Damian Baker has scored numerous touchdowns in his career.
However, none of the scores was bigger than his final one Friday night. Baker”s 10-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted the Columbus High School football team past West Point 35-27 in a game at Columbus” Falcon Field.
A senior running back and linebacker, Baker rushed 16 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 8 yards. Baker scored three second-half touchdowns as the Falcons pulled away from a 7-all halftime tie.
For his efforts, Baker is The Dispatch”s Prep Player of the Week.
“He is one of our best athletes,” Columbus second-year coach Tony Stanford said. “If you saw the game, it was very obvious he was a major reason why the game played out the way it did. When we have to have yards, we turn to Damian. He is a big-time playmaker.”
In overtime, the Falcons went on offense first. On first down, Baker ripped off all 10 yards needed for a touchdown. He also kept the ball for the two-point conversion.
“We practice goal-line situations every day in practice,” Baker said. “That is the only way you can become a good team is if you did in games what you are taught in practice. It is first-team (offense) against first-team (defense). Sometimes, we win. Sometimes, they win. Either way, it makes us better.”
With the victory, Falcons improved to 2-0. Columbus opened the season with a victory against Aberdeen, the preseason top-ranked team in Class 3A. The latest victory came against the two-time defending Class 5A state champion Green Wave.
“When the season ended last year, we had a meeting with all of the returning players,” Stanford said. “We talked about character. We talked about determination. We talked about the work ethic that was going to be needed to make us a better football team.
“Then during the summer workouts, we saw a different attitude. It carried over to fall camp. There was more of a sense we could be a good football team. The players were working hard to make sure they took advantage of this opportunity.”
As a senior, Baker knew the onus fell on him and his classmates to provide the leadership to get things going in the right direction. In 2010, the Falcons flirted with improvement. However, a pair of heartbreaks left the Falcons at 4-7 and out of the postseason picture.
“For the seniors, we knew this was our last year,” Baker said. “If that meant lifting extra weights or running extra laps, we were going to make that sacrifice. The attitude has been real good throughout the offseason. The seniors have been trying to bring the younger players along. We don”t have a lot of star athletes, so to win everybody has to do their job.”
The latest victory can only enhance the positive team attitude and spirit.
“This game means a whole lot to us,” Baker said. “It is really a big motivation. We had the right mind-set to pull it out. Never during the game was there a panic. Everybody stayed positive on the sidelines. This team is like one big brotherhood. This win is a motivation for us to come out and have a good week of practice, and allows us to feel good about ourselves.”
Stanford also believes the victory against West Point can serve as a springboard for Friday night”s home game against New Hope and the rigors of Class 6A, Region 1 play.
“Our players realize now they can compete,” Stanford said. “They are beginning to learn how to win. Friday night was an example of having the attitude you have to have to win games on this level.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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