BAKER — A tough Blountstown Tiger football team visits Baker School’s Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium on Friday to take on the Gators in Baker’s home opener.
The Gators opened the season on Friday with a 26-14 win over Holmes County. Blountstown took one on the chin losing to Walton 28-14.
Baker Coach Matt Brunson said his team will have its hands full with a talented Tiger squad.
“They are very athletic,” he said. “(Coach) Greg Jordan does a great job. Blountstown got beat in the quarterfinals last year 6-0 by the eventual state champion Port St. Joe Sharks.
“They were state runner up a couple years ago and lost a close one to Trenton in the finals. They’ve got a program and it will be a great measuring stick for our program.”
One thing that should help the Gators as they prepare for Blountstown is the Tigers run a Wing-T offense, as does last week’s opponent, Holmes County. Blountstown runs a 3-4 defense.
“They do a great job in the weight room and they just get after you,” Brunson said. “They take pride in the same things we do. They are physical and it is going to be a challenge.”
Gator quarterback Jon Beck had a big game against Holmes County running for 198 yards and passing for another 114.
“We took what they (Holmes County) gave us,” Brunson said. “They didn’t defend the option very well on the quarterback keeper.”
Brunson expects the Tigers to do a better job of defending Beck, which could open things for Jalen Cuirleo, Montae Barto and Austin Davis, if he is available.
Brunson is waiting on word for Davis and Oakley Kimbrel, who have been out several weeks with a various injuries. “That’s two starters down we’ve lost on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We will be glad to get both of those guys back.”
With or without Davis and Kimbrel, the Gators will hit the field Friday night in search of a quality win.
“I think it will be a great high school football game with two good programs,” Brunson said. “I hope we can match up with them and have a chance to win the ball game. It would be a quality win for our program, for sure.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: High school football, Blountstown at Baker
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Baker School, Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium
Baker High School football
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gators eye quality win against Blountstown