions (309) and attempts (515). He completed 69.5 percent (185 of 266 passes) for 1,905 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season.