In a game that appeared to have all the makings of an upset, the Ida Baker Bulldogs fell short of pulling it off Friday night as the Island Coast Gators pulled away late for 27-10 victory at Bulldog Field.

“Our defense played well enough for us to win,” said Baker coach Brian Conn. “We just didn’t execute well enough on offense to finish the game.”

Baker caught Island Coast off guard with a short kick just over the head of the front line, landing in the hands of Baker’s Brian Tirado at the Island Coast 25-yard line. Six straight powerful runs by junior Jeremy Betts rushed the ball inside the 10-yard line.

The offense was unable to convert a third-and-seven, and Dylan Miller drilled a 24-yard field goal to give Baker an early lead.

Another short kickoff, this time recovered by the Gators, gave their offense good field position for their first drive. A false start set the Gators back on third down, but running back Mario Pender took a toss left and sprinted down the sideline to the Bulldog 17-yard line.

A run by fullback Louis King got the ball inside the 10-yard line, and two plays later quarterback Mike Dumas scored on a two-yard sneak.

The rest of the first half saw sloppy play by both teams. Island Coast recovered a kickoff muffed by Baker, but failed to convert on a fourth-and-inches.

Then it was Baker which failed to convert a fourth-and-short in Island Coast territory. Two plays later the Gators gave the ball back with a poor exchange between quarterback Mike Dumas and Mario Pender.

Pender was held in check throughout the game, with a season-low 120 yards on 16 carries.

The Gators defense brought energy to their sideline by blocking a Bulldog field goal late in the second quarter, but their offense gave the ball back to the Bulldogs after three plays. The Bulldogs got down to the Gator 15-yard line, but a sack by Pender and a deflection by safety Jordan Diggs brought an end to the half.

Diggs had several tackles and deflections in his debut with the Gators after being ruled eligible by the FHSAA last weekend.

The second half was dominated by Gators running back T.J. Johnson, who had been playing wide receiver in the first half, scored on his first touch of the game. The score was set up by an interception of a screen pass by Gator defensive lineman Jackson Bourque.

It was on a fourth-and-one that Johnson’s number was called. He took the handoff, sprinting left through the hole between the guard and tackle and into the end zone.

Baker quarterback Reese Attwood responded by marching the offense down the field and capping the drive with a 20-yard pass to Cecil Fitch, who dodged a defender for the score. The Gators then resorted to their wildcat offense, putting Pender at quarterback and Johnson at running back.

Johnson used a nifty juke to set up his next touchdown, a 31-yard run. Johnson scored one more time for the final score of the night, giving him three touchdowns and 84 yards.

Island Coast7 0 6 14 – 27

Ida Baker3 0 0 7 – 10

First Quarter

IB – FG, Dylan Miller 24

IC – Mike Dumas 2 run (Kevin Vigne kick)

Third Quarter

IC – T.J. Johnson 15 yard run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

IB – Cecil Fitch 20 pass from Reese Attwood (Miller kick)

IC – Johnson 36 run (Vigne kick)

IC – Johnson 28 run (Vigne kick)