Max Bakker throws 4 TD passes to lead Central Valley Christian over Firebaugh in Central Section playoffs
FIREBAUGH, Calif. - Max Bakker threw four touchdown passes - including two to Jaeden Moore - to lead Central Valley Christian to a 35-20 victory Firebaugh in the Central Section Division III playoffs Friday night.
CVC (8-4) will play Washington Union in the semifinals next week.
“That was a gritty win,” said CVC head coach Mason Hughes after the game. “Firebaugh is a very good team. They’re very tough and physical. That was very tough and stressful.”
CVC jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bakker to Moore and a 14-yard touchdown run by Blake Gambini.
The Eagles battled back to tie the game at 14-14 in the second quarter before CVC added a late touchdown to take a 20-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, CVC expanded the lead to 28-14 in the early stages of the fourth quarter. The Eagles trimmed the lead to 28-20 in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as they would get.
“We were trying to run ball early tonight,” said coach Hughes. “But if we can’t, we’ve got some players who we can throw the ball to. We’ve got to do a better job on offense of controlling the game, especially for me as a defensive coach.”
Firebaugh was led offensively by Central Section leading rusher Danny Oliveira, who had a rushing and a receiving touchdown for the Eagles.
— Jeremy Berbereia, @valleysportsbuzz on Twitter and Facebook
