Interception by No. 4 Rickie Tharp against Paxon.

The Baker High Wildcats rolled like a freight train over the Paxon Eagles Friday night on the way to a record-setting victory.

The Cats scored 64 points in the pouring rain as they ran and passed at will, breaking the previous scoring record of 62 points amassed against Stanton Prep in 2002.

It was a miserable night for a football game. At times the rain slanted sideways, but luckily for the Cats and unluckily for the Eagles, the lightning stayed away. The Cats, on the other hand, struck again and again to run up the score on their way to a shutout win.

It was a great momentum boost as the Wildcats prepare to take on the vaunted Bolles Bulldogs on Friday, October 14 at Memorial Stadium.

It was clear from the beginning that the Wildcats weren’t looking past the Eagles to the Bulldogs. They grounded the Eagles with a stifling defense and on offense were unstoppable.

It was the defense that struck first for the Wildcats. The rain made the ball slippery and Jared Lee homed in on an errant pass and with mud flying up behind him ran 46 yards to the end zone. Roland Gaskins slotted through the extra point to give the Cats an early lead.

The defense clipped the wings of the Eagles all night long and the Cats quickly got the ball back. Falon Lee, who had another 100-yard night, drove deep into Paxon territory and from there, Thomas Sirk, connected with Mike Boone in the corner for the end zone. Boone, who had a big night, pulled the ball in for his first touchdown of the year.

Coach Ryan Sulkowski wanted to put the game out of reach early so on the ensuing kickoff he surprised absolutely everyone with an on-side kick. The Wildcats recovered at their 43-yard line and two plays later Sirk found Malone Hadley for a 50-yard score. The PAT was no good but the Cats were up 20-0.

The Eagles were rocked back on their heels and the Wildcats got the ball right back after a punt. BCHS didn’t let up on the pressure and this time it was Lee who ran through big holes punched in the Eagle defense by the Cat offensive line. Lee marched down the field for the score and a 26-0 edge at the end of the first quarter.

It didn’t get better for Paxon. Rickie Tharpe, who had another outstanding night defensively, picked off a pass and ran all the way back to the 1 yard line. Tharpe was pulled down at the one but rolled over his opponent into the end zone, without appearing to have ever touched the ground. The referee disagreed, however, and spotted the ball on the one. Sirk ran it in and Boone got the two-point conversion on an end around to give BCHS a 34-0 lead.

Sirk engineered two more scores before halftime. He connected with Brandon Miller on a 45-yard pass play and ran it in himself from the another score. He found Boone for the conversion and a 48-0 edge at halftime.

Sulkowski pulled back on the throttle at the half and Sirk and Lee went to the bench in favor of junior Cory Lawler and Trey Mosely. Despite the change, the results never varied. The Cats continued to roll right over Paxon.

Lawler found Richard Keinath at midfield and the receiver responded with speed and nifty moves as he ran down to the 30 yard line. Two plays later, Lawler ran in from 8 yards out. Lawler hit Keinath again for the conversion and a 56-0 lead.

The final score was set up and finished by Falon Lee as he picked off a Paxon pass and ran it deep into Eagle territory. Lawler maneuvered the ball to the 4 and Lee came back in to punch it across. Lawler found Lee in the end zone for the conversion.

It was a great evening for Wildcat fans despite the wind and rain. The success of the offense was undeniable, but the defense also had an outstanding night. Jared Lee, Falon Lee, Tharpe and Kyle Alexander all had interceptions on the night.

Coach Sulkowski had high praise for Terry Givins, who swarmed to  ball carriers all night long. He also praised his linebacker corps and particularly Hunter Sullivan and Jared Lee, who clogged the middle and stopped the run, limiting Paxon to 45 yards of total offense for the night.

Falon Lee continued on a torrid pace with 16 carries for 177 yards and two touchdowns.