Box Score

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The Louisiana Christian University football program fell victim to a score that was not an accurate reflection of how close the game actually was. LCU did not trail until deep into the third quarter and it was still a one-possession ballgame with three minutes remaining, but three scores in the final 2:47 turned a nail biter into a deceiving 56-28 loss.

The Basics:

• Score

  • #20 Baker (Kansas) – 56

  • #21 Louisiana Christian – 28

• Records

  • #21 Louisiana Christian (9-2, 7-1 Sooner)

  • #20 Baker-Kansas (9-2, 4-1 Heart of America)

• Location

  • Baldwin City, Kansas – Liston Stadium

• Series History

  • Baker (Kansas) Leads 1-0 (0%)

• Winning Streak

  • Baker-Kansas (W1) | Louisiana Christian's Last Win: N/A

Wildcats Top Performers:

• The heartbeat of the defense and a fifth-year senior, Andre Reed might have played his final game but he left it all out on the field as he logged seven tackles (four solo), a game-high two tackles for loss, and his first career touchdown with a 20-yard scoop-and-score on the contest's opening possession.

• Another one of the pillars that built the program over the past five seasons was quarterback Sal Palermo III, who went for a contest-best 177 passing yards and a score while also punching one in on a QB sneak.

• D'Mario Weathersby flew around Liston Stadium, tallying a Wildcats/2023-most ten tackles (four solo), Wilbert Robertson set a season-high six tackles and forced a fumble for the second straight week, and Cole Jones broke up a pass for the tenth time in 11 matchups this year to wrap up these graduating seniors' careers.

• The final Wildcat who had a substantial impact on Saturday that will be graduating was Devin Briscoe, who tied for the team lead with four receptions including his third career touchdown as a receiver, ending the day with 82 total yards.

• Pop McGhee entered the postseason as the top defensive back in the NAIA with 14 pass breakups and added two more to his final tally, winding up with multiple passes defended in each of his last three contests and four-of-five.

• Daylon Charles was the clear frontrunner for offensive MVP, gashing the BU defense for 122 yards on 16 carries for a 7.6 average. He also had the longest play from scrimmage on either side as he rumbled a career-long 60 yards for a touchdown while also notching a season-long 20-yard catch. All-in-all, Charles piled up 153 all-purpose yards on 19 total touches for a combined average of 8.1 per play.

• Logan Brimmer had the visitors' lone sack to give him at least a half-sack in 9-of-11 (81.8%) games and a full-sack or more in seven of those.

• Kavin Touriac raised his benchmark for tackles heading into next season, posting a career-best nine tackles which included two behind the line of scrimmage and an impressive seven solo takedowns.

• Sammy Feaster went for a career-high four catches to lead the Cats in receiving yards (83) and Mason Ingram was precise with his punts, especially early with both of his first two kicks landing inside the Baker 20 while also unleashing a 51-yard bomb.

Notes:

• The Wildcats ended the year with a team record nine wins, the best winning percentage (.818), and the first conference championship in program history spanning 84 seasons.

Next:

• Offensively, the Cats will possibly still have two of its three-headed rushing monster in the backfield with Daylon Charles and touchdowns leader Taevion Cunningham, the receiving corps' top target Sammy Feaster, and the entire offensive line minus Xavier Jackson.

• Defense will likely see the following back in Orange and Blue: the NAIA pass breakup leader (Pop McGhee), the sack master (Logan Brimmer), a pair of veteran linebackers (Kavin Touriac and Ernest Simon), as well as a shutdown corner (Tyren Young).

• Special teams looks to bring back both its top kickers in placekicker Levi Hilborn and punter Mason Ingram.

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