Baker defeats Weiser on gridiron

The Bulldogs (1-0) led 20-7 with 45 seconds left in the game, then had to hold on for the win.

Both teams played a methodical first half that ended with Baker clinging to a 7-0 halftime lead.

Niether team scored in the first half. Weiser came the closest, driving to the Baker 16 before missing a 33-yard field goal try.

Following that miss, Baker drove 80 yards in eight plays to score the game’s first touchdown. Stephen Talbot did the honors from 24 yards out on the first play of the second quarter.

Talbot added a 14-yard sprint during the drive. Quarterback Jesse Brown also connected with Luke Austin for 12 yards, and Brandon Dolby for 19 on the drive.

Baker maintained its lead until just 24 seconds remained in the third period. Weiser then knotted the game at 7-7 when Darren Thomas scored from 3 yards out.

Baker quickly responded to Thomas’ touchdown, scoring on the next drive with 10:08 left in the game.

The drive was helped along when Weiser was whistled for a facemask penalty on a Brown third-down run. That gave Baker a first down on its own 42.

Austin picked up another first down with an 11-yard run. Brown then connected wih Ty Everson for 42 yards to the Weiser 5. Another Weiser penalty pushed th eball to the 3.

Talbot then scored his second touchdown, running out of the wishbone behind Dekker Smith and Colton Flynn.

Weiser drove the ball downfield after the kickoff, reaching the Baker 18. Flynn then sacked quarterback Austin Winegar at the 22.

Weiser then turned the ball over on downs after Winegar threw two straight incomplete passes in the end zone.

The Wolverines stopped Baker on three downs on the next drive. Then, a bad snap sent Talbot scrambling from punt formation. The speedy Baker runner got around the end and scooted 61 yards to the Weiser 25.

Weiser held the Bulldogs at the Wolverine 21, but fumbled the ball back to the Bulldogs three plays later.

Taking over on the Weiser 30, Baker needed just four plaays to score its final touchdown. Austin did most of the work, carrying three times for 34 yards. He scored his first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard run.

Thomas then gave Weiser hope when he returned he kickoff to the Baker 47. Two plays later Winegar found Alton Funk for a 15-yard touchdown, cutting Baker’s lead to 20-14 with 23 seconds left.

Winegar then completed a successful onside kick giving the Wolverines one final chance from the Baker 45.

But three incomplete passes and a Winegar run for no gain ended the threat.

Baker fiished with 389 yards total offense, Weiser 288.

Talbot finished with 146 yards rushing, and Brown 174 yards passing on 9-of-15 attempts. Trace Richardson caught three passes for 63 yards, and Austin three for 50 yards.

Baker hosts defending Class 3A champion Grant Union riday at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

Baker    0    7    0    13    — 20

Weiser    0    0    7    7    — 14

B — Talbot 24 run (Smith kick)

W — Thomas 3 run (Winegar kick)

B — Talbot 3 run (Smih kick)

B — Austin 10 run (Kick failed)

W — Funk 15 pass from Winegar (Winegar kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing — Baker: Talbot 20-146, Austin 9-52, Brown 8-14, Richardson 1-3. Weiser: Chandler 15-80, Winegar 8-48, Sape 8-36, Spaneen 4-16, Thomas 4-11.

Passing — Baker: Brown 9-15--0-174. Weiser: Winegar 8-22-0-97.

Receiving — Baker: Richardson 3-63, Austin 3-50, Everson 2-42, Dolby 1-19. Weiser: Spaneen 2-20, Funk 2-18, Thomas 1-32, Salazar 1-12, Mackey 1-9, Sape 1-6.