2019 NAIA Football Game of the Week No. 10
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced that the NAIA Football Game of the Week for November 16 will be No. 17 Evangel (Mo.) at No. 15 Baker (Kan.). The game was selected by fans across the country in an online vote.
The Heart South Division winner will be determined by the outcome of Saturday’s game and a loss could mean watching the NAIA FCS Playoffs from home. Baker has won the last seven consecutive games against Evangel, but the Crusaders are looking to put a 42-7 loss to Central Methodist (Mo.) in the rear view with this game.
Baker has won its last six games in a row, including a 30-10 triumph over 2018 NAIA National Championship runner-up Benedictine (Kan.) a week ago. The last loss for the Wildcats came back on September 21 in a 21-18 defeat at the hands of William Penn (Iowa). Overall this season, the team from Baldwin City, Kan., is looking to finish undefeated in Heart South play with a win on Saturday.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 6 in the nation in total scoring offense with 397 points this season. They are also ranked No. 6 in scoring defense per game, holding opponents to 13.1 points per game. Additionally, Sam Huckabee is ranked No. 3 in the NAIA in total receiving yards with 1,070.
Evangel linebacker Sam Morton may be the one that is looked to in order to slow the Baker offense. The senior from Strafford, Mo., is ranked No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss per game (2.60) and No. 2 in total tackles for loss with 25.5.
The Crusaders enter play 3-1 in Heart South competition, but a win would mean a tie at the top with the Wildcats, and Evangel would snag the title with the tiebreaking win over its opponent.
NAIA Game of the Week Quick Facts
Time: 11:00 a.m. Central
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2019
Location: Liston Stadium, Baldwin City, Kan.
All-Time Series Record: Baker leads 20-11
Game Preview: Game Preview
Live Coverage: ESPN3 | Baker Radio | Live Stats
NAIA Football Rankings
2019 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll 9 (November 11)
RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [IST PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
1 | 1 | Morningside (Iowa) [17] | 9-0 | 392 |
2 | 2 | Marian (Ind.) | 8-0 | 369 |
3 | 3 | Kansas Wesleyan | 10-0 | 357 |
4 | 4 | Grand View (Iowa) | 10-0 | 352 |
5 | 5 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 9-0 | 328 |
6 | 6 | College of Idaho | 9-0 | 322 |
7 | 7 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 9-0 | 310 |
8 | 8 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 9-0 | 287 |
9 | 10 | Keiser (Fla.) | 9-0 | 269 |
10 | 11 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 7-2 | 258 |
11 | 13 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 7-2 | 234 |
12 | 14 | Concordia (Mich.) | 7-2 | 224 |
13 | 15 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 8-2 | 201 |
14 | 16 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 8-1 | 193 |
15 | 18 | Baker (Kan.) | 8-2 | 185 |
16 | 19 | Ottawa (Ariz.) (AZ) | 8-1 | 165 |
17 | 9 | Evangel (Mo.) | 8-2 | 148 |
18 | 20 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 8-2 | 131 |
18 | 21 | Siena Heights (Mich.) | 7-2 | 131 |
20 | 12 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 7-3 | 114 |
21 | 22 | Langston (Okla.) | 7-2 | 102 |
22 | RV | Carroll (Mont.) | 6-3 | 53 |
23 | 17 | Montana Tech | 6-3 | 47 |
24 | RV | Dordt (Iowa) | 7-3 | 34 |
25 | NR | Bethel (Kan.) | 8-2 | 32 |
College Football: Ranked NAIA Football Games for November 16, 2019
(1) Morningside (Iowa) @ (5) Northwestern (Iowa)
(7) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) @ (8) Cumberlands (Ky.)
(2) Marian (Ind.) @ (18) Siena Heights (Mich.)
(25) Bethel (Kan.) @ (3) Kansas Wesleyan
(17) Evangel (Mo.) @ (15) Baker (Kan.)
(RV) Indiana Wesleyan @ (12) Concordia (Mich.)
Clarke (Iowa) @ (4) Grand View (Iowa)
Montana State-Northern @ (6) College of Idaho
Ave Maria (Fla.) @ (9) Keiser (Fla.)
(10) Saint Xavier (Ill.) @ St. Francis (Ill.)
Union (Ky.) @ (13) Reinhardt (Ga.)
(16) Ottawa (Ariz.) (AZ) @ SAGU (Texas)
(20) Benedictine (Kan.) @ Missouri Valley
(21) Langston (Okla.) @ Wayland Baptist (Texas)
(22) Carroll (Mont.) @ Eastern Oregon
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) @ (23) Montana Tech
Midland (Neb.) @ (24) Dordt (Iowa)
(RV) Sterling (Kan.) @ Tabor (Kan.)
Southern Oregon @ (RV) Montana Western