BAKER — Two teams steeped in football playoff and championship tradition square off Friday at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium as Baker hosts Port St. Joe in the Class 1A semifinals.
The Gators and Sharks have won four state championships each. Port St. Joe is the defending 1A champion and Baker will try to end another Shark title run.
Baker (9-3) advanced to the semifinals with a 48-20 win over Vernon. Port St. Joe beat Blountstown 17-14 in overtime in its region final game.
Friday marks the fourth time the teams have met in the playoffs. Baker holds a 2-1 edge in playoff competition.
The Gators won the first playoff meeting in 1969 30-0. The teams split in 1998 and 1999. Port St. Joe won 34-27 in 1990. Baker returned the favor in 1999, winning 36-12.
End of a dry spell
The Gators haven't been back to the state semifinals since they beat the Sharks in 1999.
Baker Coach Matt Brunson took Vernon to the 1A semifinals in 2000 and Crestview to the 3A finals in 2002.
"It's awesome," he said. "Just the years in between the runs tells you how hard it is to get there (to the semifinals). We've made the playoffs a bunch of times, but to get to the third round – and this being this year in the 1A classification the semis – man, it's tough.
"Our guys have improved and worked hard. They definitely deserve to be in a final four appearance in the state semis in 1A."
Brunson said coaches hope their team is peaking and playing their best football in a playoff run.
"You know that the level of competition is at its peak right now," he said. "Facing Port St. Joe we have to be on our A game. We have to play one of our best games of the year.
"We have to play great defense and hopefully make a play at the end (of the game) to be successful."
Shark attack
Brunson knows the Gators will have their hands full with a powerful Shark defense.
Port St. Joe is only allowing 13 points a game.
"They are an eight-man front," Brunson said. "They line up in a 4-4. Their down four are as good as anybody we've seen.
"Their linebackers are good and active, big and strong. They line up and get after the football. They just have created a lot of havoc in teams they've played and they've not given up a lot of yards."
Brunson is excited about coaching against the Shark defensive staff and he's interested to see how his team responds to the challenge.
"Our kids have been pretty resilient," he said. "We've put up some points and had a great offensive year. I'm looking forward to matching wits with the likes of John Palmer and Chuck Gannon and see if we can create some holes in there and maybe score a couple of times."
Nothing fancy about Port St. Joe offense
The Sharks run a Wing-T offense.
"There is nothing fancy about their offense, but they do have two play makers in Aaron Paul and Trey Sanders," Brunson said. "Their quarterback from last year, Troy Williams, has moved to a wide receiver position. We will have our hands full containing those guys because they are big time play makers for the Sharks.
"They don't try to be flashy offensively. They are going to play great defense and get it into the fourth quarter and win a close one like they did against Blountstown."
Experience factor
Brunson's biggest concern is more psychological than physical.
"Their kids are experienced (in the playoffs)," he said. "They are the defending 1A champions. They practiced through the week of Thanksgiving and won a big semifinal game last year against Vernon.
"They know what to expect. Our guys are going to be out of our normal routine practicing through the Thanksgiving break and getting ready for a huge stage Friday night in the semis. "I think being familiar with the situation tends to give a team a definite advantage, although I think us being at home gives us an advantage."
Return to prominence
Brunson hopes Friday's semifinal game marks the return of Baker to the elite Class 1A teams in Florida.
"I played for John Ensor and I coached with Jeff Webb, and through those guys' tenures here Baker was always in the conversation (for a state championship). To get to a 1A state championship game and represent the north in the state finals, you had to go through Baker.
"We don't want to be ranked number one or be at the top of the heap, but we want to be in the conversation. What this group has established is to get there in the north side of the bracket that you have to go through Baker. That's where we are now and that's where we want to keep our program."
WHAT: Class 1A football state semifinal: Port St. Joe vs. Baker
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Baker School's Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium
COST: $9
NOTES: The Florida High School Athletic Association sets playoff admission prices.
Game information
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker hosts Port St. Joe in Class 1A football semifinal