BAKER – Last year, Holmes County was a 30-29 loss away from competing for a 1A regional title and Final Four berth

The Blue Devils outscored foes by 87 points and finished 7-4.

Entering Week 1’s 7 p.m. kickoff versus the Blue Devils at Doug Griffith Stadium, Baker is choosing to remember them as just this, a playoff contender. As the team that handled Walton in last week’s preseason Kickoff Classic.

Not as the team Baker routed Week 1 of last year in a 35-6 win, just the beginning of a 12-1 Gators campaign where they outscored foes 557-245 en route to a third straight Final Four.

“Kevin Womble led this team to the region semifinals last year and they handled Walton last week,” said Matt Brunson, Baker’s football coach. “This team is a lot better than the one we beat last year.”

Problematic is that Holmes County runs the Wing-T, an option offense predicated on lining up multiple backs in the backfield. Last year the Blue Devils’ ground game averaged 221.3 yards with 30 touchdowns.

“Defensively we’re going to find out where we are,” Brunson said. “They’ll show us a lot of looks, so really we just have to keep the energy level high and make plays.”

Leading the “undersized but athletic” defense is Kenny Williams, who has moved to middle linebacker. They’ll face a Holmes County offense that graduated its top three ball carriers, who accounted for 19 of those touchdowns and 2,000-plus rushing yards.

Baker returns its bell cow in Junior McLaughlin, the consummate dual-threat tailback. The reigning Small Schools Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 1219 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior and hauled in 27 receptions for 704 yards and nine scores.

Creating space for him between the tackles is a stacked offensive line that includes center Dustin Oglesby, guards Zach and Carter Mason, and tackles Matthew McClure and Taylor Barrow.

Replacing Kalee Ciurleo under center is Payton Rockwell, who last year rushed for 392 yards and four touchdowns and completed 26 of 39 passes for 502 yards and four scores. He’ll have Derek Peoples and Bradley Inscore as his main weapons at wideout.

“Rockwell is gonna have a great senior season. He’s a leader who knows the offense," Brunson said. "Offensively, we just can’t get behind the sticks and we have to limit the turnovers.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker hosts Holmes County in opener

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview High football team ran skill-focused drills and practiced plays during their first week of practice before the season begins. The Bulldogs will face Bay High School at home on August 24.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: (VIDEO) Crestview High Bulldogs prep for season

CRESTVIEW — John Ed Fountain, Ray Vaughn Kilcrease, Rhett Cadenhead, Jack Sanders, Ray “Red” Medley and Coach A.C. Koeninger: Their names are forever etched in Crestview High School football lore.

The Class of 1950 formed the nucleus of what might be the Bulldogs' greatest football teams. Many of its athletes — who played at the old Sandspur Stadium from 1946-1949 — have died, but for 84-year-old Jerry Parker, a former blocking back and linebacker, the memories are as fresh as yesterday.  

CLEARING THE COMPETITION

Florida high school football teams didn’t start playing for state championships until 1963, so schools like Crestview settled for winning their league or conference.

In 1949, the Bulldogs ran roughshod over the competition, compiling a 9-0-1 record, giving up just nine points all year, while scoring 235 points and claiming the Northwest Florida Conference championship.

Parker believes the Bulldogs could have held their own with anyone in the state.

“We had a few years … we wouldn’t have backed (down) from anyone,” he said. “I tell you what it would have taken: It would have taken a good shellacking to convince us that we were not that good.

“I think … if they would have loaded us up, we would have played Miami High. You thought about it, but you didn’t give much thought process to it back then because that’s not how it was done.”

Bob Bumgartner coached the Bulldogs in 1946 and 1947; A.C. Hand served a one-year stint in 1948 — but Koeninger was the perfect coach at the time to take CHS's 1949 squad to new heights.

THE KOENINGER ERA

“We had a group of boys that had just been together so long,” Parker said. “Koeninger came in '49 and he inherited that team. We were ready for a good coach to take us so we could do some business.

