Pride fall on Homecoming to Baker, 41-6

DUBUQUE, Iowa – After a strong defensive start for the Pride, Baker University found offensive success to the tune of five touchdowns to defeat Clarke 34-6 on Saturday.

The Pride (0-5, 0-0 North) held Baker scoreless in the first quarter due to a stellar display of energy by the Clarke defense. On the game's first offensive possession, the Wildcats (4-1, 0-0 South) picked up five yards on a rush by running back JD Woods but were promptly held short of the line-to-gain and were forced to punt. On the ensuing possession, Baker quarterback Marco Aguinaga was sacked and stripped by Clarke defensive lineman Khalan Colemen, leading to a recovery by Bryan Valdes (FR/Florida City, Fla.) that set up CU on the Wildcat 14-yrad line.

Despite starting the drive inside the opponents 20-yard line, the Pride failed to punch it inside the end zone and had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by kicker Anthony Gomez (FR/Santa Ana, Calif.).

In all, Clarke appeared in the Wildcats' redzone on three possessions but just had six points to show for it.

Clarke squandered an opportunity early in the third quarter to cut an 11-point deficit to a one-score game when Kenyon Williams (SO/San Diego, Calif.) found Caden Miller (FR/Texarkana, Texas) on a 25-yard pass and catch that was stopped at the Baker three-yard line. Garrett Egan (JR/Merced, Calif.) was stopped short on first and second down before Williams threw incompletions on third and fourth to end the drive.

Williams finished the day with 71 yards passing, going four of 12. Egan ran the ball 29 times for 41 yards, while Cori Davis (FR/Winter Haven, Fla.) added 28 yards on eight carries. Gomez had field goals of 26 and 30 yards for Clarke.

Linebacker Logan Otting (FR/Cascade, Iowa) had eight tackles to lead the Pride, while Kenneth Spaight (JR/Rodeo, Calif.) and Griffin Mulcahy (SO/Pecatonica, Ill.) tied for second with seven.

Baker's Aguinaga finished the day 11 for 23, passing for 156 yards with a 23-yard touchdown pass to AJ Totta and a 56-yard strike to Tyjuan Lewis. Woods rushed for 142 yards on 21 attempts and became the NAIA's all-time leading rusher after the performance. Mitchell Henry led the Wildcat defense with 13 tackles, including three for loss.

Looking ahead, Clarke travels to MidAmerica Nazarene University next Saturday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.