BAKER — One of the great rivalries in Northwest Florida high school football will be renewed Friday when Baker School travels to Jay to take on the Royals. The District 1-A game has become known as the War of Highway 4.
Baker Coach Matt Brunson, a former Gator player, has played in the game and knows how big it is for the Gator Nation.
“This is a huge week for us,” Brunson said. “Our kids get excited to play Jay. There is a lot of pride involved in this game because we have a lot of friends over there in the edge of Santa Rosa County.
“We take a lot of pride in this game. More importantly is we do lock down a playoff spot and have a chance to compete with Northview for a district championship later in the year (Oct. 31) and keep this undefeated thing going.”
The undefeated thing Brunson was referring to is Baker’s 17-game regular season winning streak that dates back to the last game of the 2012 season. The Gators beat North Bay Haven Charter Academy 34-7 on Friday.
Earlier in the year Brunson downplayed the winning streak, but now as the Gators (6-0, 1-0) push for a district championship he’s using the streak as a motivational tool.
“Now that we are in district play our goal is to win and to carry this undefeated thing would be exciting for the kids,” he said. “And they kind of rally around it a little bit.”
Brunson said Jay’s program is similar to Baker’s
Royal Coach Kent Smith is a Jay graduated, and took the Royal job shortly after Brunson took over a Baker.
“We’ve worked this thing (rivalry) pretty hard and he’s done a good job,” Brunson said. “They’ve definitely closed the gap on us. They got a little better of us in the Kickoff Classic and I do think it is going to be a war.
“I think the two teams – you can throw out the records – they are going to get after each other. They’ve got some very good players and Coach Smith does a great job so it will be a tough game.”
Brunson said Jay (3-3, 0-1) runs a spread type offense and 4-4 defense.
“They take pride in the weight room and playing with pad level just like we do,” Brunson said. “I think it will be a knockdown, drag out, physical game.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: High school football, Baker at Jay
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Jay High School
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Brunson: 'It will be a knockdown, drag out, physical game'