The 2011 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 college athletic programs that compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2011 college football season. The season began play on August 27 with the Victory Sports Network College Fanz First Down Classic.
Conference teams and information School Mascot Head coach Location Stadium Avila Eagles Justin Berna Kansas City, Missouri Vincent P. Dasta Stadium Baker Wildcats Mike Grossner Baldwin City, Kansas Liston Stadium Benedictine Ravens Larry Wilcox Atchison, Kansas Larry Wilcox Stadium Central Methodist Eagles Alan Dykens Fayette, Missouri Davis Field Culver-Stockton Wildcats Jeff Duvendeck Canton, Missouri Ellison Poulton Stadium Evangel Crusaders Brenton Illum Springfield, Missouri JFK Stadium Graceland Yellowjackets Jeff Douglas Lamoni, Iowa Huntsman Field MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers Jonathan Quinn Olathe, Kansas Pioneer Stadium Missouri Valley Vikings Paul Troth Marshall, Missouri Gregg-Mitchell Field Peru State Bobcats Terry Clark Peru, Nebraska Oak Bowl
Schedule Schedule is subject to change.
Index to colors and formattingHAAC member wonHAAC member lostWinning team in bold
Week 0
Concordia vs. #22 Benedictine
Benedictine dominated the game starting when Cameron Fore caught a 4–yard pass from quarterback Bill Noonan for a touchdown in the first quarter. Benedictine accumulated 442 yards of total offense in 67 plays, averaging 6.6 yards per play. They scored six touchdowns (3 rushing and 3 passing) and committed only one penalty for five yards the entire game.
Benedictine earned 19 first downs on offense where Concordia only achieved a total of 4. The score ended with a Benedictine victory at 45–0.
#10 Ottawa vs. #23 Baker
Nationally ranked at #23, Baker University upset #10 ranked Ottawa University in the 2011 College Fanz First Down Classic played at Liston Stadium in Baldwin City, Kansas. Ottawa scored first when Shane Gimzo completed a 9-yard run for a touchdown with 9:02 remaining in the first quarter. It was the only lead Ottawa would hold for the entire game, which they lost when Baker's Tyler Hatcher ran the kickoff return for 82 yards for a touchdown and Andrew Kimrey completed the PAT kick. Later that same quarter, Baker's Reggie Harris ran a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown to take the lead.
Ottawa managed to get close several times with the score at the end of the first half with Baker leading 17–16.
Baker managed to hold Ottawa scoreless in the second half of play while scoring three touchdowns and a field goal. Baker recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes to win with a final score of 41–16.
Baker Running Back John Babb was named the game's Offensive MVP with 102 rushing yards on 10 attempts, 1 reception for 11 yards, and a Touchdown. Baker Outside Linebacker Adam Steele was named Defensive MVP with 16 tackles (7 Unassisted), 2 Interceptions and One Tackle for Loss.
Week 1
Evangel vs. Nicholls State
Evangel played outside the NAIA against NCAA Division I FCS Nicholls State of the Southland Conference and failed to score a single point. Conversely, Nicholls scored 21 points in the first quarter and stacked together 422 yards of total offense while limiting Evangel to 147, leaving the final score at 42–0.
Andre Brimhall led Evangel with 76 yards passing and 14 rushing. Evangel suffered particularly in controlling the ball and losing turnovers.
Graceland vs. Culver-Stockton
Culver-Stockton started off with 5 points in the first quarter, but Graceland answered with ten in the second to lead 10–5 at halftime. But the lead Graceland gained was lost in the third quarter and went unanswered for the rest of the game as Culver-Stockton scored 30 points in the second half.
Culver-Stockton's defense scored twice, once with a safety and then again with a touchdown by advancing a fumble. It was the first season-opening win for Culver-Stockton since 2005.
Avila vs. Lincoln
NCAA Division II Lincoln University of Missouri (a member of the MIAA) managed 453 yards of total offense and held NAIA Avila to 270 yards in their 35–3 victory. Neither team scored until the second quarter when Lincoln running back Deon Brock caught a 36-yard from freshmen quarterback Robert Redmond for a touchdown, capping a 62-yard drive. Lioncoln failed to convert the extra point.
#22 Benedictine vs. Sterling
Sterling lost its second consecutive game and its home opener to #22 ranked Benedictine. Benedictine managed to achieve 265 yards in total offense where Sterling managed only 76. Both teams combined for 17 punts in the game for a total of 337 yards punting. On defense, Sterling managed one interception for 20 yards but also lost a fumble on offense.
The only scores came from Benedictine's two touchdowns and extra points in the first and second quarter, leaving the final score at 14–0.
Central Methodist vs. #3 MidAmerica Nazarene
The MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers outscored the Central Methodist Eagles 24–0 in Olathe. Nazarene accumulated 402 yards of total offense and held the Eagles to 192. The Pioneers scored all three touchdowns on the ground and an additional field goal in the fourth quarter.
With this victory, MidAmerica Nazarene extended their domination of the series to 28–3, winning the last three matchups of the two schools.
#12 McPherson vs. #11 Missouri Valley
#11 Missouri Valley proved its ranking above #12 McPherson with a 47–10 thrashing in its home opener against last year's KCAC champion. Missouri Valley took the lead in the first quarter when Lorenzo Dennard completed 5 yard run for a touchdown and held the lead for the remainder of the game. Missouri Valley scored seven touchdowns: five on the ground, one by air, and one more on defense while accumulating 486 yards of total offense. McPherson could only manage one touchdown and 136 yards of total offense and could not convert a single third down situation in 14 attempts.
