Baker, Morningside not likely to turn ball over / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, November 22, 2008

J-W Staff Reports

November 22, 2008

Baker University rarely coughs it up. Same goes for Morningside College.

In fact, the Wildcats and Mustangs are in a dead heat atop the NAIA turnover margin chart, each with a plus 22, meaning today’s first-round football playoff game isn’t likely to be decided by butterfingers.

“We don’t turn the ball over and we take it away,” Baker coach Mike Grossner said. “To me, it’s probably going to come down to that, or we’ll neutralize each other.”

Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. at Olsen Stadium.

No. 13-ranked Baker (8-3) is making its first appearance in the playoffs since 1993 while No. 6-ranked Morningside (9-1) is in the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Mustangs’ lone loss occurred last week — 34-31 to unbeaten Sioux Falls College.

Both teams feature quality quarterbacks.

Morningside senior Ian Gilworth is the NAIA leader in passing efficiency with a rating of 182.3. Gilworth has thrown 34 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. Baker junior Mack Brown is the school’s career passing leader with 6,068 yards. He has 21 TD passes this fall and has been intercepted only six times.

Baker may have the edge at running back with junior Richie Bryant who led the Heart of America Athletic Conference in rushing (1,254 yards) and is the NAIA pacesetter in touchdowns with 25 (20 rushing and five receiving).

The Wildcats concluded their regular season last Saturday with a 43-9 win over Avila in Baldwin City.

“We weren’t at our best against Avila,” BU’s Brown said, “but you can be 100 percent certain we’ll be ready to play on Saturday.”

The Wildcats’ only league losses were to Lindenwood (four points) and MidAmerica Nazarene (one point in double OT). Baker also bowed to Tennessee-Martin, an NCAA bowl sub-division team, 56-0, in its season opener.

Lindenwood and MidAmerica Nazarene also made the 16-team NAIA field. The Lions will play host to Lambuth (Tenn.) today while the Pioneers will entertain Langston (Okla.).

Baker leads the all-time series with Morningside, 2-0. Baker tripped Morningside in 1978 (22-13) and 1979 (26-20).

None of that means anything in the NAIA playoffs, however.

“Now everybody is 0-0,” BU coach Grossner said.