JAY— By Friday night nobody will care who won the Kickoff Classic between Baker School and Jay.
Nobody will care that the first half of the game was played in a heavy down pour.
Some people might remember that the Gator varsity beat the Royals 13-6. Gator fans might also remember that Jay played its starters against Baker’s second team.
Family and friends of Jayson Moore will remember the sophomore running back scored two touchdowns for the Gator junior varsity as it rolled to a 16-0 win. And that he scored another touchdown against the Royal starters.
“Our kids played hard,” Baker Coach Matt Brunson said. “What I did see was great intensity and motivation. That will go a long way and we are going to have a great time with this group.
“Coming off that goal line stand and being able to drive it (the football) and doing what we did will help us prepare next week because they know it will be intense.”
What fans won’t forget is the probable game-saving hit Gator middle linebacker Montae Barto put on Jay running back Braden Cross late in the fourth quarter. Barto’s big hit could probably be felt in 10 miles away in Century.
Barto embraced the challenge of making the big play.
“I felt like I needed to step up for our defense, being a senior and being a leader he said.
Jay’s varsity got on the scoreboard first on a 6-yard run by Cross with 5:39 left in the third quarter.
Baker tied things up with less than a minute left in the quarter when Moore scored from a yard out.
Jay moved the ball 21 yards on two plays as the third quarter came to an end.
Baker’s starters took the field to start the fourth quarter. The Royals did manage one first down against the Gator starters, but after that the Baker defense stood firm.
Baker quarterback Jon Beck scored the only touchdown of the fourth quarter. The Gators had a second and three at Jay’s 23 when Beck faked a handoff to Barto up the middle and darted around right end for the score.
Baker was driving for what looked to be another touchdown late in the fourth quarter when the Royals returned a Gator fumble to the Baker 25-yard line.
Three plays later Jay had a third-and-1 at the Gator 3-yard line. Everyone in the stadium knew the Royals would hand the ball to Cross and Barto did too making the big hit to secure the win.
Baker played without last year’s leading rusher, Austin Davis, who was out with a wrist injury. Davis is expected to be back by the second week of the season.
With Davis sidelined Jalen Cuirleo stepped in at tailback and played a nice game.
The Gators open the regular season Friday at Holmes County.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker, Barto stop Jay in Kickoff Classic (GALLERY)