BAKER — And the streaks go on for the Baker School football team.
Powered by a 194-yard, four-touchdown performance by Austin Davis the Gators beat District 1-1A foe Northview 35-27 Friday night before packed house at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium.
Baker-Northview football photos>>>
The win extended Baker’s regular season winning streak to 20 games. The Gators also extended their District 1-1A streak to six games. And perhaps most important was the win gave the Gators their second straight district championship.
“Last year I feel like we snuck up on them a little bit,” Baker Coach Matt Brunson said. “But tonight our guys played well and we beat a good football team. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.
“Last year’s district championship game was awesome, but this one being at home, the way the kids have worked so hard, in my coaching career back at Baker, this was the biggest one.”
Baker (9-0, 3-0) won the toss and deferred to the second half.
The Gators forced a quick Northview (7-2, 2-1) punt and proceeded to march 80 yards on nine plays. Davis picked up 50 of the yards rushing, but Montae Barto capped the drive with a 1-yard run on a fourth-and goal. Josh Mayhew kicked the first of his five extra points and the Gators led with 6:37 left in the first quarter.
Northview answered with a 25-yard touchdown by Tydre` Bradley, but extra point failed and Baker was up 7-6 with 2:19 left the first quarter.
Davis scored the first of his four touchdowns from six yards out with five seconds left in the first quarter.
The Davis touchdown was the last offensive play the Gators would run for the next 10:30.
Northview took the ensuing kickoff and went 62 yards on 21 plays and took 10:33 off the clock. Offensive lineman Austin Whitehead, who weighs in at 295 pounds, finished of the drive with a 1-yard plunge. The Chiefs converted the 2-point conversion and the game was tied at the half.
Baker and Davis scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. Davis’ first touchdown of the third quarter came with 8:29 left in the period and was from a yard out.
The score finished off the opening drive of the half on which the Gators moved the ball 80 yards. A big chunk of the yardage came on a 52-yard pass from Beck to Barto. Barto showed some nifty running for a big man as he hurdled one would be tackler and tight roped his way down the sideline.
With 4:38 left in the period Davis scored from seven yards out.
His final touchdown came after Jonathan Gatewood recovered a Chief fumble at the Northview 14.
A 9-yard pass from Jon Beck to Austin Martin put the ball on the 3-yard line and from there Davis did the rest.
Luke Ward caught a 4-yard pass from Gavin Grant late in the third quarter to pull Northview to within 35-21.
Jacob Dunsford capped the scoring with a 6-yard pass from Grant with 2:02 left in the game.
Although undefeated, the Gators felt as some people haven’t been given them the respect they deserve.
Martin said that was a motivating factor throughout the game.
“We came in with a big chip on our shoulders,” he said. “We were ready to prove ourselves, and we did.
“It feels awesome. I’m just ready to get into the playoffs.”
The Gators finished with 439 yards in total offense.
Beck was 7-of-9 passing for 162 yards. He also ran for 32 yards.
Barto had two catches for 65 yards to go along with 23 yards on the ground. Martin chipped in 30 receiving yards and 23 rushing yards. And for good measure, Davis had one catch good for 25 yards.
The Gators finished with 277 yards rushing on 49 carries.
“Austin Davis did a great job,” Brunson said, “but those big guys up front – left tackle Jacob McKenzie, left guard Calvin Blankenship, center Bubba Ellis, right guard Dakota Blackburn, right tackle Taylor Sexton and our tight end, Jonathan Gatewood along with Austin Martin at the wingback, Montae Barto and Oakley Kimbrel at fullback – all those guys did a great job blocking.”
Beck thought for a second when asked to compare Friday’s win with last year’s victory of the Chiefs on their home field before concluding the win in front of the home crowd had the edge.
“It’s a little bit better,” Beck said, “but last year was pretty dad gum good.
“We had to be focused. We had to execute. Everybody had to do their job.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gators take district title (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)