COUGARS’ BAITY PULLS SWITCH
Freshman DB blocks punt to spark rally, but St. Xavier falls short
Freshman defensive back Tim Baity knew his opportunities to make an impact for St. Xavier this season would come on special teams.
The Eisenhower graduate put in countless hours preparing to play on the kick-blocking and punt-blocking units.
“Knowing special teams is my only way to contribute to the team, I put in 110 percent effort on it,” Baity said. “I know if I can make a play, I can give us great field position and help us win, and that feels great.”
Baity’s blocked punt in the fourth quarter Saturday was picked up by teammate Steven Meyer and returned for a touchdown to give No. 20 St. Xavier a shot at upsetting No. 1 St. Francis (Ind.), but the two-time defending NAIA champion held on for a 27-19 win.
Baity has already blocked four kicks this season for the Cougars (2-3). Meyer’s 12-yard return got St. Xavier within 21-16 with 8:54 left in the game.
“Tim Baity is going to be a special player,” St. Xavier coach Mike Feminis said. “He has a world of talent. He’s unbelievably fast.
“These freshmen come in after being the star of their high school teams and it’s like starting over. I’m really proud of guys like Tim and (Meyer) for buying into playing special teams and making big plays for us.”
St. Xavier, which had trailed 21-3, followed Meyer’s TD with a defensive stop and had all the momentum until a tipped pass thrown by Justin Hunniford was intercepted by Ryan Johnson and returned 31 yards for a TD for St. Francis (4-0).
Mike Iturbe’s 44-yard field goal pulled St. Xavier within 27-19. The host Cougars had one more chance, moving to their 46-yard line in the final minute, but Hunniford was sacked on fourth down.
Hunnifordtookover at quarterback late in the first half after an injury to St. Laurence graduate Alex Martinez. Feminis said the team fearsMartinez tore his ACL. He’ll undergo an MRI in the coming days.
Hunniford, a Providence graduate, completed 14 of 30 passes for 192 yards, including a 98-yard TD pass to Elliott Pipkin to pull St. Xavier within 21-9late in the third.
“Ever since Iwas told I’d be the No. 2 quarterback, my mentality has been to be ready at any moment,” Hunnifordsaid. “I think everyone had the utmost confidence in me. I had the utmost confident in myself. I was prepared to play.”
Josh Hettiger recorded 11 tackles, while Anthony Kowalczyk had nine tackles and two sacks to lead St. Xavier’s defense, which held St. Francis 23 points belowits average of 50.
The loss leaves St. Xavier likely needing to win its final six games to clinch a playoff spot.
“We’re confident we can win the rest of our games,” Hettiger said. “We haven’t played to even half of our potential, but we started showing it (Saturday). We’re going to build on the successwe had in this game.”
SteveMillar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.