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Yellow Jackets sting Wildcats 20-0
Photos by JUD JOHNSON After Baker County ran for 386 yards, last week in a final regular season game against the Trinity Christian Crusaders, experts were predicting a fierce battle this past Friday night when the Wildcats faced off with the Saint Augustine Yellow Jackets, in the first round of the FHSAA state playoffs. Baker County’s encounter at St. Augustine lived up to the pre-game hype, with both teams engaging in a pitched defensive showdown. Both playoff teams had finished their regular season schedules on top of the area defensive rankings, with the Yellow Jackets also holding down a #2 state prep football ranking in Class3A.
Their 10-0 record and District title gave the Yellow Jackets home field advantage, as they hosted the 9-1 Wildcats, who were the runners-up in District 3-3A. Baker County fans negated that advantage as the loyal gang of fans overwhelmingly filled the visitor stands on a cold, blustery night. Saint Augustine took advantage of a slew of Baker County penalties and turnovers that allowed them to start their drives in good field position, to put two touchdowns on the board. They also notched two field goals in their 20-0 shutout of Baker County. The Wildcats' running game was contained by the solid defensive work of the Yellow Jackets front four, who kept the pressure on all night. They shut down Coach Bobby Johns usually high powered offense and ended the Baker boys playoff run, for the second year in a row.
A turnover on Baker’s ensuing possession, set Saint Augustine up with first and goal inside the ten yard line and they punched the ball into the end zone a few plays later to take a 10-0 lead. The two squads traded possessions, as the defensive units dominated the field for the remainder of the first half. After missing one field goal on their first possession of the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets second possession resulted in a successful field goal when they again capitalized on a Wildcat miscue. While punting, the Cats were flagged for holding and forced to re-kick. The ensuing punt was returned to Baker’s red zone. From there it was a short 16 yards before the Jackets stung the Cats with their second field goal, as they took a 13-0 lead.
The score remained the same until late in the fourth quarter when another pass interception turnover set up the potent Saint Augustine offense at Baker‘s 28 yard line. It didn‘t take long before the final hopes of a dramatic Wildcat comeback were squashed by the games final score. Saint Augustine ran the ball through the heart of the Baker defense on an eight yard run (20-0). While the loss ends the Wildcats season, they have much to be proud of, including winning nine games despite losing a number of key players to injuries. They overcame a traumatic start to their season when Milton "O’Shea Johnson was paralyzed during practice. (The entire Baker County community has rallied around the family with numerous fundraisers and support.) While he loses some reliable seniors including Thomas Braddy, BJ Rowe, Jarvis Simmons, Greg Williams, Hank Farmer and James Treece, Coach Johns has a lot to look forward to in the future with a very talented crop of underclassmen who gained valuable experience this season. The Yellow Jackets advance to face the Jackson Tigers, who beat Pedro Menendez 42 to 13 in their first post season playoff game. The District champion Tigers were the only team to beat
The game between the two unbeaten teams is shaping up as the premier game in the state playoffs next week. That’s little consolation to Wildcat fans, one of whom quipped after the loss, "I’m rooting for a tie next week."
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