Baldwin ? Jeremiah Gress couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to his college football career.

The Baker University linebacker intercepted a Lindenwood pass with 1:37 remaining to clinch the Wildcats’ 23-10 victory Saturday afternoon at Liston Stadium.

“It was a good closure to Senior Day,” said Gress, a Free State High product.

Closure hasn’t been a hallmark of Baker’s disappointing 4-6 season, but the Wildcats slammed the door Saturday, rallying from a 10-0 halftime deficit to end on a high note.

“You always remember the last game,” BU coach Mike Grossner said. “Winning the last one always leaves a good taste in your mouth.”

Gress’s theft was the last of four pivotal plays turned in by Baker defenders in the fourth quarter. The first occurred minutes after the third quarter ended when end Andrew Patch stripped Lindenwood quarterback Ben Kisner of the ball in the end zone and Travis Viehweg, the other end, covered it for the go-ahead touchdown.

“Patch hacked it out,” Viehweg said, “and I got the TD.”

Viehweg’s score gave Baker a 13-10 lead, and the Wildcats scored again less than three minutes later on an 18-yard pass from Mack Brown to Brad Fawcett to climax a short drive that started following linebacker Brad Page’s interception.

Later, after BU’s Brandon Hubbard had blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt, the Wildcats added some icing on a 47-yard three-pointer by Derek Doerfler.

In the last 15 minutes, the Wildcats intercepted two passes, fell on a fumble for a touchdown and blocked a field goal attempt. What more could a defensive coordinator ask?

“Probably the last four or five weeks we’ve played really well,” said Jason Thoren, the former Lawrence High and Kansas University linebacker who is in charge of BU’s defensive unit.

Baker won two of its first three games, but then bad luck struck, particularly Thoren’s platoon.

“We had to regroup because we had a lot of injuries,” he said. “It was a revolving door. We’re finally at the point where we at the beginning of the year.”

But now the year is over and the Wildcats need to improve their running game in particular in order to become more competitive next season. Baker finished dead last in the Heart of America Athletic Conference in rushing offense.

On Saturday, Richie Bryant led the ‘Cats with just 36 ground yards.

“Our No. 1 need is another running back to complement Richie,” Grossner said. “And we need a big fullback, and a big time wide receiver, too.”

Grossner feels comfortable with freshman Mack Brown returning at quarterback. Brown was shaky in the first half Saturday, but finished with 24 completions in 36 attempts for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Grossner will have a solid nucleus returning, but he says he would like to land another interior lineman.

Three of Baker’s six defeats were by a combined total of only 10 points, yet Grossner refuses to play the ifs-and-buts game.

“We didn’t win seven games like we could have,” Grossner said, “but a lot of other teams are saying the same thing. You can’t look back. You can’t make excuses.”

– Sports writer Chuck Woodling can be reached at 832-6348.