BRADENTON – An angry Ida Baker defense responded emphatically after allowing its first touchdown of the season. More than 156 minutes into the season, the Bulldogs surrendered their first touchdown – a three-yard run by Lakewood Ranch.

When it mattered most, the Bulldogs’ defense delivered with a goal-line stand and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, both in the fourth quarter, sealing a 37-8 victory Friday night over the Mustangs.

For the first time in school history, Baker is 4-0, and it has that standout defense to thank for it.

The Bulldogs built a 16-0 lead before Lakewood Ranch (2-2) connected on a 70-yard bomb from quarterback Reggie Lindsey to Octavious Washington. Two players later, the Mustangs scored the first TD allowed by Baker in 14 quarters this season. Yet, it hardly fazed the unit.

“I was expecting a little bit more disappointment, but they knew we let up one there and they weren’t going to let it up in the second half,” Baker coach Brian Conn said.

The Bulldogs backed up Conn’s confidence with a stellar showing in the fourth quarter. After Lakewood Ranch drove 50 yards in 15 plays, taking 6:36 off the clock, Baker had to stop a third-and-goal at the 3-yard line, clinging to a 23-8 lead with 11 minutes to play. The Mustangs’ tight end came open in the flat, but Christian Rivera tipped the ball away at the last possible second.

A five-yard penalty pushed it back to fourth-and-goal at the 8, and the Mustangs tried to find 6-foot-3 receiver Octavious Washington on the fade route. Joseph Byrd deflected the ball and prevented the Mustangs from sullying the defense’s reputation with another touchdown.

“It felt good for me to finally knock it away,” Byrd said.

Baker needed one more big defensive play after the Mustangs forced a punt. The Mustangs had the ball in Baker territory after a short kick, and Lindsey tried to break outside on the Bulldogs. He couldn’t escape the Baker pursuit and fumbled the ball. Sean Montoney scooped up the pigskin and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to finally put away the Mustangs, who knocked off East Lee County on a last-minute field goal a week earlier.

“You can’t give a good team opportunities,” Lakewood Ranch coach Shawn Trent said.

Baker capitalized on all of its chances in the first half. After Lakewood Ranch missed a field goal on the first possession of the game, the Bulldogs started strong with a 12-yard pass play. Byrd took over from there, rushing four times for 49 yards, including a scintillating 30-yard dash around right end down to the 3-yard line.

“He’s got good instincts, and he’s always looking to bust the big one,” Conn said.

Andrew Haynes plunged in from a yard out to begin the Bulldogs’ scoring and finished the night with another TD late in the fourth quarter.

When Lakewood Ranch failed to gain a first down on its second drive, the Bulldogs picked up two more points when the snap sailed over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety.

Byrd scored on a four-yard run on the ensuing possession and after the Mustangs’ touchdown, the Bulldogs responded with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jacob York just 23 seconds before halftime.

The Bulldogs host North Port next Friday night.

Ida Baker 7 16 0 14 – 37

L. Ranch 0 8 0 0 – 8

First Quarter

IB – Andrew Haynes 1 run (Cody Kluesner kick), 2:46

Second Quarter

IB – Safety, Lakewood Ranch snaps punt out of the end zone, 10:23

IB – Joseph Byrd 4 run (Kluesner kick), 5:56

LR – Taryn Laws 3 run (Laws run), 2:24

IB – Jacob York 9 pass from Sean Francis (Kluesner kick), :23.7

Fourth Quarter

IB – Sean Montoney 44 fumble return (Kluesner kick), 8:19

IB – Haynes 2 run (Kluesner kick), 1:14