As a high school football player, Bailey Bennett learned what it was like to play meaningful games deep into November.
The experience can’t hurt now that Marian’s junior linebacker is all about Decembers.
Bennett, a starter whose 45 tackles rank second for the undefeated Knights, will be on the field Dec. 21 when Marian faces top-ranked Morningside College in the NAIA FCS Championship Final at Louisiana Tech University.
It is the program’s fourth trip to the title contest. Marian squads won championships in 2012 and 2015.
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Morningside is the defending national champion, having downed Benedictine, 35-28, a year ago. Marian played the Mustangs in the 2012 final, with the Knights prevailing in overtime, 30-27.
The Knights leave on Tuesday to begin adapting to their surroundings.
“I feel like this is probably the biggest stage I’ve played on with it being a national title game,” said Bennett, a Center Grove graduate who started in state championship games in 2015 and 2016.
“I definitely think those experiences help me, but this is different, too, because it’s different teammates and coaches. Really, it’s the bond we have as a team and the number of leaders we have on both sides of the ball.”
Bennett mentions quarterback Ethan Darter and running back Charles Salary on offense; defensively, the Knights lean on direction from linebacker Nickai Poyser and lineman Mac Dutra. All are seniors who have been working toward leaving their own imprint on Marian football, which, believe it or not, made its debut only 13 years ago.
Morningside College, located in Sioux City, Iowa, is 13-0 and features an offense averaging 53.5 points and 329 yards passing a game. The Mustangs have scored 50 or more points nine times and exceeded 60 on four occasions.
The Knights counter with a defense ranked first nationally in total yards (206.9 yards) and points (8.8) allowed per outing. Seven of Marian’s opponents were limited to seven or fewer points.
Strength vs. strength.
In the Knights’ 34-24 NAIA semifinal victory over No. 6 Lindsey Wilson last Saturday, Bennett had four tackles and broke up a pass. His season high in tackles is the 11 he made in Marian’s 30-0 shutout of University of the Cumberlands in the NAIA tournament quarterfinals.
Fourth-year Marian defensive coordinator Brock Caraboa said Bennett’s contributions go well beyond statistics.
“Bailey is playing well, and he’s played better every game this season,” Caraboa said. “The thing that makes him so special to our defense is that he’s a very instinctual player. He just does some things you can’t coach. Bailey loves football and is so passionate about wanting to win.
“He’s played for state championships, and to be one of the best defensive players to come through the Center Grove program, that says a lot.”