“Koeninger wasn’t my favorite personality, but he could coach. He stayed in Crestview a long time and had some pretty good ball clubs. He was grumpy and rough, and he didn’t put up with any nonsense.”

Despite the coach's gruffness, he knew how to get the most out of the least talented players, Parker said.

“I never saw anybody that could take somebody that couldn’t walk straight and make a football player out of them, but he could do that,” Parker said. “Old Koeninger had a pretty good scheme. He was good. His personality drove me up the wall, but I wasn’t there for his personality.”

The only blemish on an otherwise perfect season was a 7-7 tie with Quincy in the season's last game. It also was the only game that other team scored a touchdown against the Bulldogs.

The only other points Crestview gave up that year was  safety to Baker in a 47-2 season opening win.

“We were ready,” Parker said. “We blew everybody out. We just had a good ball club.”

A SPECIAL TEAM

The 1949 season was a culmination of the previous three years' work, Parker said.

“The year we won the conference, all those boys had played together three years,” Parker said. “Ray Medley, Tommy Settles, Jack Sanders, Bobby Campbell.

“Bobby Campbell, he was the team center. Jack Sanders played one end. He was a tall, big boy — maybe not college material, but he was a big boy.”

Claude and Walter “Red” Barrow were two of the running backs. “Claude was our fullback and he could run it,” Parker said. “He was just rough. Walter Barrow had an offer to go to Auburn. He could punt it as far as anybody today.”

Medley became the team's most accomplished player.

“Ray Medley, of course, had an offer from Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi) and he played at Ole Miss,”  Parker said. “Tommy Settles had a couple of scholarship offers. But Ray was the only one that went to Ole Miss and had a couple of pretty good years before he got hurt.”

Parker said he seems to remember other Bulldogs getting scholarship offers, and some of them took the offers while others didn’t.

“Most of them did what a lot of boys did back then,” he said. “They got a job right out of high school and got married.”

LOVE OF THE GAME

Crestview’s biggest rivals in the late 1940s were Milton, Pensacola Catholic, Walton and, of course, Niceville, Parker said.

The Bulldogs played their home games at the old Sandspur Stadium, near present-day Richbourg E.S.E. School. “It was a pretty good place,” Parker said. “It was a board-fence stadium, and we had a few bleachers. I don’t know where they got the funds, but we had a little grass on the field."

The conditions back then show how much times have changed.

“When you got tackled, you didn’t worry about if you came up with a mouth full of dirt or a mouth full of grass. You didn’t care back then," Parker said.

The brand of football Crestview played 65 years ago was a far cry from today’s game.

“It was pretty much smash mouth football back then,” Parker said.

“The other teams knew when they played Crestview, they had better come to play."

1949 CHS football schedule

Baker                                 47-2

Frink                                 47-0

Bonifay                              14-0

Fort Walton Beach              28-0

Niceville                            13-0

Milton                                12-0

Walton                               27-0

Catholic                               6-0

Chipley                              34-0

Quincy                                 7-7

1949 BULLDOG FOOTBALL ROSTER

Head Coach A.C. Koeninger, assistant coach Louis McLendon. Players: John Ed Fountain, Ray Vaughn Kilcrease, Rhett Cadenhead, Junior McKee, Marcus Martin, Howard Powell, Leon Curenton, Dale Wright, Joe Curenton, Frank Keel, Herbert Adams, Robert Bradley, Hez Collins, Leron “Red” Beard, Mark Barrow, Derrell Delk, Joe Frank Plumber, Jerry Parris, John Martin Vaughn, Charles Lee, Jacks Sanders, Walter “Red” Barrow, Claud “Boug” Barrow, Bobby Campbell, Ray “Red” Medley, Glen Luker, Bob McGuire, Jack Stokes, Tommy Settles. Team manager, Billy Jolly.

Source: Jerry Parker

Schedule and roster

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LOOK BACK: Remembering Crestview High School's incredible 1949 football team

BAKER — It seems only a matter of time before Baker School’s football team returns to the podium as state champions.

Maybe the championship will come next season or the year after.

