Baker High School Principal Jerry Peacock lamented the fact that due to work commitments he won’t be in attendance Saturday when the Bulldogs play Phoenix in the Class 4A state football semifinals in Hillsboro.

Because of his forced absence, Peacock challenged the Bulldogs during a brief visit before Wednesday’s practice at BHS.

“I can’t be there this week,” he said. “In fact I’ll be out of state. But I want you to help get me to Corvallis in two weeks.”

A Baker win Saturday would lift the Bulldogs into their first-ever state football title game Dec. 12 at Reser Stadium on the Oregon State University campus.

Baker tops Astoria to advance to 4A semifinals

Dekker Smith, left, No. 46, and Colton Flynn,right, No. 25, help celebrate the Bulldog's victory over Astoria Saturday afternoon. (Baker City Herald/Kathy Orr)

That’s because last year’s champion, Astoria, fell 21-14 to Baker Saturday in the 4A quarterfinals at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

The win sends Baker (10-1) into the 4A semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. against Phoenix at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Ontario and Marist meet in the other semifinal at noon Saturday at the same site.

“Hot dang. We’re playing somebody in the semis we’ve never played before,” Baker coach Dave Johnson said of Phoenix.

“Well done. Nice job. I’m extremely proud of the finish,” Johnson told his team in the locker room following Saturday’s win.

“We live to play another day,” the Baker coach yelled, drawing applause from everyone in the room.

“I’m not ready to be done, and I know you’re not,” Johnson said. “I’m liking December a lot.”

Johnson then asked the Bulldogs “how many teams are still practicing Monday afternoon?”

“Four,” was the resounding number that echoed around the room.

The Class 4A seventh-ranked Bulldogs will host the third-ranked and defending 4A champion Fishermen at 1 p.m. in a quarterfinal football contest.

The teams have met twice before with each winning once. Baker won 28-6 in 1993, and Astoria 47-6 in 1998.

“Astoria is a good football team,” said Baker coach Dave Johnson.

“It will be a great game. It’s nice to be able to play at home. It should be a nice afternoon of football.”

Baker enters the game coming off a 23-16 win at Stayton last Saturday. In that game, the Bulldogs came from behind in the second half to improve their record to 9-1.

“The kids kept their composure and played with great determination and poise,” Johnson said.

STAYTON — Jesse Brown hit Trace Richardson with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:59 left in the game Saturday to send Baker to a 23-16 victory over Stayton in the second round of the Class 4A state football playoffs.

Baker opens the 2009 Class 4A state football playoffs Saturday, traveling most of the way across the state to Stayton High School.

Baker (8-1) enters the playoffs as the Greater Oregon League runnerup, ranked seventh in the 4A poll. The Bulldogs have qualified for the playoffs each of the past nine years, including every year under Coach Dave Johnson.

Last year, the Bulldogs lost 26-21 to Banks in the second round of the playoffs.