Bulldogs hammer La Grande

The game at Bulldog Memorial Stadium was dedicated to BHS alumni Joel Cummings who is facing double lung transplant.

The win means Baker (8-1 overall) travels to Salem to meet Stayton in the second round of the 4A playoffs Nov. 20 or 21. Game time has not yet been set.

“Offensively we did some good things,” said Baker coach Dave Johnson. “We did some nice stuff and put the ball in a lot of people’s hands.”

Baker finished with 567 yards in total offense. Quarterback Jesse Brown finished 19-of-24 passing for 372 yards. Seven different Bulldogs caught at least one pass. Eight Bulldogs carried the ball on the way to rushing for 187 yards.

Baker’s defense limited La Grande to 243 total yards, but had trouble containing quarterback Carson Miller in the first half.

“We tackled poorly in the first half,” said Jason Ramos, Baker’s defensive coordinator.

“We covered well, then the guy scrambled, and we just couldn’t seem to bring him down. We have some things to work on before we play Stayton.”

Johnson had praise for Miller.

“He’s an athlete,” he said. “His feet definitely work.

“We made some plays on defense, just not as many as we should have,” Johnson said.

Baker stopped La Grande on its opening drive. The Bulldogs then mounted a 66-yard scoring drive than took almost eight minutes. The drive was punctuated by four penalties against the Bulldogs for 25 yards.

Three times on the drive the Bulldogs had to convert on fourth down. The final time came on the touchdown, a 3-yard dive off left tackle by Stephen Talbot. Dekker Smith then converted the first of seven conversion kicks for a 7-0 Baker lead.

The first period ended with Baker leading 7-0.

The Bulldogs again forced a La Grande punt early in the second quarter. Another Baker penalty left Baker starting on its own 6.

Brown needed just one play, a flat pass to Talbot along the Baker sideline. Talbot caught the ball and raced down the sideline for a 94-yard touchdown.

La Grande cut the lead in half with 7:35 to go in the half when Miller connected with Andrew Humphreys for a 29-yard TD. On the play, Miller resembled former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton as he scrambled away from Baker defenders for what seemed like a minute before finding Humphreys alone in the corner of the end zone.

Baker quickly answered when Talbot scored his second rushing TD from 2 yards out. Keys plays on the scoring drive were passes from Brown to Justin Durflinger and Trace Richardson for a combined 44 yards.

Baker completed the first-half scoring with 3.4 seconds left when Brown connected for 23 yards over the middle to Will Barr.

Baker led 28-6 at halftime.

The Bulldog received the second half kickoff and needed just three plays to score again. This time Brown found Richardson on a fly pattern for a 55-yard score.

Baker added two fourth-quarter touchdowns, both from 1 yard out. On the first Brown connected with Brandon Dolby for the TD. On the second, Smith lined up and fullback and scored off left tackle.

Baker has a week off to prepare for Stayton.

“We’ll watch film on Monday (today). Then work on some small things in practice, keep the kids rested and then head for Salem,” Johnson said.

La Grande    0    6    0    0    —   6 

Baker    7    21    7    14    — 49

B — Talbot 3 run (Smith kick)

B — Talbot 94 pass from Brown (Smith kick)

L — Humphreys 29 pass from Miller (Run failed)

B — Talbot 2 run (Smith kick)

B — Barr 23 pass from Brown (Smith kick)

B — Richardson 55 pass from Brown (Smith kick)

B — Dolby 1 pass from Brown (Smith kick)

B — Smith 1 run (Smith kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing — La Grande: Jacobs 3-48, Hudkins 6-28, Miller 14-25, Erickson 1-5, White 1-2, Humphreys 7-0, Haynes 1-(-3). Baker: Talbot 16-112, Skillings 1-30, Brown 7-20, Austin 3-13, Richardson 1-12, Smith 1-1, Richards 2-1, Averett 1-(-2).

Passing — La Grande: Miller 13-23-0-138, Humphreys 0-1-0-0. Baker: Brown 19-24-0-372, Averett 1-1-0-8.

Receiving — La Grande: Powell 6-85, Humphreys 3-38, Hudkins 3-14, White 1-1. Baker: Richardson 6-122, Durflinger 4-35, Talbot 3-131, Austin 3-40, Dolby 2-9, Barr 1-23, Everson 1-20.