Baker had a chance to make it to state on Friday, when the Gators hosted defending Class 1A state champion Port St. Joe in the state semifinals at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium.

The Sharks, powered by running back Trey Sanders' play, beat the Gators 42-13.

Baker finishes the season with a 9-4 record.

Sanders scored three touchdowns on runs of 93, 79 and 41 yards, and finished the game with 228 yards rushing on nine carries.

“They’ve got some great backs,” Baker Coach Matt Brunson said. “I knew if they got loose, we were going to have trouble.

“I knew they were going to be tough to block. Our guys battled and scratched out some yards and scored twice.”

Port St. Joe had a 21-7 lead midway through the second  quarter before Trey Sanders took over. The first Shark score came on a 66-yard pass from Ethan Sander to Matt Simpson, with just less than nine minutes left in the first quarter.

Baker answered with a six-play drive covering 63 yards. Montae Barto had a 17-yard reception from quarterback Jon Beck and Jalen Ciurleo had a 21-yard catch.

Barto finished the quick drive with a 4-yard run. When Josh Springle added the extra point the Gators led 7-6 with 7:34 left in the opening stanza.

The rest of the game belonged to the Sharks (11-1). Khayyon Zaccaro scored on a 5-yard run later in the first quarter.

Ethan Sander hit Troy Williams Jr. with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 8:22 left in the half.

Trey Sanders then took over the game. He scored his 93-yard touchdown in the second quarter and his last two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Baker’s only score of the second half came on a 12-yard run by Beck in the third quarter.

Barto held his head high for the Gators, even in defeat.

“It’s incredible what we’ve done,” Barto said. “No senior class has done that in 16 years. So hopefully, this program will keep growing and get over that hump (win in the semis) and go to state next year and win it.”

Brunson seemed to already be looking to next season as he praised the senior class for a job well done.

“This senior class has three district championships,” he said. “Last year we made it to the second round (of the playoffs). This year we won the region and got to the semis.

“I’m proud of the work these guys put in. Now we’ve seen what we have to match up with to get past the semis and get to Orlando (where the championship game is played). I’m excited about the future of this program.”

PORT ST. JOE 42, BAKER 13

Port St. Joe                 14        14        0          14—42

Baker                            7          0        6            0—13

First quarter

PSJ – Matt Simpson 66 pass from Ethan Sander (kick failed): 8:50

Baker – Montae Barto 4 run (Josh Springler kick): 7:34

PSJ – Khayyon Zaccaro 5 run (Sander 2-pt): 5:58

Second quarter

PSJ – Troy Williams  Jr. 12 pass from Sander (kick failed): 8:22

PSJ – Trey Sanders 93 run (Williams Jr. pass from Sander 2-pt): 5:13

Third quarter

Baker – Jon Beck 12 run (kick failed): 10:39

Fourth quarter                                   

PSJ – Sanders 79 run (Carlos Guido kick): 9:18

PSJ – Sanders 41 run (Guido kick): 4:00

                                    PSJ                  Baker

First downs                 13                    15

Rushes-yards              38-375             47-168

Passing yards              115                  129

Comp-Att-Int              4-6-0                12-27-4

Fumbles-lost                1-0                   0-0                  

Penalty-yards             9-65                 7-55

Individual Stats

Rushing

PSJ: Aaron Paul 9-48, Khayyon Zaccaro 7-31, Trey Sanders 9-228, Chad Quinn Jr. 1-(-3), Marshall Sweet 5-32, Troy Williams Jr. 2-30, Ethan Sander 2-(-4), Russell Russ 3-16. Baker: Austin Davis 7-37, Jon Beck 15-59, Jalen Ciurleo 7-15, Montae Barto7-53, Chris Roller 1-1.

Passing

PSJ: Ethan Sander 4-6-0 115. Baker: Jon Beck 11-26-3 129, Austin Davis 0-0-1 0.

