ORANGE PARK – Tom MacPherson won’t likely forget his first trip back to Clay County since taking over the Baker County program last year.
MacPherson, who coached at Ridgeview since the school’s second year of existence in 2000 and guided them to eight playoff appearances, was back on the sideline in Orange Park for the first time since October 18, 2013.
Trailing 20-3 midway through the third quarter nothing seemed to be going well for visiting Baker County, but a 24-0 run in the second half helped the Wildcats stun host Orange Park 24-20 at Hoyt B. Cotney Stadium.
Following a Raider score which gave them a 17 point lead, the Wildcats quickly answered with a score of their own five plays later as Owen Register connected with Wesley Belford for a 40-yard score across the middle on a fourth and 9 play cutting the lead to 20-10.
Holding the Raiders in check on their ensuing possession, the Wildcats forced the Raiders into their first punt of the second half.
Seth Page and an unidentified teammate both broke through the line and blocked Bailey Cate’s punt which rolled into the end zone and into the hands of Rod Haygood for another Wildcats score cutting the lead to 20-17 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Wildcats carried the momentum into the fourth quarter with them forcing another three and out and punt on the next Raiders drive.
From their own 18 yard line, the Wildcats offense easily went 82 yards in 10 plays, aided by a 26 yard run from Page to take their first lead of the game. Faced with third and eight, Register (8 of 21 for 111 yards, 2 touchdowns) found Vyshawn Akins on a fade route for an 11 yard score in the far right corner of the end zone.
Both teams traded three and outs on their next possession giving the Raiders one final possession.
Taking over at their own 27 with about four minutes left in the game, the Raiders drove well past midfield thanks to a pair of key Byrd runs including a 32 yard run and a 6 yard run on third and five the latter which moved them down to the 35 yard line with a little over two minutes remaining.
Three short runs and a pair of timeouts stopped the clock with fourth and eight looming for the Raiders.
Orange Park coaches who drew up a special play on the dry erase board while their defense was on the field decided to call the play on fourth down, unfortunately Wildcats coaches had been studying the play for several minutes and had their guys well in position to stop the play.
Byrd’s pass across the middle to a streaking tailback Dejon Williams was broken up by the Wildcats defense, who was all over the play.
Register took a knee two plays later helping the Wildcats pull off the stunning second half rally. The Wildcats racked up 334 total yards (221 rushing, 111 passing) to earn the win, aided by Seth Page (92 yard on 8 carries) and Josh Haygood (88 yards on 7 carries).
The first half was quite the opposite as Orange Park built a 17 point lead thanks to its wildcat single wing direct snap run offense.
Holding the Wildcats to a three and out on their opening possession, the Raiders caught a break with a short punt that was downed at the 28-yard line.
Williams (120 yards on 16 carries) took a direct snap and hit the outside and was untouched racing 28 yards for a score on the Raiders first play from scrimmage giving the Raiders a quick 7-0 lead.
Register connected with Belford on the Wildcats ensuing play from scrimmage and after nearly picking up a first down, Belford lost possession of the ball before going out of bounds and the Raiders recovered.
Aided by a pass interference call on the Wildcats, the Raiders drove inside the nine yard line but couldn’t punch it in and had to settle for a Cate 34-yard field goal increasing the lead to 10-0.
Josh Haygood busted a 28 yard run which set up Jackson Davis 25 yard field which cut the lead to 10-3 with 2:53 left in the first quarter.
Byrd caught the Wildcats off guard with a rare pass attempt and found Marquel Brown across the middle for a 20 yard gain and a 17 yard completion to Tymez Givens on the Raiders ensuing possession which brought them in the red zone again.
However for the second straight series, the Wildcats defense held their ground and forced another field goal attempt as Cate connected on a 25 yard field goal giving the Raiders a 13-3 lead late in the second quarter.
The scoreboard went out and was out of commission the rest of the game following the score forcing the officials to keep the time on the field and the coaches, players, fans, media and announcers guessing the score and time here out.
Getting the ball to open the second half, the Raiders looked well on their way to a playoff bid after driving 76 yards and score on their first possession.
Williams took a snap and found a hole and ran 51 yards on a third and 19 play putting the Raiders inside the 15 yard line. Two plays later, Byrd took a snap and easily raced down the home sideline for a 13 yard score and 20-3 lead minutes into the third quarter.
Orange Park, which managed 201 rushing and 56 passing, was led by Williams (120 yards on 16 carries) and Byrd (76 yards on 14 carries), who was also 3 of 7 for 56 yards passing as well.
The win helped Baker County (4-3, 2-1) remain in contention for one of the two District 5A-5 playoff bids. Baker County travels to Clay (4-3, 3-0) next Friday with the district title on the line.
Orange Park (4-3, 1-2) travels to Palatka in an elimination game next week, with the winner needing a lot of help still to make the playoffs.
