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Scores and Photos of Friday night high school football - Sept. 18
The Baylor Red Raiders sprinted to an undefeated start, embracing the under-the-radar status that comes with a new season and a new quarterback.
But their fifth game of the year - a date with Division II-AA perennial power Brentwood Academy - would be a measuring stick.
The outcome was clear and decisive: The Eagles are a physical force. And Baylor can take a punch and respond.
"We talked at halftime that it's a 48-minute game," Baylor coach Phillip Massey said after his team suffered its first loss of the season, 42-30 Friday at home. "And we took their best punch and fought to the end."
No. 5-ranked Brentwood Academy (4-1) built a 29-0 lead. If Baylor fans were wondering about the tag number of the truck that rolled through Heywood Stadium early, those digits are, from the right, 70-50-72-65-75. Those are the jersey numbers of the powerful offensive line that includes three Southeastern Conference commitments and arguably the best position core in the state.
That's the group that pushed the Eagles to more points in the first 18 minutes than Baylor had allowed in any of its previous four games. That was the group that helped generate more touchdowns than Baylor had first downs in the first two quarters.
Other than the performance of swarming linebacker Ryan Parker, who had at least eight tackles in the first half for Baylor, Brentwood Academy's offense dictated the flow early.
"We are never going to quit," said Parker, who had 19 tackles at his normal linebacker spot and added two touchdown runs while rushing for 124 yards. "They punched us in the mouth, but we responded.
"We are brothers, and we wanted to show that we could play with the best teams in the state."
Parker and the Red Raiders answered the bell and rallied from a monumental early hole.
As has become his modus operandi, BA junior Jeremiah Oatsvall continued to torment Hamilton County foes. The mercurial quarterback, who was born at Erlanger 17 years ago before moving to the midstate, was the catalyst - and the beneficiary of the guardian anchors up front - to the quick start.
Jeremiah Football ran for 136 yards and two scores and passed for 247 yards and three more touchdowns.
"We know in this league that every week you have to show up and play," BA coach Cody White said. "That's the way we have to approach every game."
Despite the early tsunami, Baylor kept fighting. And the Red Raiders continue to turn big plays into big momentum.
Down 29-0 after the first 20 minutes, the Red Raiders converted a blocked punt into a Wil Austin-to-Gage Upshaw touchdown right before halftime.
A red-zone interception jumpstarted a Baylor drive that turned into Parker's first score, and a Ulysses Strawter fumble return for a score made things exceedingly interesting.
In the one-score game with pressure mounting, BA continue to lean on its dominating offensive line. Still, despite the early avalanche, Baylor never gave up.
"We challenged them at halftime," Massey said, "and now I think they know they can play with anybody in the state.
"That's a very good team with a great offensive line, and we were right there until the end."