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Baker County shuts out Orange Park 35-0

By Doug Deters
Posted 10/19/17

ORANGE PARK – The first words from Orange Park head coach Tom MacPherson to his young football team in his post game speech was they faced a “Weight room orientated” football team. He was …

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Baker County shuts out Orange Park 35-0


Posted

ORANGE PARK – The first words from Orange Park head coach Tom MacPherson to his young football team in his post game speech was they faced a “Weight room orientated” football team. He was certainly correct; especially on the offensive and defensive lines as the Baker County Wildcats rolled to a 35-0 win to set up a monster showdown of undefeated district teams this week at Clay high school.

The game was voted as the Channel 4 football “game of the week” which brought an energetic crowd by both teams. After a quick three plays and punt by Orange Park, Baker did the same on their first possession highlighted by Orange Park’s Kendy Charles hard hit for a loss of yardage on one of two division one running back prospects for the Wildcats. Unfortunately that would be one of very few highlights for the Raiders other than their punting game.

After another Raider punt the Wildcats started at their own 12 yard line and drove 88 yards on all running plays between running backs Seth Paige and Josh Haygood to take a 7-0 lead. Not only did the Wildcats drive 88 yards but they also tired the young Raiders defense by taking most of the time of possession leaving less than two minutes on the first quarter clock.

The teams would again trade punts for the second time in the opening quarter. However, on the Wildcats first possession of the second quarter they would drive 79 yards ending in a 22 yard touchdown run by Lee Graham to take a 14-0 lead with 7:09 remaining until half. After yet another punt by the Raiders the Wildcats would get a 42 yard punt return to the Orange Park 28 yard line. The Wildcats would continue their ground assault and eventually score on a four yard run by Haygood to increase the lead to 21-0 with just under four minutes left until halftime. “We had some opportunities in the first half but on a couple of occasions we were in the wrong defensive alignment” said MacPherson. “I can’t get upset when their two Division One running back prospects runs us over but I do get upset when we don’t line up properly” he added.

The second half saw Baker change strategies by coming out throwing on their first possession. After driving to midfield using the pass the Wildcats would fumble after a completion and Orange Park’s Hunter Moore would recover the ball hoping to give a spark to the struggling Raider offense. They would have their best drive of the game gaining a first down on a Keanan Restall 15 yard run on the first play of the drive. Unfortunately that would be the only positive play of the drive that would result in yet another punt. Haygood would run 70 yards on two plays (A 56 yard run to the 14 yard then a 14 yard touchdown run) to up the lead to four touchdowns at 28-0 with several college coaches looking on including the East Carolina Pirates of the American Athletic Conference.

The Wildcats other star back Seth Paige (Also recruited by the Pirates) would add one last touchdown run with 1:15 left in the third quarter to start the running clock (Per FHSAA rules when scores are 35 points or greater) and finish the contest with a 35-0 shutout win.

After the game an enthusiastic Macpherson sprinted to the hand shake line and greeted many Baker County players with a hug and sincere words of encouragement (Macpherson coached Baker County from 2014-2015). “It’s a tremendous feeling to see players you coached become successful. These guys I coached as freshman and sophomore are now juniors and seniors. They had nothing to do with me not being there anymore” he said. Coaching football sometimes becomes extremely political especially in a small town setting. “I love the kids at Baker and I love our kids here at Orange Park. I have and always will be a players coach” said MacPherson.