BAKER – It was the same song with a different verse as Baker hosted Graceville for the second straight year in the Region 1-1A football semifinals.
And for the second straight year the home crowd left Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium smiling.
The family of legendary Baker sprinter Houston McTear, who passed away Oct. 31, was recognized in a pregame ceremony. The Gators then made Houston proud with a 26-0 win.
“It’s awesome,” Baker Coach Matt Brunson said. “Our kids have been fighting and preparing all year. To have defensive performance like we did tonight against a team as athletic as Graceville, I thought that was awesome.
“Our kids have worked hard and gotten better all year. I think we are peaking at the right time.”
Jon Beck threw touchdown passes of 22 and 54 yards and Montae Barto scored twice, the first on the 22-yard pass from Beck and then late in the third quarter from five yards out to help seal the win.
Barto’s touchdown catch came on a swing pass to the left flat with a second left in the first quarter to put the Gators up 6-0. Josh Springle added the extra point and Baker was in business.
Beck’s second touchdown pass, the 54-yarder, was a fly route to Kalee Ciurleo, who was streaking down the west sideline. Ciurleo made a spectacular juggling catch to secure the ball and outran the Tiger defenders to the end zone with 9:33 left in the half.
Baker added a safety sacking Tiger quarterback Preston Nichols in the end zone with just under four minutes left in the half.
Springle closed out the scoring in the first half with a 40-yard field goal to put Baker up 19-0 at the intermission.
Graceville (7-4) took the opening kick of the second half and drove into Baker territory before being forced to punt. The drive took more than six minutes off the clock and seemed to seal the fate of the Tigers.
Baker got the ball on its own 6-yard line and marched 94 yard on 10 plays to put the game out of reach. Barto finished the drive but Jalen Ciurleo was a workhorse in moving the ball for the Gators gaining 31 yards on the drive.
Graceville had one final chance to score as time was running out, but Nichols fumbled inside the Gator 5-yard line and Logan Cadenhead jumped on the ball to secure the Baker shutout.
The Gators finished the night with 361 yards in total offense. Baker had 180 yards rushing and 181 yards passing. Graceville had 207 yards in total offense.
Baker (8-3) will host Vernon on Friday in the Region 1-1A finals.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker shuts out Graceville (PHOTOS)