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Stockdale shocks BHS, 34-29

BHS struggles to slow down Stockdale's Wing T

BY ZACH EWING, Californian staff writer
zewing@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Sep 20 2008 12:07 AM

Last Updated: Saturday, Sep 20 2008 12:11 AM

At first, the changing of the guard in Bakersfield football came shrouded in Stockdale's black uniforms and the deception of the Wing T offense.

But after a while, as confidence grew, it came right at the Bakersfield High Drillers. And they were powerless to stop it.

Stockdale (2-0) out-gunned defending Division I Central Section champion Bakersfield 34-29 at home Friday, equaling its win total from a year ago in stunning fashion.

"That's the greatest feeling in the world, right there," Stockdale junior Malik Henderson said. "Beating the Valley champions, that's great."

J.D. Reed intercepted Alex Mitchell at the Stockdale 25-yard line with 4:31 to play and Stockdale, aided by two all-too-common BHS penalties, was able to run out the clock from there, igniting a standing-room-only crowd.

"This is probably the biggest game we had on our schedule, with all the hype going on in the news and everything," Stockdale senior Stephen Silva said. "This win, I'm just speechless."

The Drillers (1-1) had defeated Southern Section power Canyon Country-Canyon 38-32 in their first game but were crippled by 16 penalties for 124 yards, including pass interference and illegal helmet contact calls, both on third down, to keep Stockdale's final drive alive.

"How many times did we jump offside?" Bakersfield coach Paul Golla said. "Stockdale did an unbelievable job, but we certainly have to clean some things up."

That's not to say Stockdale didn't make its fair share of plays. After BHS junior Alfonso Jackson broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run on the game's second play from scrimmage, the Mustangs answered with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that ended when quarterback Efren Venegas faked a handoff to Stephen Silva and kept the ball for a 3-yard scoring run.

Stockdale's extra point was blocked, and it gave up a safety on its next drive, but after that the Wing T clinic continued.

Stephen Silva, who finished with 116 yards, broke a tackle and made several other Drillers miss on a 43-yard touchdown to put the Mustangs ahead 13-9, and Venegas hit Emmanuel Ossai for a 43-yard scoring pass just before halftime with BHS' defense pushed up against the run.

"Every play, their defense was bouncing around ? they didn't know what to do," said Henderson, who ran for 113 yards on four carries, including a 78-yard reverse that set up Stockdale's final touchdown. "We kept mixing it up, man."

Not bad for a team that is in its first year learning the Wing T under Mike Snow. The coach even admitted before the season that the Mustangs might have a "slow start."

Henderson scored on a 34-yard reverse on the opening drive of the second half to make it 27-16, and though Bakersfield continued to answer, it never made up the extra possession.

Jackson ran for his second TD on a fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs batted away Mitchell's two-point conversion pass and then intercepted him on the next drive.

"Hey, they're defending champs, and this is exhilarating," Snow said as he hugged players. "Coming into the game, we thought we could make plays, and if we stayed disciplined, we would be all right. And that's exactly what happened."

The Stockdale victory turns the section on its head. Bakersfield hadn't lost since a one-point defeat to Centennial at this time last year, and as the Drillers were winning the D-I title, Stockdale was limping to a 2-8 finish.

"This is a new season," Silva said, the grin spreading across his face. "Anything can change; anything can happen."

EXTRA POINT: Stockdale's Central Section champion baseball team from last spring was honored in a halftime ceremony that included U.S. representative Kevin McCarthy.

Earlier Friday, McCarthy read a statement before Congress honoring the Stockdale team, which finished 31-2 and beat Clovis 7-6 in eight innings for the section title. The team finished No. 2 in California and No. 20 nationally in CalHiSports' rankings.

Stockdale's players received their championship rings and medals, a copy of the Congressional statement and a CD of the radio broadcast from the championship game.