BAKER — “Don’t sleep on us,” Baker’s junior running back, Jalen Ciurleo, said after the Gators’ first district win over Jay.
Before that game, the Gators were undefeated, but somehow sat below a 1-4 team on the south side of Choctawhatchee Bay in the Northwest Florida Daily News’ power rankings.
Baker caught the eye of the rest of the Emerald Coast in their win over the South Walton Seahawks, who were also undefeated leading up to that game.
Friday’s game at Doug Griffith Stadium against the Chipley Tigers came with a television crew.
“Friday Night Rivals” was scheduled several weeks ago; that said, the game-of-the-week television crew made the trip from Pensacola to see another Baker blowout, with a final score of 49-14. The first quarter displayed a back-and-forth between both Class-1A teams, ending in a 14-14 tie. The Gators scored 35 unanswered points within the next 15 minutes of playing time, causing referees to let the clock run continuously a few minutes into the second half.
Do the Gators have your attention now?
“Sometimes (the press) do overlook us here in the north end. There might be some more high-profile teams around,” Coach Matt Brunson said. “Definitely, as we get going and we play the way we’re capable of, we’ll get the coverage we deserve.”
Jalen Ciurleo agreed.
“I feel like we’re starting to pick up, and everybody’s starting to notice us.”
It seems time for everybody to notice the defense that has allowed only an average of 13 points and forced turnovers in every game.
It seems time for everybody to notice an offensive line who all started on JV last year and opens up a triple-threat running game no opposing defense can contain.
It seems time for everybody to notice a kicker who has only missed one field goal all season, is perfect on PATs and can place the ball anywhere he wants during kickoffs.
It seems time for everybody to notice that little K-12 school that they forget is in the same county as Choctaw, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'DON'T SLEEP ON US'