Baker defeats Grant Union

Thirty-two times the Baker football locker room resounded with shouts of “BHS” followed by the pop of a hit on a locker or wall.

That was the ritual of the Bulldogs celebrating their 32-14 non-league victory over Grant Union at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

“I liked the middle part. I liked the second quarter. I liked the third quarter. But, I didn’t particularly like the beginning or the end,” Baker coach Dave Johnson told his charges prior to the celebration.

Johnson said that much like a week earlier at Weiser, Idaho, the Bulldogs started methodically then picked up steam after a big play.

Friday, that big play came on the last play of the first half when punter Stephen Talbot sprinted 52 yards for a go-ahead touchdown as time expired.

As Talbot crossed the goal line Johnson turned to assistant coach Joel Richardson and the two exchanged “high fives.”

“Hey, we were near midfield with about 20 seconds left in the half, and snapping the ball to Stephen. It was kind of a no brianer,” Johnson said, smiling.

 Instead of being tied 6-6, Baker took a 12-6 lead into the halftime locker room.

Baker built on the momentum in the third period, scoring twice.

The first touchdown came on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Jesse Brown to Justin Durflinger. On the play, Brown lobbed the ball high toward the back right corner of the end zone. Durflinger went up over the Grant Union defender to make the catch.

Then, after forcing a Grant Union punt, Brown connected with Durflinger and Ty Everson to move the ball to the Prospector 26. Talbot then broke up the middle and raced to the end zone for the touchdown.

Grant Union actually scored first in the game when Cody Williams stepped in front of a Brown pass and scooted 35 yards for a touchdown with the interception.

Baker answered with 4:52 left in the first half following a Durflinger intnerception.

Starting on the Grant Union 45 the Bulldogs needed just one play, a 45-yard connection between Brown and Trace Richardson to knot the score at 6-6.

Talbot finished the evening with 215 total yards, 168 on the ground on 21 carries, and two catches for 47 more. He scored three touchdowns.

Brown was 14-of-26 passing for 208 yards. He had two passes intercepted.

Richardson caught six passes for 79 yards. Everson added three catches, Durflinger two and Talbot two.

Baker finished with 384 yards total offense, Grant Union 252.

Baker (2-0) travels to Nyssa Friday. Nyssa lost 70-0 to Parma, Idaho, Friday.

Grant Union    6    0    0    8    — 14

Baker    0    12    14    6    — 32

G — Williams 35 interception return (Kick failed)

B — Richardson 45 pass from Brown (Kick failed)

B — Talbot 52 run (Run failed)

B — Durflinger 7 pass from Brown (Talbot run)

B — Talbot 26 run (Kick failed)

G — Smith 3 run (Williams run)

B — Talbot 1 run (Kick failed)

Individual statistics

Rushing — Grant Union: Williams 17-50, Smith 9-43, Weymouth 7-31, Kowing 5-17, Combs 7-(-12). Baker: Talbot 21-168, Austin 2-7, Brown 2-1.

Passing — Grant Union: Combs 8-20-1-123, Williams 0-2-0-0. Baker: Brown 14-26-2-208.

Receiving — Grant Union: Smith 3-69, Labhart 3-45, Kowing 2-9. Baker: Richardson 6-79, Everson 3-58, Talbot 2-47, Durflinger 2-20, Smith 1-4.