BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The No. 9 EOU football team once again took to the road Saturday afternoon, this time to take on second-ranked Baker in the NAIA FCS Semifinals. The Blue and Gold gave the Wildcats all they could handle but ultimately came up short, 45-41 inside historic Liston Stadium.
 
The wild, high-scoring game wasn't what many fans expected, as fans from both sides expected a defensive nail-bitter but instead got an offensive thriller. However, it was the Wildcats who seemed to have a little more juice than the Mountaineers, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 77-yard pass with under a minute to play.
 
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the 2016 campaign is one the Mounties should be proud to hang their helmets on. In August, the Frontier Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll tabbed the Mountaineers to finish fourth in the Frontier Conference. Fast-forward almost exactly four months and EOU made history, finishing as one of the final four members of the NAIA FCS Semifinals.
 
Senior quarterback Zach Bartlow threw 21 completions for 202 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions while scampering for 61 rushing yards.
 
Senior wideout TJ Esekielu grabbed seven receptions for 68 yards while junior wideout Brenden Kelly nabbed six passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns as the duo led the way for the EOU receiving game.
 
For the EOU running game, senior running back Alfred Gross ran for 137 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, EOU forced four turnovers including two interceptions for senior defensive back Jesus Retano who also made two tackles in route to being named Defensive Player of the Game. Justin Hughes also got involved in the interceptions, as the junior defensive back grabbed one interception before returning it 23 yards.
 
Junior linebacker Michal Arenas took down 10 total tackles including eight unassisted for a team-high. Senior defensive back Kalliy Ceesay wasn't far behind, finishing with 6 unassisted tackles.
 
THE RUNDOWN
 
In EOU's third playoff game ever and first FCS Semifinals appearance ever, the Blue and Gold found themselves on the board first, forcing a quick three-and-out on Baker's first possession. Bartlow found Kelly along the Baker sideline as the wide receiver took it to the house on a 23-yard pass completion.
 
Baker would answer the Mountaineers score with a 29-yard pass completion for a touchdown between Wildcat quarterback Logan Brettell and wide receiver Damon Nolan, who'd go on to catch two more touchdowns for 217 yards while being named Offensive Player of the Game.
 
Right as the second quarter started, Baker kicker Clarence Clark cleared a 34-yard field goal to give back Baker a 10-7 lead with 14:57 remaining until halftime.
 
Seven and a half minutes later, EOU answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver TJ Hancock. The Mounties took back the lead 14-10.
 
Not even a minute later at the 6:31 mark, the Baker duo of Clark and Brettell once again connected for a touchdown, this coming on a 75-yard pass. Baker again scored another passing touchdown and found themselves up 24-14 with 3:16 until halftime.
 
However, sophomore kicker Nathan Harden much like last week, drilled a last-second field goal to draw EOU within seven at the half, 24-17.
 
The first 25-minutes of the second stanza was all EOU, as the Mountaineers scored 24 unanswered points.
 
Harden got things going in the third, making a 33-yard field goal with 12:14 remaining, to draw the Blue and Gold within four. A little over six minutes later and Kelly brought down his second touchdown of the evening, this time from 6 yards out. EOU retook the lead, 27-24.
 
Into the fourth, Gross and senior running back Nicolas Slater scored rushing TDs for EOU. Gross on a 9-yard run at 14:16 and Slater at 5:35 from 10 yards away.
 
The final five minutes seemed to go all the Wildcats way as Baker scored three touchdown passes from Brettell, including the 77-yard game-winner to Clark with 38 seconds remaining in the game.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
10 – Wins for the season for EOU, a school record.
 
1ST – Trip to the FCS Playoffs, FCS Quarterfinals and FCS Semifinals for EOU.
 
931- Yards of total offense between Baker and EOU.
 
4,901 – Miles traveled to Crete, Neb., Indianapolis and Baldwin City, Kan., from La Grande.
 
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