State Colleges

College football 2016: A look at the Heart of America conference

A look at the Kansas schools in the Heart of America Conference. In alphabetical order.

Baker

Coach: Mike Grossner, 13th season, 84-49

2015: 11-2, 5-0 Southern Division (1st)

Outlook: Baker, ranked fifth in NAIA, will open the season at home against No. 6 Grand View. The Wildcats have to replace QB Nick Marra (2,561 passing yards), but return top receiver Clarence Clark (1,113 yards, 16 TDs) and top RB Adonis Powell (889 yards, 5.0 per carry).

Date

Opponent

Time

Aug. 27

Grand View

1

Sept. 3

Culver-Stockton

1

Sept. 10

at William Penn

11 a.m.

Sept. 17

at Graceland

6

Sept. 24

Benedictine

1

Oct. 1

at Peru State

2

Oct. 15

Avila

6

Oct. 22

at MidAmerica

2

Oct. 29

at C. Methodist

1

Nov. 5

Missouri Valley

1

Nov. 12

Evangel

11 a.m.

Benedictine

Coach: Larry Wilcox, 28th season, 261-140

2015: 7-4, 3-2 Northern Division (T2nd)

Outlook: Benedictine, picked second in the Northern Division, returns returns all-league wide receiver Christian Haack and quarterback Jacob Koester. Koester threw for 2,644 yards, and Haack caught 75 passes for 1,156 yards to become the school’s career receiving leader.

Date

Opponent

Time

Aug. 27

at Evangel

6

Sept. 3

Avila

1

Sept. 10

at Missouri Valley

6

Sept. 17

MidAmerica

11 a.m.

Sept. 24

at Baker

1

Oct. 1

Central Methodist

1

Oct. 8

at Culver-Stockton

11 a.m.

Oct. 22

at Graceland

2

Oct. 29

William Penn

1

Nov. 5

at Grand View

Noon

Nov. 12

Peru State

1

MidAmerica Nazarene

Coach: Brian Wilmer, third season, 15-7

2015: 6-5, 4-2 Southern Division (2nd)

Outlook: Picked second in the division by the coaches, MidAmerica is hoping for better luck. Last season, MidAmerica went 6-5 with four of the losses coming on the final play of the game.

Date

Opponent

Time

Aug. 27

at Culver-Stockton

6

Sept. 3

William Penn

11 a.m.

Sept. 10

Graceland

1

Sept. 17

at Benedictine

11 a.m.

Sept. 24

Peru State

1

Oct. 1

at Grand View

11 a.m.

Oct. 15

at Evangel

1:30

Oct. 22

Baker

2

Oct. 29

at Avila

Noon

Nov. 5

Central Methodist

1

Nov. 12

at Missouri Valley

1:30

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:28 PM with the headline "College football 2016: A look at the Heart of America conference."

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