It was a clear, warm weathered night for football on September 5th 2014 at Ratcliffe Stadium. The stadium played host to a matchup between arguably the top two teams in the Central Sections division 1 conference. The Bakersfield Drillers are last year’s California state champions and had a 12 game winning streak going into this game. The Edison Tigers have never beaten the Drillers before in four previous tries. Yet, the tigers are not a team used to losing. They had only lost 2 of their last 12 games going into this contest.
Going into and following the pre-game warm ups, you can feel the energy in the air that night between the two teams. Both teams appeared to be coordinated and precise as they ran their drills. Both teams made a grand entrance onto the field to begin the game; displaying the intensity and focus they were going to bring. The fans for both sides were also pumped up, and ready to watch some good smash mouth football.
Edison started the game with the ball, but went three and out on their first drive. The first quarter was mostly filled with defensive stands, as both teams came out hitting hard. Edison then committed an encroachment penalty when Bakersfield was faced with a fourth down that they were attempting to convert. This gave Bakersfield new life with a first down, which subsequently led to a Marcus Bruce 8 yard touchdown run that gave The Drillers the first score of the game. (7-0)
Edison answered back in the following drive by driving all the way down to the 12 yard line. After failing to score on a third down play, Edison brought out kicker Bill Xiong to attempt a 27 yard field goal. The ball was snapped and placed, but Bill’s kick failed to catch air and hit the backs of the offensive linemen instead. Edison would abandon the kicking game after that dud field goal attempt. Bakersfield would maintain their seven point lead. (7-0)
The second quarter saw more defensive stands and punts, as the teams were both focused in on playing solid defense. Hunter Swearingen’s interception gave Bakersfield good field position towards the end of the second quarter. This good field position led to a KeAyr Gragg touchdown pass to none other than Marcus Bruce. This was Marcus Bruce’s second touchdown of the game, and it gave Bakersfield a 14 point lead going into halftime. (14-0)
Bakersfield drilled a good size hole in the game, but the hole wasn’t big enough to bury Edison’s hopes. Bakersfield started with the ball in the second half, but couldn’t do anything with it. Then, all of a sudden Edison came to life. Khai Williams showed his lightning fast speed and his tiger eye, as he scores a touchdown with an 80 yard scamper. As stated earlier, Edison had abandoned its kicking game. Therefore, the Tigers failed to convert on their two point conversion attempt. Bakersfield’s lead was cut down to only 8 points now. (14-6)
Edison’s next drive was cut short by Hunter Swearingen’s second interception of the game. But the Tigers drive after that interception was a little longer, as Edison drove the ball all the way to Bakersfield’s goal line with some impressive and elusive runs by A.J. Greeley. Edison then fumbled the ball at the goal line, which was recovered by Bakersfield to end the scoring threat. This was Edison’s third turnover of the game, and a very costly one as they could have tied the game with that score. Bakersfield was hanging on to an 8 point lead still. (14-6)
Bakersfield failed to score in the third quarter, but did show some promise in their kicking game. To end the third quarter, The Drillers called on Coleman Olivas who was two for two on extra points for the day. This was no chip shot; he was on the field to attempt an NFL caliber 56 yard field goal! The ball was snapped and placed, the kick had good air and distance, but was just wide left. Although the field goal was missed, it was still an impressive thing to see. (14-6)
Edison came out flying in the fourth quarter with a gutsy and bold play call. The tigers successfully did a sweep hand-off to the running back that then reverse pitched it to a wide receiver, who then flea flickered it back to quarterback Hunter Swearingen. Hunter Swearingen then tossed a 47 yard bomb to a wide open Kamron Lewis for the trick play touchdown. The failed two point conversion only gave the Tigers six points, which meant Bakersfield was still clinging on to a slim two point lead. (14-12)