Local McPherson sportswriter Steve Sell noted before the game that McPherson's team was "full of unknowns" and noted that the more challenging opponent scheduled early in the season is different from previous years.
Peru State vs. #23 Baker
The Baker Wildcats advanced their record to 2–0 for the season by defeating Nebraska's Peru State 55–12 at Baldwin City. Baker accumulated 468 yards of total offense and held Peru State to 111. Baker scored a total of seven touchdowns, four by passing and three by rushing and picked off three interceptions on defense.
Baker's John Babb led the Wildcats on the ground with 129 yards on 11 carries and teammate Jake Morse added 183 yards in the air with three touchdowns.
Week 2
Only Graceland had a non-conference game in week two, which they lost to Lindenwood University. However, there were some exciting games as #11 Missouri Valley upset #3 MidAmerica Nazarene and unranked Evangel managed a win against #23 Baker. Benedictine did not play and thus remained unbeaten alongside Missouri Valley College.
Culver-Stockton vs. Peru State
Peru State scored twice in the first quarter and then held the lead for the remainder of the game. Included in the first quarter run was a 70-yard interception return by Peru State's Trey Rigby for a touchdown.
Peru State managed 497 yards of total offense, 25 first downs, and seven touchdowns while only committing two penalties the entire game. Culver-Stockton managed 384 yards of total offense, but could only get 18 first downs and three touchdowns, while committing six penalties for a total of 50 yards. The final score of the game was 58–27 with Peru State taking the victory.
Graceland vs. Lindenwood
Graceland traveled to former HAAC member and 2009 champion Lindenwood. Lindenwood took the lead early and big in the first quarter and at the half led by 34–0. Graceland managed a field goal in the third and touchdown in the fourth quarter, but gave up an additional 33 points in the process to end the game by score of 67–10.
MidAmerica Nazarene vs. Missouri Valley
MidAmerica Nazarene traveled to Missouri Valley for what was considered by many to be one of the most important games in conference play for the season. Coaches and sportswriters alike agreed that the winner of this game, only in week 2, would have the "inside edge" to the conference championship.
Although ranked eight spots lower in the NAIA Coaches' poll, Missouri Valley secured a win at home in a close matchup that ended with the final score 26–21. During the game, Missouri Valley managed five takeaways and a fourth-quarter goal line stance to seal the win.
Avila vs. Central Methodist
Central Methodist achieved 404 yards of total offense and held Avila to 158 yards while scoring four touchdowns and holding Avila scoreless the entire game. James Cody Jr ran for two touchdowns including a 67-yard carry to score in the third quarter. Teammates James Harris and Justin Lowe each added a rushing touchdown and Ezequiel Rivera made a first quarter field goal plus three extra points to bring the score to 30–0 for a Central Methodist victory.
#23 Baker vs. Evangel
Nationally ranked Baker University managed to do nearly everything right on the field except win the game. Baker generated 480 yards of total offense compared to Evangel's 389, achieved 25 first downs compared to Evangel's 18, and converted 2 of 3 fourth-down conversions to Evangel's single failed attempt.
The strong statistical performance was outweighed by Baker scoring 27 points and Evangel scoring 34 to win. Evangel took the lead in the first quarter and maintained it through the entire game for the upset at home.
Week 3
#7 Missouri Valley vs. Avila
Missouri Valley put up 399 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns against Avila, who could only muster 112 yards of total offense and could not score the entire game. Avila did manage to keep Missouri Valley from scoring in the first quarter, but when Bruce Reyes pushed a 24-yard carry into the end zone with 7:56 on the clock in the second quarter, it was all Missouri Valley from there.
Missouri Valley ran up the score to a 49–0 victory over Avila, assisted by two fourth quarter defensive touchdowns. Gideon Lockett made a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Daniel Gray recovered a fumble in the end zone for another.
Graceland vs. #14 Benedictine
Graceland managed one bright spot in their road game against #14 Benedictine when James Andrews picked up a blocked field goal attempt and ran it 75 yards for a touchdown. The rest of the game was dominated by Benedictine, scoring four touchdowns and a safety. Benedictine's offense produced 350 total yards where Graceland managed only 125.
Benedictine scored first when Jordan Jackson caught a 44-yard pass from Bill Noonan for a touchdown, and led the remainder of the game. The final score was 30–6.
Evangel vs. Culver-Stockton
A 17-point fourth quarter burst of scores helped Evangel lock the win against Culver-Stockton.
Evangel's Tommy Meyer started the scoring with a 39-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter. Evangel held the lead until Culver-Stockton tied the score 10–10 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter when Jacob Harnacke completed a 2-yard run and Michael Camargo converted the extra point. From that point on, it was all in Evangel's hands, as scores came from Jesse Vaughn's 84 yard punt and Tyre Hemingway's 51 yard interception return. Drew O'Cain also contributed two extra points and a field goal to bring the final score to 27–10.
Central Methodist vs. Baker
Baker's Andrew Kimrey made a 21-yard field goal in the first quarter for Baker to take the lead 3–0. No further scoring occurred until the third quarter, when Central Methodist's Caleb Haynes pushed a 1-yard run into the end zone, and Ezequiel Rivera tacked on the extra point to make the score 7–3.