Jay downs Baker

By BILL GAMBLIN

Florida Freedom Newspapers

JAY — As hard as Baker and Jay were hitting and grunting, you would have figured it was their final game of the season.

But to some this was just practice, despite the final of 27-13 in favor of the home standing Royals.

Jay opened the scoring on a 6-yard touchdown by Rush Hendrick with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

A couple of possessions later Baker scored the first touchdown of the year with its new spread offense implemented by Head Bob Kellogg.

Cameron Domangue led the offensive drive with misdirection plays and faked handoffs, but on one particular play he stuck the pigskin in Anthony Thompson’s gut on first and goal from the Royals’ 10 to tie the game at 6.

“This is just an offensive system we put in and tonight we got a good look at it against a very physical team,” said Kellogg. “I am pleased with the effort of our kids.

“But tonight we just wouldn’t stop that three headed offensive attack that Jay had and you have to stop them if you hope to beat them.”

Jay answered the call quickly with a seven-play drive led by the tandem of Hunter Boutwell and Hendricks again.

This time it was Boutwell punching it in from five yards out to make it 14-6 after Hendricks scored on the two-point conversion with seven minutes remaining in the half.

Taking advantage of a Baker turnover, Jay slowly worked its way down the field behind Tyler DeGraaf, Hendricks and Boutwell to set up a 1-yard dive off center by quarterback Brandt Hendricks with 28 seconds remaining in the first half to make it 20-6.

The Royals would mount another long drive in the second half to make it 27-6 as Rush Hendricks scored his second touchdown.

Baker would end the game on a positive note as its final drive of the game started on their own 1-foot line and ended with just over two minutes remaining as Domangue scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.

Domangue led the Gators with 119 yards on 19 carries.