The Baker Gators will face off against the Zion Chapel Rebels at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Baker is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.
Baker proved they can win big last Friday (they won by 27) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Northview, sneaking past 22-19. The 22-point effort marked the Gators' lowest-scoring matchup of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Baker to victory, but perhaps none more so than Wyatt Straight, who rushed for 132 yards and a pair of scores while picking up 7.8 yards per carry. Straight also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, forcing one fumble, making nine total tackles (1.0 for loss), and defending one pass. Another player making a difference was Justice Baldwin, who rushed for 117 yards and one TD on only five carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Baker was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 258 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in November of 2024.
Another reason for the win was Baker's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for six sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as six different players picked up one apiece.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Zion Chapel, who bounced back after a loss on the road back in September. They strolled past Pike Liberal Arts with points to spare on Friday, taking the game 36-20. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Rebels considering their six-point performance the contest before.
Baker better keep an eye on John Foster Hamm. He was instrumental in Zion Chapel's win, rushing for 171 yards and one touchdown. They are undefeated when Foster Hamm posts 80 or more rushing yards, but 0-3 otherwise. Jerimiah Stinson was another key player, rushing for 109 yards on only seven carries.
Zion Chapel didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. Gunnar Jacobs and Stinson each grabbed an interception.
Baker's win bumped their record up to 7-0. As for Zion Chapel, their victory was their first in the region, bumping their region record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 3-3.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Baker has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 197.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Zion Chapel struggles in that department as they've been averaging 255.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Baker and Zion Chapel were neck-and-neck in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, but Baker came up empty-handed after a 21-20 loss. Will the Gators have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
