BAKER — Baker School's varsity football team opened fall practice this week, determined to continue its success of the past two seasons.
The Gators, coming off back-to-back District 1-1A titles, expect nothing less than a district championship in 2015. “It’s going good,” senior lineman Dakota Blackburn said. “We realize we are going to have to work harder to keep winning, and that has unified everybody.
“The district championships bring a lot of pride to the team, and it’s something I take pride in myself … We plan on keeping it going.”
The first week of practice is important for several reasons, Gator Coach Matt Brunson said. “We had a couple of days in shorts, and now we are in shoulder pads, getting acclimated to the heat,” he said. “Guys are moving around and giving a good effort … I think the first week is the most important week because you definitely set the tone. Monday, the first day in full gear, will set the tone for the weeks to follow.”
Transitioning from summer workouts to official practices has gone well, quarterback Jon Beck said. “It’s been hot, but everybody’s getting into it a lot,” he said. “There hasn’t been much of change since summer. We’ve done everything we did without the contact. It’s real important because we are trying to get in the fast-paced offense, and to get everybody on the same page takes some practice.”
Senior lineman Bubba Ellis says the hard work is paying off. “We’ve been working hard so we are going to be OK this year," he said. “The summer gets us in shape so we will be able to run the offense and it gets us in shape for defense.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Gators eye more championships