Ottawa ? Junior transfer Dillon Baxter rushed for 84 yards on 23 carries, and backup quarterback Sam Vossen threw for 129 yards and a touchdown as 18th-ranked Baker University opened its football season with a 27-20 victory over No. 11 Ottawa on Saturday.

The road victory was Baker’s first against against a nonconference foe since 2000, when it beat Southwestern, 21-3.

“What a gritty and tough victory for our guys,” Baker coach Mike Grossner said. “I’m so proud of the way we stuck with the game plan and fought all the way until the end.”

Vossen came in to replace injured starter Jake Morse in the first quarter. Vossen’s TD toss went to Dylan Perry, a score that gave BU a 13-10 lead in the third quarter.

Kyle Bolton had 129 yards of offense — 60 rushing and 69 receiving — for the Wildcats.

Emmerson Clarke had two interceptions for Baker, including one he returned 48 yards for a TD that gave BU a 27-13 lead.

Baker will travel to Peru State on Saturday.