It’s simple to get caught up in the whole lot that goes right into a season just like the one Bakersfield Christian soccer staff is having. Darren Carr, head coach since 2016 and who has taken a number of Eagles groups to the extent the place his 2025 group at the moment resides, is chopping via the strain.
“We’re simply pleased to host and play in a state playoff residence recreation. There have been plenty of firsts for our guys this yr, and God has been good to us,” he stated.
Commercial
Carr and this yr’s staff, 12-0, a league champion and a CIF Division I-A Central Part champion, will take the following step at 7:30 p.m. Friday. BCHS hosts CIF Southern Part Division III champion, Orange County’s La Habra (11-3), within the CIF Southern California Division 2-AA regional championship.
Win this week and BCHS will play for the 2-AA state championship on Dec. 12. That will put the Eagles up in opposition to the winner of Friday’s Northern California Regional last between San Mateo Junipero Serra (8-5) and host Stockton St. Mary’s (11-2).
“We’re honored to be within the 2-AA state playoffs. La Habra is an effective staff. They’re right here for a motive,” Carr stated.
Final season, BCHS acquired to this state playoff degree and after a 10-7 halftime lead, gave up three scores within the second half and misplaced 28-10 to Palos Verdes. Carr sensed his staff wasn’t as prepared because it thought. Lots of these gamers are again on this place once more and Carr believes it’s a lesson realized.
Commercial
Certainly. Each groups are right here as a result of they’ve navigated the pathway to be in place to complete the yr the place all of their preseason targets had been in the end centered.
Carr’s evaluation of La Habra is that the Highlanders remind him of Liberty, which BCHS beat 38-16 within the part last.
“Good dimension line, a fast passing recreation and so they run the soccer,” he stated. “The quarterback can stand up and run. It’s an expansion offense, however they wish to run.
“Defensively,” Carr stated, “they’ve some good dimension and play stable protection.”
Key gamers embrace defensive lineman Luke Hedgpeth with seven sacks, 54 tackles and 14 tackles for loss, senior exterior linebacker Noah Barajas (85 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 14 TFL) and junior linebacker Barrett Blied (80 tackles, 4.5 sacks. Three gamers have 4 or extra interceptions, led by junior defensive again Santi Bautista Cuesta with six. La Habra has 4 pick-six scores.
Commercial
The Highlanders have performed two extra video games than BCHS because of the latter receiving a first-round bye within the Central Part playoffs and one other bye after profitable its part title recreation Nov. 21. La Habra restricted three of its 4 playoff opponents to a lone landing and beat San Jacinto 27-13 within the SS last.
Offensively, quarterback DJ Mitchell, a junior, has amassed 2,576 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’s run for 690 yards and 11 touchdowns, too, and has run for 87 or extra yards in every of the staff’s playoff video games. Mitchell’s high receiving targets are Bryce Vasquez with 62 catches for 1,045 yards and 13 TDs and Blake “Blaze” Rogers with 905 yards and 9 TDs.
The Highlanders’ high dashing menace is Kevika Mata’Utia-Martinez, a junior. He has 1,350 yards, 13 dashing TDs and 650 yards and 5 TDs have come within the playoffs. He had 205 yards within the part title win over San Jacinto.
BCHS has put collectively a 12-game resume that options senior quarterback Lincoln Adame’s 2,337 passing yards, 23 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
Commercial
Senior broad receiver Michael Smith has been Adame’s most frequent goal with 43 catches, 1,144 yards and 16 TDs. Different high targets embrace seniors Jason Gutierrez with 32 receptions for 406 yards and a TD, and Andre Calderon’s 17 for 348 yards and 4 scores. Buddah Walker, a junior, has 14 catches for 165 yards and a rating. Owen Yurosek has the one different TD reception.
Adame credit a piece ethic in his receivers, instances when he and his receivers keep after apply to only throw the ball, proceed to sharpen timing on routes.
“All that further work has paid off,” Adame stated.
Smith, who’s in his second full season at BCHS after two years at Garces and was a late-summer arrival his first season, has loved his full senior yr and being in sync with Adame.
Commercial
“Lincoln is aware of how one can put the ball on the cash. He’s acquired an awesome arm,” Smith stated. “I’m so assured in his talents. Once I watch movie and see the routes I’m working, he’s throwing the ball earlier than I ever flip round. He is aware of precisely the place I’ll be.”
Operating the ball is simply as efficient for the Eagles. Senior Darriyon Web page has been BCHS’s workhorse and is closing in on 1,000 yards with 954, three video games with greater than 100 yards and 10 dashing TDs.
“He’s such a baller, so shifty and he hits the holes,” Adame stated of Web page. “He’s so quick. He’s a extremely good again.”
Web page was particularly important, working behind his large blockers for 178 yards and three scores in opposition to Liberty.
Commercial
A complementary BCHS again has been sophomore Richlyn Gooden, who has 362 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Whereas the BCHS offense has been frequently bettering in opposition to the competitors, the opposite aspect, the protection, has had its share of success, too.
All of it begins with defensive finish Arnez Lee, a switch from Highland, who has 21 quarterback sacks. He has multiple-sack video games in opposition to Religion Lutheran in Las Vegas, Tehachapi, Tulare Union, Ridgeview, Highland, Bakersfield and Garces. He’s acquired 36 quarterback hurries, 76 tackles and 33 tackles for loss.
When Smith isn’t catching passes from Adame, he’s had 4 interceptions, two for a pick-six and 60 tackles as a free security.
BCHS additionally has an enormous weapon on particular groups. Senior kicker Cohen Peters has delivered when the Eagles want it most. He’s made 47 of 51 extra-point kicks and is 9 for 11 on field-goal makes an attempt.