Edison was not afraid to throw the ball deep down the field, as Hunter Swearingen and Kamron Lewis connected on another deep pass. This set them up with the ball on Bakersfield’s 40 yard line, with four minutes left in the game. After some more impressive A.J. Greeley runs Edison faced a fourth down on The Drillers 18 yard line, they could have called on Bill Xiong to kick the go-ahead field goal. But since they lost all confidence in their kicker after that dud field goal in the first quarter, they decided to go for it on fourth down. Hunter Swearingen overthrew his receiver in the back of the end zone, and gave Bakersfield the ball back with a two point lead and three minutes left in the game. (14-12)
As the Edison fans chanted, “get the ball back”; The Bakersfield fans were beginning to show concern as their team hadn’t scored yet in the second half. Bakersfield ran the ball to run down the clock and possibly get some first downs which would have crushed Edison’s hopes of winning the game. Instead, Edison managed to burn their remaining time outs and stop last year’s state champions from getting a first down. Bakersfield punted the ball back to Edison with a minute and 39 seconds left in the game. This was Edison’s last chance at redemption. (14-12)
Edison managed to see a fourth down play early in the drive but converted on a clutch pass and catch to get the first down. Then once again Hunter Swearingen connected on a deep pass to no other than Kamron Lewis, which got them to The Drillers 12 yard line with 28 seconds left. After some missed passes, another fourth down was brought up for Edison who was still at The Drillers 12 yard line with not 20 seconds left. It was now decision time for Edison. Do they go for it on fourth down? Or do they put the game on the leg of Bill Xiong? (14-12)
Edison went bold and brave once again, and decided to put the game on the leg of Bill Xiong. The kicker whose first field goal attempt in the first quarter was so bad they decided to abandon the kicking game for the rest of the game. Yes, that Bill Xiong. Everybody in the stadium that night was at the edge of their seats as the now infamous kicker set up for the possibly game deciding 32 yard field goal. The ball was snapped and properly placed; Bill Xiong managed to get air under his kick. The ball seemed to be floating in the air forever, as you can hear a pin drop in the silence of the drawn crowd. The kick had the distance and was kicked beautifully down the middle. Bill Xiong dramatically made a 32 yard go-ahead field goal. Edison now had a one point lead with 15 seconds left in the game. (14-15)
The ensuing kick-off for Edison proved to be difficult, as two penalties caused them to do two re-kicks. Bakersfield managed to return the ball well and get off one pass play to get the ball to Edison’s 38 yard line with three seconds left. The Drillers then called their last time out to set up Coleman Olivas for a game winning 53 yard field goal. Coleman was knowingly capable of making this field goal because he almost made a 56 yard field goal earlier in the game. The ball was snapped and placed, but the kick was BLOCKED by Edison Lineman Leevel Tatum! Fans rushed the field in celebration of the huge win. Edison just earned their first win against last year’s state champions and ended their winning streak of 12 games. The final score was: Bakersfield 14, Edison 15.
For the second week in a row, the FresYes! Featured game of the week was decided by only 1 point, and came down to the last play of the game. Exciting games like this are rare. However, they happen just about every Friday night in the Fresno/Clovis area.
Game Notes
Edison Tigers
Passing – Hunter Swearingen: 10 for 21, 190 yards, 2 Interceptions, 1Touchdown.
Receiving – Kamron Lewis: 6 receptions, 152 yards, 1 Touchdown.
Rushing – AJ Greeley: 11 Carries, 77 yards; Khai Williams: 19 Carries, 161 Yards, 1 Touchdown
*Marching Band warned about playing music during “live ball” play in third quarter.
Bakersfield Drillers
Passing – KeAyr Gragg: 3 for 4, 42 yards, 1 interception, 1 Touchdown
Receiving – Marcus Bruce: 1 reception, 9 yards, 1 Touchdown
Rushing – Lameshio Hill: 7 Carries, 61 Yards
Other Games:
Clovis West 9, Centennial 2 – Clovis West: Kordel Hoffman: 9-24, 142 yds, 2 int, 1 TD
Memorial 46, McLane 18 – Memorial: Stevan Johnson: 17 Att, 160 yds, 5 TDs
Bullard 21, Buchanan 13 – Bullard: 2-0; Play number 36 ranked Grant Pacers in Sacramento next week.
