Special teams was the story in MNU's overtime victory over #2 Baker for Homecoming on Saturday. A fake punt, a blocked field goal, and a missed field goal were the 3 biggest plays of the game, and the Pioneers were able to hand Baker their first loss of the season.
Both teams punted on their opening drives, but Pioneer defense picked off Baker on the next drive and cashed it in for a 29-yard field goal from
Cristian Casillas. Baker responded with a 9-play 71-yard touchdown drive, and the back-and-forth story had it's opening chapter. MNU regained the lead early in the second quarter when a dump off pass to
Javon Taylor turned into a 53-yard touchdown. Baker again marched down the field for a response, but the Pioneers forced a fumble near the goal line to get the ball back. Just 3 plays later, however, MNU fumbled it right back and the Wildcats punched it in 4 plays later to take a 14-10 lead into the locker room.
Baker scored first in the second half with a 7-play 56-yard drive capped by a Logan Brettell 25-yard QB keeper to put the Wildcats up 21-10. MNU responded with an 11-play 71-yard touchdown drive which included a fake punt on 4th and 12 from the MNU 39. "We talked all week about winning all phases and our guys stepped up," said head coach
Brian Willmer. "We have practiced that fake punt all season and the guys executed it perfectly; from the protection to
Patrick Corrigan's throw to Zach Bradsted's catch, it was flawless."
Ashtin Johnson completed the drive with a 2-yard TD run, and MNU closed the gap to 4. Casillas got MNU closer with a 43-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter, but Baker answered with 2 big plays to score quickly and extend the lead back to 7. A fake extra point failed as Baker tried to ice the game, but the Pioneers turned it over on the ensuing possession to give the Wildcats the ball near midfield. Baker got to the goal line on fourth down when
Markeith Cooper came up with the play of the game. A 20-yard game-icing field goal was blocked by Cooper and scooped by
DeRahn Williams. Williams returned it 69 yards all the way to the Baker 21, but 2 penalties pushed MNU back to the 44. On 3rd and 18,
Trent Hedlund found
Earvin Simmons in the flat with one man to beat. Simmons got the first down, beat his man, and went all the way to the end zone to tie the game. "The block was obviously huge," said Willmer. "And along with stopping the fake extra point to keep it a one-score game, our special teams was the difference."
Baker drove to the MNU 25 and went for it on 4th and 2, but a bad snap ended all hope and the Pioneers took over. MNU milked the clock and drove all the way to the red zone, but a missed 34-yard field goal sent the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Pioneers went for it on 4th and 1 from the 2 and converted, then
Erik May blasted through the line on the next play to get the touchdown. Baker's ensuing drive went nowhere, and when the 4th down pass fell incomplete, the Homecoming crowd celebrated the 34-27 victory.
Trent Hedlund was 26-38 for a career-high 307 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Javon Taylor ran 14 times for 60 yards and caught 6 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Casillas hit 2 field goals.
Tanner Hamilton had 12 tackles.
Malcolm Majors picked up a sack. And
Markeith Cooper forced a fumble, recorded a tackle for loss, and blocked a field goal.
MNU is 6-1 (5-1 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Peru State (2-6, 1-5) at 1:00.