Receiving

PSJ: Matt Simpson 1-66, Troy Williams Jr. 3-49. Baker: Oakley Kimbrel 1-2, Austin Davis 2-21, Montae Barto 3-29, Jamaal Day 2-27, Jalen Ciurleo 2-30, Dillon Nixon 2-20.

Baker-Port St. Joe Box

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker looks to future after semifinal loss

BAKER — Baker School’s football team will have to wait another year for the elusive fifth state championship.

The Gators hosted defending 1A state champs Port St. Joe at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium on Friday in Class 1A semifinals. The championship form of the Sharks was on display as Port St. Joe romped to a 42-13 win.

The Gators finished the season with a 9-4 record. They enjoyed their most successful season since playing in the state semifinals in 1999.

Gator Coach Matt Brunson was quick to credit his senior class on helping lead Baker back to prominence in Class 1A.

“This senior class has three district championships,” he said. “Last year we made it to the second round (of the playoffs). This year we won the region and got to the semis.

“I’m proud of the work these guys put in. Now we’ve seen what we have to match up with to get past the semis and get to Orlando (where the championship game is played). I’m excited about the future of this program.”

A Baker team that, for the most part, found a way to keep things close throughout the season, could never find a way to slow down a talented Shark offense.

Port St. Joe had eight plays that went for 20 or more yards, five plays that went for at least 30 yards and four plays that went for more than 40 yards. The two longest plays of the night for Baker were 21 yards each.

Trey Sanders was a one-man wrecking crew for the Sharks. Sanders finished the night with 277 yards in total offense and scored three touchdowns on runs of 93, 79 and 41 yards. Sanders finished the game with 228 yards rushing on nine carries and had three catches for 49 yards.

The Gators struggled to match Sanders’ total yards. Baker finished the night with 295 yards in total offense. Port St. Joe held the Gators to 168 yards rushing on 47 carries.

Baker gained another 127 yards through the air.

“I knew they were going to be tough to block,” Brunson said. “Our guys battled and scratched out some yards and scored twice.

“They’ve got some great backs and I knew if they got loose we were going to have trouble. Overall, I’m very proud of these guys. To come back from being 2-2 when we started out and to get to the semis is pretty special.”

The Sharks (11-1) wasted no time in showing their big-play abilities. Quarterback Ethan Sander hit Matt Simpson with a 66-yard touchdown pass on Port St. Joe’s second play of the game. The extra point was wide right, but with 8:50 left in the first quarter the Sharks were off and running.

Baker answered with a six-play drive covering 63 yards. Montae Barto had a 17-yard reception from quarterback Jon Beck and Jalen Ciurleo had a 21-yard catch.

Barto finished the quick drive with a 4-yard run. When Josh Springle added the extra point the Gators led 7-6 with 7:34 left in the opening stanza.

The Gator lead lasted 96 seconds.

Aided by a Baker offsides penalty, and a very questionable pass interference call against the Gators, the Sharks covered 63 yards in five plays. Khayyon Zaccaro capped the drive with a 5-yard scoring run. Sander added the 2-point conversion to put Port St. Joe in front 14-7 with 5:58 left in the first quarter.

The Sharks led the rest of the way.

Port St. Joe scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. The first came on a 12-yard pass from Sander to Troy Williams Jr. with 8:22 left in the half

The last three Shark scores

 belonged to Sanders.

His 93-yard run came with 4:53 left in the half.

Sanders’ last two scores came in the fourth quarter.

Beck scored Baker’s only touchdown of the second half on a 12-yard run with l0:39 left in the period.

The six-play, 43-yard drive was set up when Austin Oglesby covered Baker’s pooch kick to open the second half.

Beck hit Barto with passes covering 16 and eight yards in the drive.

Baker fought to get back into the game but three interceptions by Port St. Joe turned back whatever chances the Gators had of climbing back into the game.

Sanders finished off his big night with his final two scores in the fourth quarter.

Beck led the Gators with 59 rushing yards on 15 carries. He was 12-of-26 passing good for 127 and threw three interceptions.

Barto had 53 yards rushing and three catches for 52 yards. Austin Davis gained 37 yards on the ground, caught two passes for 27 yards and threw an interception on an option pass.

