BAKER — It will be another playoff rematch for Baker School’s football team Friday night, when the Gators host Vernon in the Region 1-1A final.
Last year, the Yellow Jackets beat Baker 30-14 on their home field. The Gators will try to return the favor Friday night.
Vernon (9-2) has a new coach this year with Willie Spears, having replaced Bobby Johns, but that hasn’t slowed down the Yellow Jackets, who repeated as District 2-1A champion.
Vernon advanced to the region final last week with an 8-7 win over Northview.
The Yellow Jackets' offense will present a different challenge for Baker's defense.
“Willie Spears does a good job of running the triple option,” Baker Coach Matt Brunson said. “They are going to run the middle line and inside and outside veer. It will definitely be a different presentation because Northview and Graceville were both spread teams.
“Vernon is going to get in two tight ends and run right at us. But our guys are in very familiar territory facing Vernon. We were at (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) camp with them and I think on our home field, if we play like we did Friday, with a great week of preparation we should be fine.”
The Gators seem to have the advantage on offense as Vernon is only averaging 25.5 points a game compared to the 36.6 points per game the Gators are scoring.
The edge on defense seems to go to the Yellow Jackets, who have only allowed 163 points this year, which comes out to 14.8 points a game. Baker has allowed 288 points on the season, which averages to 26.2 points per game.
But the Gators are coming off their best defensive performance of the season, having opened the playoffs with a 26-0 win over Graceville.
“Our defensive guys prepared hard, and I think we have gotten better all year,” Brunson said. “I think our performance Friday was the best all year. If those guys can play with their hair on fire, then I think great things are ahead for our defense.”
If the Gators win Friday, they will have gone the farthest in the playoffs any Baker team has gone since 1999, when they lost in the state semifinals.
The winner of Friday’s game between the Gators and Yellow Jackets will host the winner of the Port St. Joe-Blountstown game. Port St. Joe is the defending state champion.
WHAT: High school football Region 1-1A final — Vernon vs. Baker
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Baker School, Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium
COST: $8
UPCOMING
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker seeks to even score with Vernon