Eagles hold off Warriors in slugfest
| Saturday, Oct 25 2008 02:50 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 02:35 PM
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Jake Peterson of Bakersfield Christian makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Tehachapi in the second quarter in a game earlier this season.
What was once an exhibition of the spread offense turned into a matter of survival Friday night for Bakersfield Christian.
Derek Carr threw for a career-high and school-record 441 yards and three touchdowns as BCHS held on for a 40-35 home victory against Tehachapi at Eagle Field.
The Eagles (6-1, 2-0 South Sequoia League) led 34-7 early in the third quarter before Tehachapi rallied, cutting the lead to as little as six midway through the fourth quarter.
"I wouldn't say nervous, but you do get anxious, because you wonder what they're going to come out and do," Carr said of a high-flying affair that puts BCHS atop the SSL with Taft. "That's what I'm so proud of everybody doing today. When we needed a play, everybody stayed calm."
Carr found five different receivers, all for at least two catches and 40 yards, and he had 248 passing yards at halftime. He found Jake Peterson for a 20-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the first half -- on a spectacular, one-handed catch by Peterson as he fell backwards — and Colby Herron for a 25-yard score on the Eagles' first offensive play of the second half.
By that time, it was 34-7 with 10:52 to go in the third quarter, and it appeared the rout was on.
"The coaches got us really prepared for what defense they were going to come out in," Carr said. "We were just hoping they were going to come out in that 3-3 stack (with five defensive backs dropped into the secondary), and that's what they came out in. That opened up holes for us, created mismatches."
Tehachapi (3-4, 1-1), the defending SSL champion, adapted its running-oriented Wing-T attack into comeback mode, consistently finding receivers open over the middle of the field off of play action.
"They're a running team, and we didn't expect it," said BCHS' Herron, who finished with 11 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns on offense. "We thought they were going to pass like five times the whole game."
The Warriors quickly scored on a 70-yard pass from Kurtis Knudson to Josh Strauss to cut the lead to 34-14, then got the ball back and, driven by two more long passes to Strauss, drove down for a 14-yard touchdown run by Adam Mullen to cut it to 34-21.
Mullen ran for 138 yards and two scores, and Strauss caught six passes for 203 yards and added 122 rushing yards. Knudson was 11-of-16 passing for 305 yards. For Bakersfield Christian, Jake Peterson caught 10 passes for 123 yards to add to Herron's total.
Tehachapi actually outgained BCHS 558-498, but the Warriors fumbled four times and turned the ball over on downs on another possession.
"We dug ourselves a hole in the first half, and that hurt," Tehachapi coach Steve Denman said. "When you have that many turnovers, that just kills you. But we played a great game; we just made a few more mistakes then they did."
The Warriors scored again to cut the lead to 34-28 with 7:48 to play, but then the BCHS offense got back on track. The Eagles scored in two plays -- a 51-yard strike down the sideline to Aryton Oliver and a 24-yard TD run from Christian Taylor.
Still, it wasn't enough. Tehachapi scored with 2:30 to play on Knudson's second touchdown pass, this one to Mullen, and cut the lead to 40-35.
BCHS' Marcus Hall recovered the ensuing onside kick, but instead of trying to kill the clock, the Eagles continued to pass -- effectively. They drove inside the Tehachapi 10-yard line before kneeling on the ball -- putting the brakes on a wild game.
"I've been saying all week that this was going to be a fun game," BCHS coach Doug Barnett said. "Whoever had the ball last was going have an opportunity to win. I didn't want to say that all week, but that's what it turned out to be."
