Leavenworth, Kan. – The No. 4-ranked Friends University Falcons continue to find ways to outdo themselves and ran wild for a single-game modern-era 642 yards rushing in a 69-3 victory at the University of Saint Mary Spires to clinch the program's first undefeated regular season since 2008.
Fittingly, it was K'Vonte Baker fueling the charge by scoring the first of his career-high tying four touchdowns on a 64-yard sprint on the second play of the game.
The Spires drove within scoring position to the Friends 18, but Joshua Flash blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt. The Falcons' next drive was even quicker than the first, as Nick Cordova busted free on the first play and took it 80 yards to the end zone.
After a bad snap on a punt attempt gave the Falcons possession at the Saint Mary 17, Baker ran 11 yards and then paid it off with a six-yard scoring plunge to make it 21-0.
Baker then turned on the jets again and scored a 74-yard touchdown for a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Another score from both Cordova and Baker and then a 35-yard field goal by Truitt Bosher extended the Falcon lead to 45-0 at the half.
The reserves played a lot in the second half, but the scoring didn't stop for the Falcons, as Walker Overman (51 yards), Elon Conley (40 yards) and Joey Millspaugh (52 yards) produced big scoring plays for Friends.
The Falcon defense pitched a shutout until a 35-yard field goal by Bryce Godfrey put the Spires on the board with 1:39 left in the game.
Baker led the Falcons with a personal season-high 184 yards on the ground, followed by Overman with 120 yards and Cordova with 119 rushing yards.
Erick Covington passed for 86 and ran for 80 yards for the Spires.
Braelyn Jay paced the Falcon defense with six tackles, with Jairo Castillo, Wetu Kalomo and Cooper Skrobecki each recording a sack.
Luke Sargent had a team-high eight stops for Saint Mary, who conclude their season at 3-8 overall and 1-4 in the KCAC Bissell Division.
The Falcons were unbelievably efficient on offense, scoring on their first 11 drives of the game before punting with 1:58 left in the game.
The Falcons, 11-0 and the KCAC Bissell Division champions, are expected to receive a bye in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) and then host an NAIA FCS second round game on Nov. 29 at Adair-Austin Stadium. It will all be made official tomorrow evening (Nov. 16) during the NAIA Football selection show at 6 pm on the NAIA YouTube channel.
NOTE: The Falcons are now at 5,301 rushing yards on the season, just 50 yards away from breaking their own NAIA single-season mark set last season
