Baker football camp a success

That’s because Baker coach Dave Johnson, his staff and players were conducting the annual Bulldog Football Camp. Almost 150 gridders between fourth and 12th grades — including 64 fourth through sixth graders and 32 middle schoolers — took part in the four-day camp.

“This group seems to be more attentive than previous groups,” Johnson said during a break in the action.

“We like that. I don’t know particularly why they are. Maybe it’s because we’re getting more established with the program.”

Johnson said he was pleased with the help of the high school players.

“I’m proud of the older kids. They’ve done a great job instructing the younger kids,” he said.

Johnson also saw some potential future Bulldogs in the middle school athletes.

“Some of those eighth grade guys are pretty talented,” he said. “We like the 32 here. We’d love to have more, but we’re very happy with these guys.”

A couple of Johnson’s varsity players agreed.

“The kids do look up to you a lot,” said senior Trace Richardson. “These kids have a lot of potential — if they staty with and work at it. This is probably the best group we’ve had.”

Junior quarterback Jesse Brown has seen the camp from both sides of the ball.

“I competed in the camp when I was in fifth grade and all through middle school,” he said. “Teaching is a little different. You try to tell the younger kids all that you know.

“Sometimes you remember little things you’ve forgotten when you’re telling the younger kids,” he said.

Baker assistant coach Joel Richardson teased some of the young players after they broke up into groups by position.

“These are the pancake and bacon eaters, the guys who love red meat. The few, the proud, the meat eaters,” he said of the linemen in his group.

“Those guys down there are the granola and yogurt eaters,” he said, pointing to the backs and ends working out at the other end of the stadium.

One added note by Gary Stalder of the Baker County Family YMCA was that this year’s Bulldog seniors were the first group to participate in the YMCA tackle football program.