WICHITA, Kan. – The No. 22-ranked Friends University Falcons were in control from the outset in notching a convincing 59-14 victory over the Sterling College Warriors on Homecoming Saturday today (Oct. 5) at Adair-Austin Stadium.

Key Moments:

First Quarter: Friends took advantage of an early Sterling fumble, and running back K'Vonte Baker capped a short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Baker found the end zone twice in the first quarter, helping Friends build a commanding lead.

Second Quarter: Friends' offense continued to dominate. Baker added his third touchdown of the day, and Jud Cheatham contributed a 16-yard rushing touchdown. The defense joined the scoring with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Brock Zerger, extending Friends' commanding lead to 45-0 by halftime.

Career highlight: Alec Leazenby and Tajari Singleton connected on a 50-yard score for each of their first career touchdowns to put an exclamation point on the big Falcon victory.

Standout Performances:

K'Vonte Baker (Friends): three rushing touchdowns

Treylan Gross: 100 rushing yards, one touchdown

Kerrion Hadnot: one rushing touchdown

Brock Zerger (Friends): 36-yard interception return for a touchdown

Marquis Willoughby: seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble

Braden Gordon: 41-yard interception return

Blake Allen, Demarieo Sims, Marco Tores: one sack each

Cole Thompson: 8-of-8 extra-point attempts, 41-yard field-goal, five touchbacks

Rocklin Baptista (Sterling): two touchdown passes

Hunter Pullen (Sterling): nine tackles

Friends outgained Sterling 425 to 167 yards, with a characteristically,punishing ground game that accounted for 375 yards and seven rushing touchdowns overall.

Up Next: The Falcons, now 6-0 on the season, will have a bye week before opening up Kessinger Division play with a critical matchup at Southwestern College on Oct. 19.  Both Friends and Southwestern are tied for the 22nd spot in the latest NAIA GoRout Top 25 Rating.