“It’s incredible what we’ve done,” Barto, one of the Gator seniors said. “No senior class has done that in 16 years. So hopefully, this program will keep growing and get over that hump (win in the semis) and go to state next year and win it.

Port St. Joe will face Trenton on Friday for the Class 1A state championship. Trenton is the only team that beat the Sharks this season.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker falls to Port St. Joe (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Crestview High School’s football team seemingly faces a make-or-break 2016.

Coach Tim Hatten enters his fourth year with the Bulldogs in search of his first winning season. Crestview is 13-17 under Hatten, having posted seasons of 5-5, 3-7 and 5-5.

Here's a look at the 2015 season, which started with high expectations and ended with questions of what could have been.

DEFINING MOMENT

Crestview’s hopes for a magical season took a big hit early in the season opener against Northview.

Late in the first quarter, junior quarterback Rusty Moorer broke his right hand while attempting a pass.

Moorer’s leadership and athletic ability in operating Hatten’s spread offense were crucial for the Bulldogs to have any hopes of making the playoffs.

Corey Armstrong and Keenan Redd split time at quarterback in Moorer’s absence. Armstrong led Crestview to a 47-20 win against Northview.

BULLDOGS STRUGGLE WITHOUT MOORER

Crestview was 2-3 in games Moorer didn’t start, losing to Mosley, St. Martin’s, Miss., and Choctaw. The Bulldogs were outscored 88-35 in the losses.

St. Martin’s inflicted the most damage, handing Crestview its second-worst loss of the year, 46-13.

The 46 points were the most the Bulldogs allowed this year.

Crestview managed two wins without Moorer: The Bulldogs beat an outmanned International School of Broward 53-6 on Sept. 18. A week later, they beat Pace 45-28.

KEY LOSS

The Bulldogs were still without Moorer when they hosted Choctawhatchee in the Oct. 2 District 3-6A opener.

Crestview only managed 161 yards in total offense in the 21-6 loss to the Indians.

The Bulldogs had 36 yards rushing on 25 carries. Corey Armstrong went the distance at quarterback for the Bulldogs, completing 14-of-32 passes for 125 yards and two interceptions.

Crestview’s defense allowed more than 330 yards in offense to the Indians.

MOST IMPRESSIVE WIN

The Bulldogs had larger margins of victory than their 45-28 win over Pace, but this would probably be the best win against a decent opponent.

Pace managed to gain almost 350 yards rushing, but the Bulldogs limited the damage forcing three Patriot fumbles. Tatum Taylor returned one of the fumbles 25 yards for a Bulldog touchdown.

Armstrong was 12-of-18 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 52 yards and another touchdown.

Andrew Adkins, Marquis McClain and Antryon Gloster also scored touchdowns for Crestview, and Seth Kootsouradis kicked a field goal for the Bulldogs.

IMPORTANT WIN

Crestview’s 27-24 season-ending win over Gulf Breeze in overtime lacked style points, but there was more to victory than meets the eye.

The win over the Dolphins allowed Crestview to avoid a second-straight losing season and a fourth losing season in five years.

Time will tell whether the win will mean anything, but it did give the Bulldog players something to smile about as they go through winter workouts.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON 2015

You could argue that Crestview was one freak bounce on a Milton field goal away from having a winning season.

You could also argue that, in light of Choctaw's recent self-reported violation, the Bulldogs should have at least been in a shootout to try to make the playoffs.

But a team is only as good as its record, and Crestview was a 5-5 team.

One can speculate about how Moorer’s broken hand affected the season, but that’s all it is: speculation.

Nobody can say, with absolute certainty, that Crestview would have won more than five games had Moorer been healthy.

LOOKING TO 2016

Crestview’s football team faces its most important season under Hatten. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and it’s been that long since Crestview has won more football games that it has lost.

Hatten inherited a mess from Kevin Pettis, and he’s had to rebuild an attitude and atmosphere in the program.

