Baker holds off spirited Bozeman rally

SAND HILLS - Bozeman pulled together when it could have easily fallen apart.

The Bucks fell short of completing a comeback Friday night in a 20-14 loss to visiting Baker in the season opener for both teams. However, the outcome was in doubt from the end of the first half, which saw the Bucks flagged for six personal foul/unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the ejection of three of their best players.

Jace Wade, Mason Bennett and Dustin Duncan were ejected and could face a suspensions from the Florida High School Athletic Association. But rather than brood, Bozeman coach Loren Tillman rallied his team and nearly pulled out a victory.

"We talked at halftime that a team can beat any individual," Tillman said. "We were playing like individuals and I was embarrassed for the way we played in the first half.

"But I couldn't have been more proud of how we played in the second half."

Baker coach Bob Kellogg said the Gators (1-0) did just enough in the first half to win. Quarterback Cameron Domangue rushed for 215 of his game-high 282 yards and scored three touchdowns for a 20-0 lead.

"Our biggest fear is that they (the Bucks) are bigger than us and they can wear you down," Kellogg said. "It caught up to us, but you have to take your hat off to them for playing well without three good players."

Bozeman (0-1), which failed to score on a 17-play drive on its first possession, began to show its frustration as Domangue carved them up. Bennett, the team's leading returning running back, was the last player to be thrown out on the third straight 15-yard penalty called on the Bucks.

Tyler Grier came on in Bennett's absence with 129 yards rushing, with 92 in the final half. He scored all of Bozeman's points on two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion run.

The conversion capped the scoring with 8 minutes, 24 seconds to play. Bozeman recovered an onside kick, but the drive ended on downs on an incompletion by Travis Register, who was 12 of 32 for 229 yards. Register's final offering to Troy Stanford on another fourth down near the goal line was tipped away by Brandon Ates to clinch the win with less than two minutes to go.

Tillman doesn't know the fate of his three players for next week's game against Arnold. He made them apologize to Kellogg and the officiating crew following the game, and he said the team will deal with suspensions should they come.

"This team has maturity, with 17 seniors and 14 juniors," Tillman said. "I'm not surprised they pulled together."

• Baker 7 13 0 0 - 20
  Bozeman 0 0 6 8 - 14
  First quarter
  Baker - Domangue 11 run (Beck kick), 7-0 Baker, 8:55
  Second quarter
  Baker - Domangue 42 run (Beck kick), 14-0, 8:53
  Baker - Domangue 49 run (kick failed), 20-0, 6:27
  Third quarter
  Boze - Grier 8 run (pass failed), 20-6, 4:10
  Fourth quarter
  Boze - Grier 2 run (Grier run), 20-14, 8:24