Baker suffers first loss

The Tigers (2-0 in the GOL and 7-1 overall) handed Baker (1-1 in the GOL and 7-1 overall) its first loss of the season 28-20 in Ontario.

“The outcome is not going to characterize our season,” said Baker coach Dave Johnson. “Ontario is a good team, and we’re a good team. Ontario was just a little bit better Friday.”

Ontario scored a touchdown in each quarter, building leads of 21-0 and 28-6.

“Ontario just chipped away nicely,” Johnson said.

The Tigers led 14-0 at halftime.

“We were close on a lot of plays in the first half,” Johnson said. “We just didn’t get them finished.

“Ontario was blitzing quite a bit in the first half, and we weren’t quite ready for their quickness,” Johnson said. “That’s something you just can’t simulate in practice.”

The Baker coach said the Bulldogs’ inside running game wasn’t working on offense so they had to go to the air more.

“We decided we needed to throw the ball a little bit more in the second half,” he said.

And, the Bulldogs went more to a “hurry up” offense.

Trailing 21-0, Ty Everson intercepted a Josh Mejia pass giving Baker the ball on the Ontario 35 with about two minutes left in the third period.

Four plays later Stephen Talbot got Baker on the scoreboard with a 20-yard touchdown run.

The third quarter ended with Baker trailing 21-6.

Ontario quickly answered midway in the fourth quarter to take a 28-6 lead with 6:39 left in the game.

Baker then added two more scores to pull within eight points.

Quarterback Jesse Brown did the honors on the first touchdown, scoring from a yard out.

Brown then connected with Talbot on a TD pass, and two-point conversion to give Baker a chance with 51 seconds left.

But, Baker’s onside kick attempt failed and Ontario only had to run out the clock.

“I was really proud of how we battled,” Johnson said. “Down 28-6 a person could have checked out of the hotel, but we didn’t.”

Baker now shifts its goal to finishing second in the GOL. The Bulldogs can do just that Friday by defeating La Grande (1-1 in the GOL) at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

“Our guys are going to go after those Tigers,” Johnson said. “Our guys will be red hot and rolling because it is La Grande. Our guys will be ready.”

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

Baker    0    0    6    14    — 20

Ontario    7    7    7    7    — 28

O — Lopez 8 run (Sanchez kick)

O — Martinez 10 pass from Mejia (Sanchez kick)

O — Anthony 4 run (Sanchez kick)

B — Talbot 20 run (Kick failed)

O — Lopez 2 run (Sanchez kick)

B — Brown 1 run (Pass failed)

B — Talbot 11 pass from Brown (Talbot pass from Brown)