The Bulldogs will have to replace several key players from this year’s team, most notably Armstrong, McClain, Matt French and Marcus Flavors.

Next fall’s senior class will have been with Hatten since his first year at Crestview.

Moorer and Adkins will be two of Northwest Florida's better players. Keenan Redd can play multiple positions. And Keon Viosin and Taylor will be juniors next year, just coming into their own.

Crestview doesn’t have to win a state championship, or even a district championship next year, but the Bulldogs need to return to the playoffs and have a winning season.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview needs breakout season in 2016

BAKER — Two teams steeped in football playoff and championship tradition square off Friday at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium as Baker hosts Port St. Joe in the Class 1A semifinals.

The Gators and Sharks have won four state championships each. Port St. Joe is the defending 1A champion and Baker will try to end another Shark title run.

Baker (9-3) advanced to the semifinals with a  48-20 win over Vernon. Port St. Joe beat Blountstown 17-14 in overtime in its region final game.

Friday marks the fourth time the teams have met in the playoffs. Baker holds a 2-1 edge in playoff competition.

The Gators won the first playoff meeting in 1969 30-0. The teams split in 1998 and 1999. Port St. Joe won 34-27 in 1990. Baker returned the favor in 1999, winning 36-12.

End of a dry spell

The Gators haven't been back to the state semifinals since they beat the Sharks in 1999.

Baker Coach Matt Brunson took Vernon to the 1A semifinals in 2000 and Crestview to the 3A finals in 2002.

"It's awesome," he said. "Just the years in between the runs tells you how hard it is to get there (to the semifinals). We've made the playoffs a bunch of times, but to get to the third round – and this being this year in the 1A classification the semis – man, it's tough.

"Our guys have improved and worked hard. They definitely deserve to be in a final four appearance in the state semis in 1A."

Brunson said coaches hope their team is peaking and playing their best football in a playoff run.

"You know that the level of competition is at its peak right now," he said. "Facing Port St. Joe we have to be on our A game. We have to play one of our best games of the year.

"We have to play great defense and hopefully make a play at the end (of the game) to be successful."

Shark attack

Brunson knows the Gators will have their hands full with a powerful Shark defense.

Port St. Joe is only allowing 13 points a game.

"They are an eight-man front," Brunson said. "They line up in a 4-4. Their down four are as good as anybody we've seen.

"Their linebackers are good and active, big and strong. They line up and get after the football. They just have created a lot of havoc in teams they've played and they've not given up a lot of yards."

Brunson is excited about coaching against the Shark defensive staff and he's interested to see how his team responds to the challenge.

"Our kids have been pretty resilient," he said. "We've put up some points and had a great offensive year. I'm looking forward to matching wits with the likes of John Palmer and Chuck Gannon and see if we can create some holes in there and maybe score a couple of times."

Nothing fancy about Port St. Joe offense

The Sharks run a Wing-T offense.

"There is nothing fancy about their offense, but they do have two play makers in  Aaron Paul and Trey Sanders," Brunson said. "Their quarterback from last year, Troy Williams, has moved to a wide receiver position. We will have our hands full containing those guys because they are big time play makers for the Sharks.

"They don't try to be flashy offensively. They are going to play great defense and get it into the fourth quarter and win a close one like they did against Blountstown."

Experience factor

Brunson's biggest concern is more psychological than physical.

"Their kids are experienced (in the playoffs)," he said. "They are the defending 1A champions. They practiced through the week of Thanksgiving and won a big semifinal game last year against Vernon.

"They know what to expect. Our guys are going to be out of our normal routine practicing through the Thanksgiving break and getting ready for a huge stage Friday night in the semis. "I think being familiar with the situation tends to give a team a definite advantage, although I think us being at home gives us an advantage."

Return to prominence

Brunson hopes Friday's semifinal game marks the return of Baker to the elite Class 1A teams in Florida.

"I played for John Ensor and I coached with Jeff Webb, and through those guys' tenures here Baker was always in the conversation (for a state championship). To get to a 1A state championship game and represent the north in the state finals, you had to go through Baker.

