It was a happier homecoming for Matt Heider than it was for the Haskell Indian Nations University's football team in its home opener Monday night at Haskell Stadium.
Heider, a former three-sport standout at Free State High, returned to Lawrence as the starting quarterback of Baker University's junior varsity football team, which defeated the Fightin' Indians, 21-10.
"It was definitely special to be back here playing in my hometown in front of my friends, family and old teammates," said Heider, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. "I have a lot of memories attached to this stadium, so it was really nice to come back here."
Haskell, meanwhile, found its party spoiled after having defeated MidAmerica Nazarene's JV last week. After surviving several penalties and turnovers in that game, mistakes came back to haunt the Indians.
"We just lost the ball game," said Haskell coach Gary Tanner, whose team fumbled the ball twice and threw one interception. "It wasn't a matter of anything Baker did or didn't do. We just didn't execute."
Baker struck first when Heider scrambled in from four yards out for a touchdown with 6:32 remaining in the first quarter.
Following a blocked extra-point attempt, Baker kicker Bryan Williams' short kickoff was fumbled by Haskell and ended up in the arms of Baker's Justin Pike at the Haskell 38.
Five plays later, Heider hit wide receiver Ryan Costello in the end zone for an eight-yard scoring pass. Heider then found Costello again on the two-point conversion to make the score 14-0 with 4:37 left in the half.
With 14:54 showing, Haskell finally scored.
HINU quarterback Nick Lewis found wide receiver Patrick Guinn for a 17-yard touchdown pass to pull Haskell within a touchdown.
Minutes later, an interception by free safety Landon Dean, who recorded 11 tackles and two interceptions, put Haskell in a position to score again. HINU drove from the Baker 45 to the 5 where Eric Holuby kicked a 22-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-10.
On the ensuing drive, Baker drove 53 yards to the Haskell five before turning the ball over on downs with 3:59 remaining. Boosted by a five-yard face-mask penalty against Baker, the Indians took to the air. After being stuffed for no gain on first down, Lewis fired three passes, two of which were broken up by Baker defensive back Matt Tripplett.
Tripplett had an interception and blanketed Haskell's top wide receiver, Sonny Duncan, for much of the night in man-to-man coverage.
After Baker regained possession on downs, Heider found receiver Matt Neal for a 10-yard touchdown strike with 2:21 left to end Haskell's hopes.
Next week Haskell, 1-1, will travel to Ottawa for a 4 p.m. contest against the Ottawa JV.
Baker JV 21, Haskell 10
Baker JV 14 0 0 7 -- 21
Haskell 0 0 0 10 -- 10
BU -- Matt Heider 4 run (kick blocked).
BU -- Ryan Costello 8 pass from Heider (Costello pass from Heider).
HINU -- Justin Guinn 17 pass from Nick Lewis (Eric Holuby kick).
HINU -- Holuby 22 field goal.
BU -- Matt Neal 10 pass from Heider (Bryan Williams kick).
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