Posted: Nov 06, 2014
FAYETTE, Mo. - 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of Central Methodist's biggest win in school history, a 6-5 triumph over No. 1 Baker (Kan.) in Baldwin City, Kan. Former Eagles' head coach Larry Anderson and left tackle Tim Garro recall the game for CMUEagles.com's Eagle History Corner with the help of the Fayette Advertiser.
"The weather and the field conditions were miserable that day, which actually worked in our favor," Anderson recalls 30 years after the win. "We also had the better kicking game with two All-Americans in kicker Greg Hession and punter Mike Nichols, which proved to be the difference."
Both teams entered the Nov. 10 affair riding two different waves. The Wildcats, led by tight end and current Green Bay Packers' coach Mike McCarthy, had won 22-straight regular-season games, while the Eagles, playing their season finale, had lost their previous two games against Missouri Valley and Graceland (Iowa). Baker had defeated Central Methodist 69-0 in 1983 and not lost in the series in eight years when both teams were members of NAIA Division II.�
The story of the game was the Eagles' defense, which forced a school-record eight fumbles and recovered seven of them. The feat was particularly impressive considering Central Methodist was outgained in total offense 362-122, with 97 yards coming on the ground by running back Larry Clark.�
"The Wildcats' defense was outstanding back then led by defensive coordinator Nick Reisel," Anderson remembers. Reisel, one year older than Anderson, was an offensive lineman at Central Methodist from 1961-65.
"Larry gained most of his yards over the left side of the line on sprint draw plays behind left guard Bobby Jones and me," Garro recalled. "The year before we had been beaten pretty bad. It seemed that we were tired of all the talk coming from Baker."
"We played really inspired ball," Anderson said after the win. "Our defense was great. Larry Clark did a great job against Baker's defense, which is just incredible."
Eagles' defensive tackle Lynn Scott had 9.5 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback sacks in the win and was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
"That was the best game I ever saw Lynn Scott play," Garro said.
The only points for the Eagles came off the foot of Hession, who converted field goals of 37 and 45 yards, the latter coming midway through the fourth quarter. The game was tied 3-3 at halftime.
On fourth down with the ball on their own 10 and four seconds left in the game, Anderson called for Nichols to take an intentional safety to prevent Baker from getting the go-ahead score. Nichols caught the snap, ran to the sidelines and out of bounds.
"Baker could have blocked the punt, run it back or somehow scored," Anderson commented after the win. "We played a strategy that let the clock run out."
The Eagles ended the 1984 season 4-6, a three-win improvement from the year before.�
"When we got back to Fayette, at the square, was the biggest party of all-time while I was at Central," Garro commented. "The whole college was there to celebrate the win."
Twenty years later, Central Methodist's defense would again set another single-game school record, picking off six Baker passes in a 30-6 drubbing of the Wildcats in Fayette.
Baker, currently ranked 13th, has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation this season in the NAIA. Similiar to 1984, the Wildcats have not lost in the series in eight years. On Saturday, the Eagles again have a chance to make history one final time at Davis Field in 2014.
"The weather and the field conditions were miserable that day, which actually worked in our favor," Anderson recalls 30 years after the win. "We also had the better kicking game with two All-Americans in kicker Greg Hession and punter Mike Nichols, which proved to be the difference."
Both teams entered the Nov. 10 affair riding two different waves. The Wildcats, led by tight end and current Green Bay Packers' coach Mike McCarthy, had won 22-straight regular-season games, while the Eagles, playing their season finale, had lost their previous two games against Missouri Valley and Graceland (Iowa). Baker had defeated Central Methodist 69-0 in 1983 and not lost in the series in eight years when both teams were members of NAIA Division II.�
The story of the game was the Eagles' defense, which forced a school-record eight fumbles and recovered seven of them. The feat was particularly impressive considering Central Methodist was outgained in total offense 362-122, with 97 yards coming on the ground by running back Larry Clark.�
"The Wildcats' defense was outstanding back then led by defensive coordinator Nick Reisel," Anderson remembers. Reisel, one year older than Anderson, was an offensive lineman at Central Methodist from 1961-65.
"Larry gained most of his yards over the left side of the line on sprint draw plays behind left guard Bobby Jones and me," Garro recalled. "The year before we had been beaten pretty bad. It seemed that we were tired of all the talk coming from Baker."
"We played really inspired ball," Anderson said after the win. "Our defense was great. Larry Clark did a great job against Baker's defense, which is just incredible."
Eagles' defensive tackle Lynn Scott had 9.5 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback sacks in the win and was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
"That was the best game I ever saw Lynn Scott play," Garro said.
The only points for the Eagles came off the foot of Hession, who converted field goals of 37 and 45 yards, the latter coming midway through the fourth quarter. The game was tied 3-3 at halftime.
On fourth down with the ball on their own 10 and four seconds left in the game, Anderson called for Nichols to take an intentional safety to prevent Baker from getting the go-ahead score. Nichols caught the snap, ran to the sidelines and out of bounds.
"Baker could have blocked the punt, run it back or somehow scored," Anderson commented after the win. "We played a strategy that let the clock run out."
The Eagles ended the 1984 season 4-6, a three-win improvement from the year before.�
"When we got back to Fayette, at the square, was the biggest party of all-time while I was at Central," Garro commented. "The whole college was there to celebrate the win."
Twenty years later, Central Methodist's defense would again set another single-game school record, picking off six Baker passes in a 30-6 drubbing of the Wildcats in Fayette.
Baker, currently ranked 13th, has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation this season in the NAIA. Similiar to 1984, the Wildcats have not lost in the series in eight years. On Saturday, the Eagles again have a chance to make history one final time at Davis Field in 2014.
