CIF Division I Bowl: Bakersfield wins first state title in 86 years

Photo by Louis Lopez
Nevada-bound Asauni Rufus rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns leading Bakersfield to the State Division I Bowl championship with a 56-26 win over Del Oro. Video highlights of the first half.

Del Oro first half highlights

CARSON, Calif. — The long wait between state football titles for Bakersfield (Calif.) was decided by a very quick quarterback and short third-quarter spurt.

Asauni Rufus, a dyanmic 6-foot, 190-pound senior signal caller, rushed for 184 yards and two scores and threw for another as Bakersfield (13-2) sprinted to a 56-26 Division I Bowl Game victory Friday over Del Oro (Loomis) before 5,923 fans at StubHub Center.

Rufus, who came in with 1,647 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, scored on runs of 6 and 21 yards and made numerous big runs to the edge as Bakersfield won its first state title of any kind since 1927. The state's winningest program won its 749th game and seventh state title, but first in the State Bowl era which began in 2006.

There were no California state championships of any form from 1928 to 2005.

"It feels indescribable," said Rufus, who will play next season at Nevada. "This title wasn't just for our program, but the city of Bakersfield and all those transplanted across the country.

"I'm quite sure there were Driller teams from the 40s, 50s 60s and beyond who would have won titles too. But this sure feels good to get one now after all these years."

A competitive game changed quickly in the third quarter following a fake punt by Bakersfield Kevin Hayes, who went for 13 yards and on the next play, Jeremiah Reddick sprinted 47 yards for a touchdown.

On Del Oro's next play from scrimmage, quarterback Michael Moore was intercepted by Nathaniel Stancil — one of four on the game for Bakersfield — on a screen pass and returned it to the 1. On the next play, Derrick Vickers scored and suddenly Bakersfield was comfortably in front, up 42-17 with 6:38 left in the half.

Del Oro (13-3) didn't get to this point by lying down, and came back with a safety by Brandon Johnson and Dylan Kainrath's third touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run making it 42-26 early in the fourth quarter. Kainrath finished with 35 carries and 198 yards.

But Rufus broke off a 60-yard run, setting up a 1-yard TD run by Marcus Bruce, and then Hayes put the finishing touches on this one with an 89-yard interception return for touchdown with 3:07 remaining. 

"Del Oro gave us a lot of sleepless nights coming into the game," Bakersfield coach Paul Golla said. "And they showed why tonight. They play with such passion and grit and never give in. They are are a high character team. But I like to think we are too and I can't tell you how much pride this team plays with. I thought we played a tremendous games — excellent blocking, great big plays, no turnovers. And of course it all starts with our quarterback. He's pretty good."

The season didn't look so good at 2-2 following a 27-7 home defeat to Long Beach Poly.

"This (a state title) wasn't nearly on our radar at that point," Golla said. "We had a lot of work to do and we progressively got better and better and better each week. I couldn't be prouder of the guys."

Bakersfield took the opening drive and went 68 yards in just five plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Jeremiah Reddick, who broke a couple tackles to get in.

A 31-yard hitch pass from Rufus to Hayes, set up the score, which was answered immediately by Del Oro, which went 73 yards on five plays, capped with an 11-yard TD run by Kainrath.

Like Reddick, Kainrath broke a couple tackles before plunging into the end zone. A beautiful 49-yard pass from Moore to Trey Udoffia set up the score which tied the scored at 7-7 with 8:30 left in the first quarter.

It took Bakersfield less than three minutes to get the lead right back on a 15-yard pass from Rufus to Lameshio Hill, making it 14-7. Once again, Kainrath and Del Oro answered. The Golden Eagles drove 80 yards in seven plays capped by a 1-yard run from Kainrath, who set up the score with a 45-yard scamper, tying the score at 14.

Right back sprinted Bakersfield as Vickers took back the ensuing kickoff 76 yards, setting up a 6-yard TD run by Rufus on a terrific fake.

A short punt and long return, gave Bakersfield another short field, this time it took over at the Del Oro 21. On the first play, Rufus motored around the right edge, cut it it inside for a another nifty touchdown, making it 28-14 with 11:04 left in the half.

Del Oro cut it to 28-17 by halftime on a 29-yard field goal from Mason Humes, but Bakersfield had finally figured out how to pressure Moore and contain Kainrath.

Bakersfield sacked Moore seven times, intercepted four passes and forced five turnovers. The Drillers, meanwhile, didn't turn the ball over. Bakersfield's defensive effort was spread around beautiful as seven different players recorded sacks and four different players had interceptions.

"We're a complete team," Rufus said. "We showed it all season, but especially tonight. I couldn't be prouder of our guys and our community." Bakersfield 56, Del Oro 26
Del Oro      26
Del Oro      14   3   0   9  - 26
Bakersfield 21  7  14 14  - 56

First quarter
B - Jay Reddick 3 run (Olivas Coleman kick), 10:22
D - Dylan Kainrath 11 run (Mason Humes), 8:30
B - Lameshio 15 pass from Asuni Rufus (Coleman kick)
D - Kainrath 1 run (Humes kick), 2:07
B - Rufus 6 run (Coleman kick), 0:53

Second quarter
B - Rufus 21 run (Coleman kick), 11:04
D - FG, Humes 29, 6:56

Third quarter
B - Reddick 47 run (Coleman kick)
B - Vickers 1 run (Coleman kick)

Fourth quarter
D - Kainrath 1 run (Humes kick), 11:14
D - Safety
B - Marcus Bruce 1 run (Coleman kick)
B - Kevin Hayes 89 interception return (Coleman kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Del Oro — Kainrath 35 198, Tyler Meteer 1-3, D. Pericin 1-2, Moore 7-(-76). Totals 44-127. Bakersfield — Rufus 19-184, Reddick 6-69, Vickers 4-21, Bruce 6-20, Hill4-13, Hayes 1-17, Malone 3-5, team 3-(-4). Totals 46-320.

PASSING
Del Oro — Moore 17-31-4-232. Bakersfield — Rufus 5-7-0-71.

RECEIVING
Del Oro — Meteer 6-83, Udoffia 4-67, Heryford 3-29, Kainrath 2-26, Travis Newman 1-27, Kyle Wells 1-0. Bakersfield — Vickers 3-27, Hayes 1-29, Hill 1-15.

TACKLES
Del Oro — Johah Mekebri 10, Justin Burrage 9, Tanner Woods 6, Elias Campos 6. Bakersfield — J. Malone 9, Bryson Briggs 7, Nigel Brooks 7.

SACKS
Del Oro — Johnson. Bakersfield — Malone, Brigs, Brooks, Bruce, Reddick, Stancil, Sanchez.

INTERCEPTIONS
Bakersfield — Darias Dalls, Vickers, Hayes, Stancil.

TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Del Oro 23, Bakersfield 16
Net yards rushing: Del Oro 127, Bakersfield 320
Net yards passing: Del Oro 232, Bakerfield 71
Total yards: Del Oro 359, Bakersfield 391
Time of possession: Del Oro 28:39, Bakersfield 19:21
Third down conversion: Del Oro 6-of-17, Bakersfield 4-10
Turnovers: Del Oro 5, Bakersfield 0