BAKER — Powered by a pair of third quarter touchdowns, Jay upended Baker 14-0 in Friday’s Kickoff Classic at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium.
The Royal first team picked up the two scores against the Gator backups.
Baker-Jay photo gallery >>>
Baker was down six players who were held out for undisclosed disciplinary reason. The players will be back for Friday’s season opener at Graceville.
“I thought our kids gave great efforts,” Gator Coach Matt Brunson said. “Jay is going to be a battle again when we see them in Week 8. We’ve got look at the film, fix the problems and get going.
“I’m excited about this group. I’m ready to go again over to Graceville. Next week we have to execute.”
Jay took advantage of Gator mistakes and a short field for both of its scores.
Braden Cross picked up Jay’s first score on a 23-yard run. The touchdown came after the Royals recovered a Baker fumble at the Gator 45-yard line. Royal quarterback Victor Mishoe also had a 23-yard run on the short drive.
Cross picked up Jay’s other touchdown from six yards out. The touchdown capped a six-play, 32-yard drive after a short Gator punt.
The Gators kept the wraps on their new hurry up offense. Brunson elected to keep the offense as plain as a brown paper bag running a series of dive and off tackle run plays.
Baker had just 70 yards in total offense in the varsity second half. Backup quarterback Nate Taylor had 59 yards on three rushes for 41 yards and two pass completions for another 18.
Baker’s junior varsity was impressive in routing the Royals 28-0 in one quarter of play.
Jayson Moore, who led the Baker JV with 46 yards rushing, scored the first Gator touchdown from a yard out. Zach Brown picked a defensive score returning a Royal fumble 40 yards for a touchdown.
Baker’s third score of the period came on a 20-yard pass from Tom Crowson to Jamaal Day. Crowson finished off Baker’s impressive quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run. Josh Springle was good on all four extra points.
Neither team scored in the first quarter played by the middle school teams.
Junior linebacker Montae Barto downplayed the importance of the preseason game.
“Tonight was just a warm up,” he said. “Graceville is going to be a good game. We have to compete like we did tonight, but we have to do it all four quarters.”
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Royals down Gators in Kickoff Classic