LJWorld.com / Surging Baker, struggling Haskell aim for victories

Archive for Saturday, October 11, 2008

J-W Staff Reports

October 11, 2008

Football teams from Haskell Indian Nation University and Baker University are scheduled for short bus trips today.

Haskell (2-4) will take its aerial circus to Leavenworth for a 1:30 p.m. clash with University of St. Mary, while surging Baker (3-2) will go to Liberty, Mo., for a noon battle with William Jewell.

The Fightin' Indians are coming off a heartbreaking 43-37 overtime home loss to Lincoln U. In that game, freshman quarterback Ryan Alden completed 29 of 60 passes for 555 yards and five scores.

Since taking over as HINU's signal-caller in the third week of the season, Alden has moved into third place on the NAIA passing charts. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Walla Walla, Wash., has thrown for 1,620 yards and 14 TDs in just four games.

Meanwhile, red-shirt freshman wide receiver Casey Wilson has climbed to 14th on the NAIA receiving charts with 38 receptions for 728 yards and five TDs.

Sophomore Quentin Haynes has also evolved into a dangerous offense weapon, catching TD passes of 80 and 36 yards last Saturday.

St. Mary (2-2) is coming off a 30-28 home victory over McPherson, a team the Indians will meet in their home finale next Saturday.

Baker hopes to maintain the momentum of back-to-back victories over Benedictine and Graceland when it meets the Cardinals today. Last year in Baldwin City, BU posted a 15-13 victory thanks to five Derek Doerfler field goals, including a school-record 62-yarder in the closing minute.

Curiously, Doerfler hasn't made a field goal in Baker's first five games after booting 23 last season.