MaxPreps 2013 CIF State Bowl Preview: Division I, Bakersfield vs. Del Oro

Del Oro (Loomis) (13-2) vs. Bakersfield (12-2)
8 p.m. Friday at StubHub Center in Carson


Rankings
Del Oro: 22 state, 138 national.
Bakersfield: 7 state, 40 national.

Notable alumni
Del Oro: Randy Fasani (Stanford, NFL), Mark McLemore (MLB) and James Irvin (MMA).
Bakersfield: Frank Gifford (NFL), Jake Varner (Olympic wrestler), Darrell Vasquez (California's only four-time state wrestling champion) and Earl Warren (former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court).

Leading rushers
Del Oro: Dylan Kainrath (340 carries, 1890 yards, 24 touchdowns).
Bakersfield: Asauni Rufus (209-1647-29), Derrick Vickers (66-674-8), Jeremiah Reddick (71-623-9).

Leading passers
Del Oro: Michael Moore (162-for-275, 2322 yards, 29 touchdowns, 7 interceptions).
Bakersfield: Rufus (87 of 127-1504-11-1).

Leading receivers
Del Oro: Tyler Meteer (64 catches, 849 yards, 9 touchdowns), Trey Udoffia (28-502-9).
Bakersfield: Vickers (27-466-3), Kevin Hayes (24-416-3).

Points per game (allowed)
Del Oro: 33.7 (21.3).
Bakersfield: 43.9 (16.6).

Less fluff, more tough.

That's the theme of this year's Division I title battle between two programs with amazing history in their respective areas.

Del Oro's Golden Eagles come from the Sac-Joaquin Section's Division II bracket, where they pulled off a miraculous comeback to defeat Elk Grove for the section title. They won that contest 20-19 after trailing 19-0 in the fourth quarter, then took that momentum into the Regional Bowl with a 28-20 triumph over Serra (San Mateo) in a tough contest. This program lost the 2011 Division II State Bowl and is second all-time in the SJS with nine titles and 14 title-game appearances since 1971.

The Drillers of Bakersfield torched the Central Section Division I group, winning three games that ended with a running clock. They outscored three playoff opponents 149-48 and then scored in the final minute in the Regional Bowl to defeat Mission Hills (San Marcos) 35-28. Bakersfield owns more wins than any other school in state history (748), and holds 36 Central Section titles.

They have success over the course of history in common, and also have a tenacity that makes them somewhat similar. Each plays physical run-first football, and each has defenders that love smashing opponents. Whichever team wins won't have earned it easily.


It all starts with Rufus. The goal is to get the ball in the hands of your most dangerous player and Bakersfield does that every time, snapping the ball to the senior who is set to play defensive back at Nevada after high school. He leads a triple-option attack that requires defenders to make quick choices, and when those defenders commit, Rufus usually has an answer to get through or around them. He has rushed for more yards than he has passed for, showing just how good he is at the option. Vickers and Reddick each have about the same stats as part of what is called a five-headed monster, so the defense can't key on one of them in particular as Rufus' first option.

So that's the run. But it's the pass that could be the biggest factor in this game. Rufus set season highs for passing yardage in the section-title win over Clovis North (180 yards) and the Regional Bowl against Mission Hills (224). Out of 21 attempts in those two games, he's completed 20.

"We've never been this deep at the running back spot," Bakersfield coach Paul Golla told the Bakersfield Californian. "We've had tremendous running backs, but we probably have five or six guys that we feel absolutely comfortable with. And we wouldn't choose one over another."

The Golden Eagles have the individuals to disrupt that offense, led by defensive end Tanner Woods (10 sacks, including four in the Regional Bowl) and linebacker Tyler Meteer (126 tackles). Blowing up some of the option runners and disrupting pulling linemen will be just as important for them as registering sacks and tackles. Linebacker Jonah Mekebri will also be a key player. When Bakersfield looks to pass, it may want to avoid sophomore Justin Burrage, who has seven interceptions.


You know what you're going to get from the Golden Eagles offense: Lots of Kainrath and a solid amount of Moore. They don't spread the ball around too much when it comes to carries (Kainrath has 340, Moore is next with 31) and Moore isn't going to try and scramble much at all (31 carries). It's an offense that doesn't try to fool people too much, instead relying on an experienced offensive line that has lived up to the expectations put upon it before the season began, led by Brandon Johnson.

Moore has done a good job of getting the ball to different receivers this season, with 28 catches each going to Udoffia and Therin Heryford and 64 to Meteer. Success by Kainrath will create opportunities in play-action that will definitely aid the receivers and Moore.

Just like their offense, the Drillers' defense is a unique style that few teams employ. Bakersfield runs a 3-3-5 scheme, but where the Drillers set themselves apart from tradition is that nobody starts the play in a three- or four-point stance. Del Oro coach Casey Taylor told the Sacramento Bee that the defensive style is something that he'll have to learn how to attack. The defensive backs are great on this squad, with Kevin Hayes (Oregon State commit), Vickers and Rufus doing work.

"They’re very good, very athletic, very scary. Defensively, they have no defensive linemen with their hands in the dirt. They run and attack. It’s something new," Del Oro coach Casey Taylor said.


Vickers returns kickoffs for Bakersfield, Udoffia does for Del Oro. Udoffia also takes punts, returning one for a touchdown against Mission Hills ... Coleman Olivas is 80-for-85 on extra points for Bakersfield, but 2-for-8 on field goals. He does have a long of 52 yards. Mason Humes kicks for the Golden Eagles and is perfect on 63 extra point attempts, plus 9-for-19 on field goals ... Bakersfield seeks its seventh state title, with all six coming in the early 1900's ... Del Oro comes from the Sierra Foothill League, which out of six teams has three that have reached State Bowls (Rocklin and Granite Bay are the others) ... Bakersfield owns three state wrestling titles: 2002, '04 and '10 ... The boys and girls basketball teams from Del Oro have reached the Regional finals in basketball twice each, but are 0-4 total, falling one win short of state title games.