SPRINGFIELD, MO. ? The last time Baker University’s football team played a game was May in Munich, Germany.

But what a day the Wildcats had against the Munich Monarchs, defeating the semipro squad, 63-0, and erasing disappointment from last year’s 3-8 team.

“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.

That changes today when the Wildcats travel to Springfield, Mo., to play Evangel University at 7 p.m. at JFK Stadium in the season opener for both squads.

Baker returns 20 seniors and 14 starters — including third-year starting quarterback Martin Updike.

Updike, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior from Muskogee, Okla., earned third-team all-Heart of America Athletic Conference honors last season despite finishing eighth in the 11-team league in total offense, and he threw twice as many interceptions (14) as touchdown passes (seven).

“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.”

The Crusaders, 12-1 all-time in home openers, defeated Baker, 38-25, in last season’s starter and finished 8-3 in coach Scott Metcalf’s first season.

Evangel returns seniors Greg Garka (6-foot-4, 255, tight end) and Brett Mitchell (6-4, 235, QB), both of whom were selected as 2003 first-team preseason All-Americans by Football Gazette.

Garka set a record for tight ends last season with 55 catches for 838 yards and eight touchdowns. Mitchell set 11 Evangel records last year, including passing yards (3,153), passing TDs (27), offensive yards (3,801) and quarterback rating (141.7).

The Crusaders are ranked in the top 15 of three different preseason polls, including a No. 9 selection by the NAIA, No. 12 by Football Gazette and No. 14 by naiafootball.net.

Baker will open at home a week from today against Central Methodist College at 7 p.m. at Liston Stadium.