Folsom 49, Clovis North 13 – Folsom: Jake Browning: 151 career Touchdown passes
Redwood 48, Clovis East 42 – Clovis East: Marcus Washington 3 rushing touchdowns
Lemoore 40, Clovis 27 – Lemoore: Groathouse: 3 Touchdowns.
Mission Oak 33, Washington 7 –Washington: Carlos Silva: 95 yard kick-off return for TD
Selma 47, Yosemite 8 – Selma: Paul Thomas: 11 Att, 108 yds, 3 TDs
Kerman 36, Madera South 6 – Kerman: Evan Sagariballa: 2 Passing TD’s, 1 Rushing TD
El Diamante 40, Sunnyside 21 – Sunnyside: Malcolm Williams: 19 Att, 159 yds
Riverdale 14, Orange Cove 12 – Riverdale: Adam Martinez: 25 Att, 166 yds
Fresno Christian 40, Coast 26 – Fresno Christian: Chris Kollenkark: 13 Att, 138 yds, 3 TDs
Liberty (Madera Ranchos, CA) 55, Mendota 7 – Liberty: Wade Wallace: 8 Att, 111 yds, 2 TDs
Immanuel 13, Lindsay 12 – Immanuel: Robert Grier: 40 Att, 215 yds
Dos Palos 20, Caruthers 14 – Dos Palos: Raphael Stewart: 25 Att, 154 yds
Tulare 33, Garces 7 – Tulare: Romello Harris: 18 Att, 152 yds, 2 TD’s (4 total)
Chowchilla 27, Le Grand 0 – Chowchilla: Anthony Stewart: 14 Att, 173 yds, 2 TDs
Dinuba 42, Reedley 14 – Dinuba: Michael Wright: 22 Att, 122 yds, 2 TDs
Sierra 44, Minarets 20 – Minarets: Zack Clayton: 8 Att, 110 yds, 2 TDs
Madera 60, Roosevelt 14 – Madera: Jesus Jimenez: 11 Att, 216 yds, 2 TDs
Fowler 49, Firebaugh 14 – Fowler: Izaiah Moreno: 14 Att, 106 yds, 3 TDs; Thomas Valle: 4 Rec, 81 Yds
Corcoran 41, Hanford West 34
Sanger 50, Hoover 12
CV Christian 49, Bakersfield Christian 19
Fresno 41, Tranquility
Shafter 35, Rosamond 24
Avenal 24, Sierra Pacific 21
Bishop 46, Laton 0
California City 40, McFarland 13
Chavez 24, South 0
Wasco 27, Coalinga 18
North 20, East Bakersfield 13
Arvin 21, Foothill 12
Farmersville 57, Granite Hills 37
Hanford 50, Monache 27
Kennedy 42, Strathmore 7
Orosi 14, Parlier 7
Porterville 31, West 20
Ridgeview 42, Liberty 21
Stockdale 35, Delano 14
Taft at Highland … Cancelled
Tulare Western 27, Mount Whitney 18
Exeter 28, Woodlake 21
Kingsburg 55, Golden West 21
Golden Valley 66, Mira Monte 0
Arroyo Grande 62, Independence 23
Kern Valley 40, Lake Isabella 26
Burroughs-Ridgecrest 35, Tehachapi 21
Trona 54, Alpaugh 6
Northwest Christian 52, Maricopa 14
Kings Christian 36, Trinity Classical 28
Dessert Christian 38, Frazier Mountain 0
Week 2 Featured Game: Memorial vs. Hoover
(State rankings, scores and stats per Fresno Bee, and maxpreps.com)
- Immanuel makes it look easy; Golden Eagles soar past the Grizzlies - February 14, 2015
- Immanuel and Fresno High unstoppable; Central making a late run. - February 4, 2015
- Central stuns Clovis West, Roosevelt stumbles but not out. - January 27, 2015
Great read!
Thank you.