Baune Is Ready To Step Up

Moorhead-- Jon Baune was a bantam hockey player for the Fargo Flyers when he purchased a plastic piece of purple good fortune.

"I've held on to it ever since," said Baune, now a junior for the Concordia Cobbers football team. "I take good care of it. … I bring it to games, but that's about it."

The Cobbers hope Baune can be a lucky charm in their offense.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound wide receiver is expected to be one of the top targets for Concordia this fall. He had 22 catches for 307 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.

"We can really use him anywhere on the field," Cobbers head coach Terry Horan said. "He is one of those hybrid receivers."

The Cobbers – coming off back-to-back 8-2 seasons – start the regular season with a nonconference game at 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Jamestown.

Baune is athletic enough to line up out wide, and also physical enough to play tight end or slot back. The Fargo South graduate, who played for the Cobbers as a freshman, feels he's ready to step into a larger role this season.

"This year I know I'm ready," said Baune, who is a Neil Young fan. "I have confidence that I'm going to have a great year."

Baune seemed destined to end up at Concordia. His brother, Brett Baune, was a record-setting fullback for the Cobbers. Brett ended his career in 2012 with the program record for career touchdowns with 34. Jon's father, Gary, also attended Concordia.

Jon Baune could see more targets in the early part of this season with junior receiver Brandon Zylstra (6-4, 201) expected to miss a few weeks with a toe injury.

Zylstra led the Cobbers in receiving last fall with 41 catches for 774 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games.

"Jon always comes up in big situations for us," said Cobbers senior quarterback Griffin Neal, who is entering his third season as the starter. "We have confidence in Jon."

Neal and Baune have a chemistry that dates back to high school.

The two both played on South's 2010 North Dakota Class 3A state title football team. Neal was the starting QB. Baune was a receiver. They also played hockey together from grade school through high school. Neal was one grade older.

While Neal isn't one to key in on one receiver, he does feel he has a bond with Baune.

"We always seem to be on the same page," Neal said.

Baune brings a hockey mentality to playing wide receiver, Neal said, in that he likes to play physical.

Neal used another sport analogy to describe how Baune gets open.

"He almost plays like a rebounder in basketball," Neal said. "He does a good job of boxing the defender out. … He's got a smart way of getting open."