Jackson stars as BHS rolls past East
| Saturday, Nov 07 2009 12:03 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 07 2009 12:03 AM
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A season-long focus on the playoffs appears to have Bakersfield High peaking just at the right time.
Friday night the Drillers were unstoppable as they cut out the mistakes that plagued them during the middle of the season and instead played almost flawlessly in pounding East 61-15.
Alfonso Jackson scored five touchdowns on his first eight touches (four rushing attempts and four receptions) as visiting BHS built a commanding 49-7 halftime lead en route to the victory.
The Drillers (7-2, 4-1 SEYL) were flagged just six times and didn't commit a turnover for the second time in their last three games.
"Our kids are playing great," BHS coach Paul Golla said. "We've had some great practices. Our kids our really focusing on us, what can we do to make ourselves better. We're healthy right now, which is incredible at this point of the season. We've got to get better. We got one week left and then we got the playoffs."
The five TDs were a career high for Jackson, who has played on the varsity since the end of his freshman year.
"I've just got a nose for the end zone," Jackson said. "I was just following my blocks trying to get in there."
The BHS offensive line opened huge holes for everyone that ran behind it.
The Drillers finished with 397 rushing yards on 46 attempts. Eleven backs carried the ball as most of the starters didn't play the second half.
"We are very blessed to have running backs like Alfonso and Walter Hunt and then the fullbacks and offensive line," Golla said, "Our offensive line gets off the ball and they are very aggressive. We're lucky."
The BHS onslaught started early.
After East's first drive was stopped when Joe Pearson fumbled deep in BHS territory, the Drillers responded with an eight-play, 71-yard TD drive that was capped off by an 8-yard Jackson TD run.
Jackson had two more touchdowns before the end of the quarter. With 5:41 left in the quarter he took a handoff from Brian Burrell and ran 17 yards for a score.
Less than two minutes later, Burrell found Jackson wide open down the side line for a 53-yard TD pass.
Burrell finished 8-of-10 for 147 yards passing. He also had 38 yards rushing including a pair of touchdowns.
The Driller offense, which scored on all seven of its first- half possessions, rolled up 422 yards by halftime.
"Every practice we've had probably in the last four weeks has been incredible," Golla said. "We're getting better that way. We've got to keep doing that. It's all about the playoffs. That's what we preach from day one. We really don't sell Buchanan or Liberty or Stockdale. It's about week 11."
Both of East's touchdowns were scored by running back Eric Salazar who had 48 yards on seven carries.
