The Baker Buffalos are a 3-1 team, in the 2A District 8 classification. Coming off a 4-6 season, the Buffalos look to turn the season around this year under head coach James Dartez. The Baker Buffalos are being led this year by 2 impactful players, Xavier Love and Jaylan Williams. These two leaders look to help contribute to the Buffalos season and lead them to a State Championship this year.
“This summer the kids have been working tirelessly. Getting in at 7 in the morning, we start the running program, weight lifting, 7 on 7, and just learning the game of football. Not a whole lot of focus on the scheme, but instead just learning the game of football. We wanted to break it down to what’s a one-tech, what’s a 3-tech, what’s a 5. To make sure these guys understand the game before we throw schemes on top of it.”
Coach Dartez when asked how they prepared in the summer.
“We did Spring Training, we did not do a spring game. My mentor, guy who gave me my first High School job, he always asked me who does Alabama play in the Spring, themselves. When you’re asking a kid to learn your position, learn your playbook, and as well get ready for competition, they are still 14 to 15 year old kids. We did what was called a “me period” where we are going to work on what we do. We are going to learn to lift the proper way, we are going to learn to run the proper way, learn the playbook, we are going to learn everything leading up to summer training.”
Coach Dartez when asked on how they prepare during the Spring.
“First we got a kid named Xavier Love, our running back. Legit 6’1 200Ib he can run over you, around you, he can run through you. Great kid, he is a 3.5 kid, a yes sir, no sir and he really wants to not only be good, but he wants to be great. Every run every block he comes back, “Coach how was that? How can I get better at it?” He is going to be our running back this year. We have Jaylan Williams, dynamic return guy. He’s played quarterback for us, played running back for us, played receiver for us, played DB for us, he plays anywhere we ask the kid to play. Dynamic can take the ball from the 2 yard line to the end zone.”
Coach Dartez when asked who on the team to look out for.
Xavier Love at 6’1 and weighing 200 Ibs, at Baker High School will look to put his athleticism and skills to use this season at running back.
“On offensive side of the ball we are going to be what I like to call pro-style spread. We are going to spread you out and make you cover everything, but we still are going to run the ball. We have a special guy at quarterback this year a kid who transferred in from Texas. He is battle tested and he is ready to go. Defensively it will be an odd-front defense. We got a big kid down there, kid squats 800 Ibs. We have to stop him in the weight room ,the bar starts bending so much. We are going to build around him but we are going to be very fast on defense. On both sides of the ball we are going to be physical, one thing you are going to know when you get off the field, is that you were in a football game.
Coach Dartez when asked about offensive and defensive schemes.
Jaylan Williams standing at 5’9 and weighing 170 Ibs. Expect Jaylan to be flying around the field in many different positions. He will look to use his versatility to help bring the Baker Buffalos a State Championship.
“One thing I wanted to do, I wanted to do something different, bring back those old rivalries. Week one we play Tara, then we have a big rivalry Glen Oaks back on the schedule. Week 3 we did something different, it’s our homecoming game which will be on a Saturday. I wanted to do something different with the community, a lot of people are working or out of town and they want to come in for the game. To fix that we play on Saturday at 6p.m. we will be the primetime game. We play Jefferson RISE out of New Orleans, then we start district play Week 4. We have two 4A games on the schedule and two 3A schools on the schedule. I always say if you want to make it deeper you have to play those those good teams, so why not get battle tested during the regular season. We are looking forward to positive results on Friday nights.
Coach darted when asked about the upcoming schedule for Baker High School.
The Baker Buffalos look to accomplish many goals throughout their season. Having a fresh start to the season Head Coach James Dartez, plans to lead his team to many victories throughout the season. Thus leading them to a playoff run, and ending the season with a championship game in the Dome. The 3-1 Buffalos will look to continue to win games and bring Baker their third State Championship since 1950.
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