St. Francis 22, Baker (Kan.) 17
In this visit to the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind., the host school won its opening-round game in the 2012 NAIA football tournament by a score of 22-17 over Baker University of Baldwin City, Kan.
The host Cougars were one of four Indiana small colleges to qualify for postseason football play in 2012. The following week, they would meet one of those other teams, Marian University, a fellow member of the Mid-States Football Association, in a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics quarterfinal game in Indianapolis. The Cougars had lost to Marian 45-38 on Oct. 13 in a regular-season conference game also in Indianapolis.
The two other Indiana small-college teams were playing in NCAA tournaments — UIndy in Division II and Franklin College in Division III. Those two also won Saturday in first-round games at home and will play games on the road the next weekend.
This has got to be the first time in ages — if not ever — that Indiana has had this many small-college football teams playing past the first round in postseason tournaments. It is UIndy's first appearance in an NCAA football tournament since it moved to Division II in 1979.
The USF football program began in 1998, and after a 2-8 inaugural campaign, the Cougars amassed an uninterrupted string of winning seasons through 2019 and, like Marian, became an NAIA football power.Entering this day’s game against Baker in 2012, the Cougars had an 8-2 record (4-1 in the Mid-States Football Association) and were ranked sixth in the NAIA.
The Nov.17, 2012, game at St. Francis’ Bishop John M. D’Arcy Stadium proved to be a hard-fought battle between evenly matched opponents. Still, the game was marred by a slew of penalty flags. Referees stopped the game 25 times because of infractions, 14 for Baker and 11 for St. Francis.
Another factor that proved crucial in the game was special teams play, particularly place-kicking. The Cougars packed three Emerson Ueber field goals around two touchdowns (although Ueber missed the extra-point kick after the first TD) to give them just enough points to hold off the Wildcats, 22-17.
Baker’s fortunes might have been different had kicker Steven Stewart converted on all three of his field goal attempts. But he was wide on two first-quarter tries from 38 and 40 yards out before converting one from 44 yards in the second quarter.
Despite their place-kicking setbacks, the Wildcats scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to draw within 19-17. On the ensuing change of possession, the Wildcats defense held the Cougars to an Ueber field goal, which made the score 22-17.
When Baker got the ball back, the Wildcats started to drive downfield when, with 2:23 left, the Cougars’ Jamael Green picked off a Sam Vossen pass at the St. Francis 42-yard line. From there, the Cougars ran out the clock.
Baker ended the season 8-3; the following week in Indianapolis, St. Francis lost to No. 5-ranked Marian, finishing with a 9-3 record.
The Cougars would finally win a national championship in 2016 with a 38-17 decision over – ironically – Baker University, finishing the season 13-1. That would be the only time Baker would reach the NAIA title game.
Then the following season, in 2017, the Cougars went undefeated the (14-0) and downed Rinehardt University (Waleska, Ga.) 24-13 in the NAIA championship game. It was only the fifth time a school had won consecutive NAIA football championships.
Colin Harruff (above) pulled in a pass from Josh Miller then scampered 11 yards before tumbling into the end zone (below) for St. Francis' first-quarter touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
Above: Yardage didn't come easy for St. Francis running back Antoin Campbell, but he did end up with 95 yards on 27 carries on the day.
Above: Campbell's counterpart, the Wildcats' Dillon Baxter, gained 102 yards on 22 carries. Here, he's stopped by Cougars Quinn Doan (top) and Kory Stamps.
Above: Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium in a high-dynamic range (HDR) capture.
Above: Allen Troyer tries to squeeze through this hole near the Wildcats' goal line in the second quarter. Moments later, teammate Jesse Schultz would hurdle over for Baker's first touchdown.
Above: St. Francis quarterback Josh Miller darted, twisted and survived several near-tackles on this 13-yard touchdown run with under a minute left in the first half, giving the Cougars a 16-7 lead. The Wildcats would squeeze in a field goal just before half, to close the margin to 16-10 at half.
Above: The Kevin Donley Field at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium is covered in Sporturf, which sends turf flying freely with the slightest movement and contact, illustrated on this Baker tackle of St. Francis quarterback Josh Miller. Player uniforms were covered with the turf, which sticks to clothing. I got prone to grab a low-angle photograph of a penalty flag (below) before halftime and spent the rest of the game brushing turf off my clothes -- and my gear.
Above: Behind the fence at the south end zone, there are tents lined up side by side, where spectators gather to watch the game and, presumably, extend their tailgating enjoyment.
Above and next two below: A quick Sam Vossen pass to Kyle Bolton netted a modest gain ... and another penalty.
Above and below: Antoin Campbell shook this tackle attempt by Baker linebacker Emerson Clarke in the third quarter. After a modest gain, Campbell was pulled down (below) by linebacker Ryder Werts (9).
Above and next four below: For a fleeting moment late in the fourth quarter, it appeared Saint Francis had pulled off a crucial -- and magical -- touchdown. Wide receiver Aaron Knight (3) got his hands on a David Yoder pass in the end zone (above), but Baker defender Joshua Fairley (7) jarred the ball loose on Knight's way down from the leaping catch (first below), and the ball popped free (second below). The Cougars' Austin Coleman (2) scooped up the loose ball and celebrated as if he had scored the TD. But officials ruled the ball had made contact with the ground along with Knight, and that the contact with the ground is what bounced the ball into the air for Coleman to snag. The Cougars settled for an Emerson Ueber field goal to close the scoring at 22-17.
Above: The post-game scene on the field, as seen from the top row of the stadium seats.
Next up: Chapter 20, University of St. Francis (Ft. Wayne) campus
