Midland Records Second-Straight Shutout

FREMONT, Neb. – For the second straight day, Midland University picked up a shutout victory over a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) foe. Midland blanked Baker University by a score of 18-0 at Heedum Field on Sunday afternoon.

On a cold and windy day, neither team could find the endzone through the opening quarter. However, the Warriors got its offense going in the second quarter, with a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Angel Ioane Kaio connected with Mikaela Nunez on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 9:27 remaining in the quarter, to put Midland ahead 6-0. The one-point conversion attempt failed.

Then, with 1:32 left in the half, Ioane Kaio dumped a pass off to Jocelyn Lopez, who took it in from four yards out, to put Midland up 12-0. The conversion failed, and the 12-0 score stood until halftime.

Baker began the third quarter with the ball and put a nice drive together, moving the ball into Midland territory. However, a Gabriella Zabaletta pass was intercepted by Emily Ferron at the Warrior 26-yard line, ending the Wildcats' drive. Midland made the turnover count, as it marched down the field and scored when Ioane Kaio found Allaya Livingston over the middle for a seven-yard touchdown pass with 4:11 remaining in the third. The conversion failed and Midland led 18-0. The score would remain the same through the remainder of the game, giving the Warriors their sixth win of the season.

Midland recorded 157 yards of total offense. Angel Ioane Kaio was 21-for-32 passing for 163 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Midland ran the ball 11 times on the day, for minus-six yards. Mikaela Nunez had three carries for three yards. Alyssa Butler led the Warriors in receiving. She caught four passes for 52 yards. Nunez had two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown. Livingston had five catches for 26 yards and a score. Lopez caught four passes for eight yards, plus a touchdown. On defense, Mikaela Nunez and Olivia Dominguez-Millsop had 7.5 tackles, each. Lylah Elizalde had six tackles, plus a sack. Emily Ferron recorded an assisted tackle, plus an interception.

Baker tallied 107 yards of offense. Sanija Waller was 15-of-29 passing for 64 yards. Gabriella Zabaletta was 1-of-4 through the air for 15 yards, with no touchdowns, and one interception. Waller was the Wildcats' leading rusher, carrying the ball eight times for 32 yards. Destiny Martinez was the top Baker receiver, catching six passes for 57 yards. Martinez also shined on defense, putting up a stellar individual effort, recording 16.5 tackles, on the afternoon.

Midland (6-2, 6-2 KCAC) will look to continue its winning ways later this week when it hosts Graceland (0-2, 0-0 KCAC). The teams are slated to take the turf at Heedum Field at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 in Fremont.