Bulldogs roll into playoffs 66-33
It was no one’s idea of a masterpiece.
Still, the Ida Baker players and coaches were willing to accept the smudges on their 66-33 victory Thursday night at winless East Lee County in exchange for what the finished product meant.
The victory, when combined with Thursday’s 39-point win by South Fort Myers over Lehigh, locked up the second and final state playoff berth from District 6A-12, which means the Bulldogs again are bound for Winter Haven when the regional playoffs begin on Nov. 14.
Baker traveled precisely the same path into the playoffs last season – defeating East Lee County in its finale to grab second in the district before heading to Winter Haven for a gut-kick of a loss in which it allowed a go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds left, then missed a tying field goal on the final play.
Quarterback Sage Attwood said the early exit has been renewable fuel for the 2014 fire.
“We definitely remember it. How could we not,” he said. “We came in this year wanting to build off of it, and we’re determined to make enough offensive plays this time that we’ll come out with a win.”
Had he gotten the playoff-clinching news a little earlier Thursday, he might have rationed a few.
Instead, Attwood performed to his usual video game-like statistical standards against the Jaguars, producing 498 yards of offense – 362 passing, 136 rushing – and having a role in five of the Bulldogs’ nine touchdowns.
He connected with junior wide receiver Drayton Diggs on scores of 28 and 7 yards, and hit senior Austin Maimone with a five-yard TD pass as part of a first-half barrage during which Baker scored on six consecutive possessions after losing six yards and being forced to punt on its first possession.
The first of his two rushing touchdowns – a one-yard plunge – also came in the opening half, while the 80-yard scoring dash that lifted him into triple-digits for the night came at 3:24 of the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs also got a pair of rushing TDs from junior Izaiah Febles and one apiece from juniors Brennan Williams and Jordan Diggs. The latter came four plays after Attwood was pulled with just more than eight minutes remaining in the game.
“The East Lee County defense came out and did their job on the first drive, but after that we got things back to normal,” Attwood said.
“We did what we had to do,” Baker coach Brian Conn said. “We did a lot of things right, and there were a lot of things that we didn’t do right, but we’ll go home now, enjoy the break and get refreshed.”
Ida Baker 28 14 10 14 – 66
East Lee Co. 713 7 6 – 33
IB – D. Diggs 28 pass from Attwood (Muhic kick)
IB – Maimone 5 pass from Attwood (Muhic kick)
ELC – Johnson 90 kickoff return (Abad kick)
IB – Williams 17 run (Muhic kick)
IB – Febles 7 run (Muhic kick)
ELC – Minns 15 run (Abad kick)
IB -Attwood 1 run (Muhic kick)
IB – D. Diggs 7 pass from Attwood (Muhic kick)
ELC – Johnson 13 pass from Ratiu (kick failed)
IB – Febles 15 run (Muhic kick)
ELC – Johnson 68 pass from Ratiu (Abad kick)
IB – FG, Muhic 30
ELC – Johnson 14 pass from Chambers (run failed)
IB – Attwood 80 run (Muhic kick)
IB – J. Diggs 2 run (Muhic kick)