Pair of Pick-Sixes Boosts (RV) Baker to 38-7 Rout at Culver-Stockton

CANTON, Mo. – The BU defense recorded two defensive touchdowns with a pick-six from both Jaleel Laffitte and Deshon Lewis II to highlight (RV) Baker's 38-7 road win at Culver-Stockton on Saturday in Canton, Mo.

Scoring at least 36 points for the fourth time in five games, Baker used a 21-point second half to roll to its first road win of the season. The Baker defense delivered a stellar outing that saw them score more touchdowns (2) than the C-SC offense (1) and allow just 28 rushing yards in the game.

Rashaan Graves ran for a season-high 160 yards and scored a touchdown to lead a BU team that dominated the ground game with 257 yards. Graves, a senior from Grandview, Mo., has five touchdowns through five games this season, including a three-score outing against Peru State in the season-opener.

After receiving the opening kickoff, it took the Wildcats just five plays to grab a quick 7-0 lead with Truman Juelsgaard connecting on a couple of nice passes, including a 19-yard strike to Gavin Greenwood for the game-opening touchdown.

Following a quick stop by the BU defense, Seth Simpson notched his fourth field goal of the season on a 20-yard chip shot to stretch Baker's lead out to 10-0.

Then, early in the second quarter, the defense would come through in a big way for Baker on the following drive with Laffitte intercepting a pass and taking it 26 yards to the house for a pick-six to make it 17-0 in favor of BU.

After C-SC scored its first touchdown of the game, Baker came right back with a one-play wonder by Graves who busted the first play of the following drive for a 74-yard touchdown to put BU's lead back out to a 17-point margin.

Early in the fourth quarter, Gabe Martin turned a fourth down situation into another touchdown from the BU backfield after taking a fourth and short handoff all the way in for a 14-yard score to put Baker up, 31-7

On the third play of Culver-Stockton's following drive, Lewis II snagged his first interception of the year and took it all the way for Baker's second pick-six of the game to cap the 38-7 victory for BU.

With the two defensive scores, it marked the second straight game the Baker defense scored a defensive touchdown after Thad Metcalfe's pick-six against Graceland last week.

Juelsgaard finished 15-for-22 with 132 yards through the air and added 34 yards with his legs, while Greenwood hauled in four catches for 65 yards to lead a BU passing attack that featured nine different players recording a reception.

Heading into the midway point of the year, Baker boasts a 4-1 overall record for the second time in the past three seasons and has been a perfect 3-0 at home.

After a bye next week, Baker will be back in action on Oct. 14 with a home game against (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene starting at 1 p.m. at Liston Stadium in Baldwin City.

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