Drillers add to school's lore with 700th win
| Saturday, Oct 24 2009 12:20 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Oct 24 2009 12:20 AM
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Bakersfield High School, with its record six state titles and 34 section championships, has long been considered the gold standard when it comes to high school football in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Friday night, the Drillers added to their impressive gridiron legacy by beating Foothill 40-14 at Griffith Field to become the first school in state history to notch 700 wins.
"It's incredible to be blessed to be part of a program like this," BHS coach Paul Golla said. "We talked to the kids and told them we didn't win the 700 games. That's for all the guys that have been here before us. We talk about playing for those before and setting a standard for those that come after us. You learn from the past, live in the present and hope for the future."
Twelve of the 700 victories came between 1910 and 1914 when the Central Section played rugby instead of football. Regardless, Cal Hi Sports and Central Section historian Bob Barnett both count them towards the school's football total.
Quarterback Brian Burrell led the BHS offensive attack in No. 700, rushing for 59 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 97 yards and another score.
Drillers running back Alfonso Jackson added 140 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
The large homecoming crowd on hand for the game included numerous former BHS varsity football players.
"I think one thing we can say is the program has really been on top," said Paul Watkins Jr., a member of the Drillers' 1956 section championship team. "To win 700 games is an outstanding feat for us. There aren't too many schools now that are going to get there."
BHS led 20-0 at halftime, but the margin could have been much larger. The Drillers had four touchdowns called back by penalties.
The Drillers were flagged 19 times for 187 yards and had another score called back in the second half.
"All year it's not been this way, and all of a sudden it was basically unbelievable," Golla said. "We'll watch video. and we've got to get back to the basics and take it from there."
Jackson capped BHS' second possession of the second quarter with a 29-yard touchdown run.
"Our kids played hard the last three weeks, and I like where they're coming," Golla said. "But we've got to keep getting better because really it's not about where we are at now; it's Week 11 when we get to the playoffs."
The Drillers defense held Foothill to just 64 yards in the first half. The Trojans were forced to punt on four of their five possessions. The other one ended when Foothill failed to convert on fourth-and-4 from near midfield as Ryan Rangle's pass was incomplete.
Rangle completed just one pass all night, a 64-yarder to Roger Ruiz that setup the first of two 6-yard touchdown runs by the Foothill quarterback.
Despite its sloppy play at times, BHS out-gained Foothill 520 to 195.
"They're a very good football team, very physical up front," Foothill coach Mke Gregg said. "They pretty much got us up front and they have some speedsters on the outside to go with it."
BHS jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on a Burrell 7-yard touchdown run. Jackson setup the score with a spectacular 35-yard dash one play earlier.
The Drillers upped it lead to 20-0 with 29 seconds left in the first half on a 1-yard plunge up the middle by Dakota Velasquez. The score came five plays after Foothill helped the 55-yard BHS drive alive by roughing Craig McMahon as he missed a 44-yard field goal.
Burrell helped seal the Drillers 18th straight win over the Trojans in the third quarter with a 57-yard TD pass to Walter Hunt before powering 8-yards for a touchdown after a Foothill turnover gave BHS a short field.
