MOSES LAKE — Long before signing his letter of intent to play football for Pacific Northwest Christian College on April 29, Jeremiah Baker from the Moses Lake Mavericks almost called it quits.  

“I hurt my foot; I lost a little bit of muscle and that contributed,” Baker said. “I didn't get much playing time at all. I was just on the bench, watching the team do really well.” 

The setback came during his junior year at Moses Lake High School. Once he got moved from second string guard to third on the offensive line, Baker approached Head Coach Brett Jay about potentially stepping away.  

“I was like, ‘I don't know if I want to play this anymore.’ And he's like, ‘Alright, we'll figure this out. We believe in you.’ That kept me going, the fact that my coaches believed in me,” Baker said.  

Jay remembered this moment too, when asked in a recent interview. While Baker felt he was falling too far behind to have a chance, Jay saw things starting to click, he said.  

“It's important for us as coaches to let them know we're with them. It's adversity, and adversity actually makes us better. He trusted us and he stayed the course, and it paid off for him,” Jay said. 

A new Endeavor 

Baker’s earliest memory of football is watching the Green Bay Packers with an old friend when he was younger. Since then, he’s remained a dedicated cheese-head as it fueled his passion for the game.  

The first time he put pads on was in middle school while he was a student at Endeavor Middle School. 

He’d only ever played basketball, Baker said. Interested in adding another sport, he talked his parents into letting him try out football. He still remembers what it was like the first time he stepped onto the gridiron.  

“I had no clue at first what I was doing,” Baker said. “They threw me into the fire; (I was) trying to tackle this big old thing.” 

His first season playing football coincided with disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the team always had fun in games and practices, reinforcing his love for the sport, he said.  

Moving to Grind City 

When he arrived at MLHS in 2022, Baker joined Jay’s football program on the freshman team. Starting out as a center, he was moved to guard the following spring, he said. 

In his second season, he was a backup to Brayden Kast – someone Baker considers a mentor for him in his development as a player.  

“He's going somewhere (in life). He did very well at his job, and he was very much a supporter plus mentor,” Baker said. “He would play basketball with me, and we would work out at times, then go out to the field and practice.” 

Baker progressed through the freshman and junior varsity levels at Moses Lake but struggled to break into a starting role, often buried on the depth chart despite steady development. 

While playing a game of basketball with some friends during his junior year, a misstep while wearing boots resulted in a broken fifth metatarsal. Already frustrated with where he stood on the depth chart, this was when he considered quitting football altogether, he said.

After Jay convinced Baker to stick it out, he saw a spot to fill in the spring of his junior year as Kast was preparing to graduate and head to Eastern Oregon University to play football. He zeroed in on the role and went to work, he said.  

“The coaches saw that and started trying to put me with varsity to see how that works out and honestly, I did very well,” Baker said.  

Jay’s program emphasizes constant competition – Grind City. As Baker came up, the coaching staff always felt he was going to be next after Kast, Jay said.  

“He got all his reps at that right guard spot, which helped him out a lot with his experience. He was very familiar with all the calls, all the footwork stuff and so he was able to get better,” said Jay. 

Mount Baker 

One thing that worked to Baker’s benefit was his size on the offensive line. According to Jay, he is 6’6 and 325 pounds. His presence earned him the nickname ‘Mount Baker.’  

Baker embraced this nickname as he earned his chance to start for the varsity Mavericks in September 2025.  

“It finally clicked for me, and I got a whole lot better. The people by my side, Reese Porter and Payton (Phillips), really helped out. They were helpful in my success. They showed me what is right to do when I would ask questions,” Baker said. 

Baker recalled a practice where Jay pointed him out to the rest of the team and talked about the progress he’d made. 

“It felt great. I'm actually doing what I wanted to do, not this JV ride along. No, I'm actually with the team now. I'm actually one of the key contributors, and that was just wonderful,” said Baker.  

Becoming a Gladiator 

In November 2025, Jay approached Baker to gauge his interest in playing college football. He expressed an interest, so Jay connected him with PNWCC’s program which is headed by Bill Templeton – Brett's former high school football coach.  

“(Templeton) develops players and men, and so it's just a really good fit for Mount Baker, because his upside is through the roof. If he goes in and gets some more reps and continues to develop his skills, I really think he can go as far as he wants with this,” Jay said. 

Throughout the winter, Baker assessed his options and took a few visits. An additional factor that sold him on PNWCC was the opportunity they provided him to become more involved with his faith, he said. As he looks ahead to joining the team, he feels confident in his potential.  

Coach Jay feels the same way.  

“A guy like Mount Baker, who just didn't stop, was able to push through his adversity and didn't quit. Those are the kind of people you want to hire. They elevate programs, companies, all that good stuff and so he's got a spot with us forever,” Jay said. 

When asked to reflect on his journey, Baker took a sentimental approach to his answer.  

“I think if 10-year-old me could look at me now, I think he would be very proud, or at least, like, ‘Ooh, you're playing football. Wow, our mom actually allowed us to play football,’” he said. 

    The Mavericks’ Jeremiah Baker (71) on the sidelines during a previous game in the 2025 season.
  

    Jeremiah Baker (71) gets set at right guard against North Creek in the 2025 season.
  

    Jeremiah Baker (71) celebrates in the endzone with Case Anderson (5) during a home game last season.