Wildcats Host No. 22 MNU for Maple Leaf Clash Under the Lights
BALDWIN CITY – Baker football returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 18, to square off against No. 22 MidAmerica Nazarene in a big rivalry matchup under the Liston Stadium lights on Maple Leaf weekend in Baldwin City.
Prior to the bye week, the Wildcats delivered a huge blowout at home against William Woods, defeating the Owls, 68-14, in a second straight victory for BU. The Wildcats racked up a season-best 506 yards of offense with Truman Juelsgaard completing all but two of his 19 passes to finish with 277 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Receiver Adrion Seals hauled in six catches for 154 and three touchdowns, while both Juelsgaard and Gabe Martin tallied two rushing touchdowns apiece.
For their performances against the Owls, Juelsgaard and linebacker Zac Kramer took home the Heart Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards last week. Kramer returned an interception for a touchdown and collected six tackles, while sitting for almost all of the second half of the blowout.
This year, Baker is relying a little more on its ground game than in previous seasons, averaging 160 rushing yards per game, including back-to-back outings where BU has produced at least 180 yards. Juelsgaard (257), Martin (228) and Gavin Fellingham (200) all have rushed for 200 yards this season with Martin's six touchdowns leading the group.
MidAmerica Nazarene enters the matchup with a 5-1 overall record and has won both of its Heart South matchups this year, with back-to-back victories over Missouri Baptist (41-39) and Central Methodist (35-3). MNU's lone loss came against William Penn on a 34-31 setback back in late September.
The Pioneers are averaging 40.3 points per game, which is second-most among Heart North and South teams this year. They feature a balanced offense that is led by quarterback Drew Miller, who has thrown for over 1600 yards (1629) and 13 touchdowns. Running back Devin Andrews paces MNU's ground game with 433 yards and five touchdowns, while averaging almost five yards per carry.
Saturday's matchup will be the 44th meeting between the two conference rivals with Baker boasting a 25-18 lead in the all-time series. The Wildcats have won eight of the last nine games against the Pioneers, including handing them their lone conference loss the past two seasons, during which both teams have finished as Heart South Tri-Champions along with Benedictine.
With the game falling on the day of the Maple Leaf Festival, kickoff for Saturday's game will be at 6 p.m. from Liston Stadium and Don Parker Field. It will be the first night game at Liston since the 2023 season opener, when the Wildcats defeated Peru State, 36-17, in head coach Miguel Regalado's first game back on the BU sideline.
A free live stream of the game can be found on the Urban Edge Network. Live stats will be available here.
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