"We don't want to be ranked number one or be at the top of the heap, but we want to be in the conversation. What this group has established is to get there in the north side of the bracket that you have to go through Baker. That's where we are now and that's where we want to keep our program."

WHAT: Class 1A football state semifinal: Port St. Joe vs. Baker

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Baker School's Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium

COST: $9

NOTES: The Florida High School Athletic Association sets playoff admission prices.

Game information

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker hosts Port St. Joe in Class 1A football semifinal

BAKER – Almost 30 minutes after the final horn sounded at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium a few players and fans were still soaking in the glow of Friday’s big game.

Baker football players held the hands of their girlfriends and proud parents tried to hang onto the moment a little longer.

The rain that blanked the area Wednesday turned the field known as “The Swamp,” into a bit of a swamp. And everybody knows how much Gators love swamps.

There was plenty for the Gators to love about the Region 1-1A final with Vernon as Baker rolled to a 48-20 win.

Baker Coach Matt Brunson continued a familiar theme following the big win.

“I think our team has gotten better all year, which I’ve been saying,” he said. “I thought we had one of our best efforts of the year defensively last week (shutting out Graceville), but tonight I thought our offensive line stepped up and played great.

“Vernon has a very big, physical defensive front and we were outmanned size wise, but you can’t measure the heart of these kids.”

The Gators host defending state champion Port St. Joe in the state semifinal Friday. It marks Baker’s first appearance in a semifinal football game since 1999.

Friday belonged to the Baker offense that scored a season-high 48 points against a stingy Vernon defense.

Jalen Ciurleo helped spark the offense with touchdown runs of 40 and 58 yards on his way to a 134-yard night on just 12 carries.

The night belonged to the Gator defense, that one week after shutting out Graceville, came back and blanked a tough Yellow Jacket running attack.

The game belonged to many Gator players none more so on Friday than junior wide receiver/defensive back Logan Rickmon. Rickmon caught two passes for 75 yards and one touchdown on offense. On defense he came up with Baker’s only turnover of the night intercepting a Vernon quarterback Kody Hagan pass.

The night belonged to the Baker special teams and Dillon Nixon. It was Nixon’s 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown following a Vernon’s second touchdown of the game.

And the night belonged to all the Gator Nation that has waited so long for Baker to reclaim its spot among the elite small school programs in the state.

Baker notched the first points of the game with 4:10 left in the first quarter when Austin Davis scored seven yards out. One play earlier quarterback Jon Beck connected with Rickon on a 45-yard pass on a fourth and four at the Baker 48-yard line.

The Yellow Jackets (9-3) responded to the Gator score with one of their own. Vernon covered 59 yards on seven plays on a drive that was capped by a 16-yard pass from Hagan to Tylon Tolbert with 35 seconds left in the quarter.

Ryan Malloy was the workhorse on the drive for Vernon with four runs for 49 yards.

By the time Malloy scored Vernon’s second touchdown, a 60-yard run, with 4:22 left in the second quarter, Baker had scored twice.

Ciurleo scored on a 40-yard run with 10:40 left in the half. And Montae Barto scored from a yard out with 4:57 left in the half. Barto’s touchdown put the finishing touches on a 10-play drive to the end zone by Baker.

Baker’s next four touchdowns following the Malloy score for Vernon were of the big play variety.

Nixon scored his long kickoff return with 4:08 left in the first half.

In the third quarter Beck hit Rickmon with a 31-yard touchdown pass Ciurleo scored on a 58-yard run.

The final Gator touchdown of the night came on a 46-yard run by Davis on a fake punt. The touchdown started the running clock and put the Gators in front 48-13.

Hagan scored the final touchdown of the game with as time expired in the fourth quarter.

Baker finished the night with 382 yards in total offense and more than 450 all purpose yards.

Beck was 5-of-7 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown.

“It was just a big joy to play in a playoff game,” Rickmon said. “It’s absolutely amazing. There are no words to describe it.

“I’m looking forward to next week.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker rolls into state semifinals