Bloomingdale Tailback Leads Bulls to Victories

Eugene Baker is powerful with a football in his hands.

The junior running back has pained opposing defenses this year and aided 's football team in getting back to winning games, something the program has often struggled with over the last seven years.

"With our scheme in the run game there are a lot of places he (Baker) can run the ball in our offense and he doesn't ever let the first guy bring him down," head coach John Booth said. "He's a very powerful and fast runner, and this season we've really seen what he can do. It's been critical in games for us because when we need a first down we can go to him. That's something Bloomingdale hasn't had for some time, and it's opened up our passing game."

Baker, who comes from a family of former Hillsborough County football players, has led the offense for the Bulls carrying the ball 179 times this season and racking up 1,055 yards and 15 touchdowns. Last season, Baker struggled to understand the offense in the early going, but in the last few games he began to figure it out and has since put the team on his back.

"I've got to hand it to everybody blocking for me," Baker said. "I keep telling my linemen and receivers, 'Just block for me and I'll do good for you.' Last season I struggled with reading the defenses, but we've been here working on seeing how the offensive linemen move and it's made a big difference for me."

Despite Baker's efforts, the Bulls (4-4, Class 8A-District 6 0-2) were eliminated from state playoff contention by district rival Wharton last week after a 49-24 loss. The performance was a tough pill to swallow for Booth, who was missing several key players.

"We had four defensive starters that missed the game due to being suspended over stupid things," Booth said. "We knew going into the game that we were going to take our licks but we hoped we could handle it better than we did. Now we only have pride to play for but these are big games against Plant and Newsome, and we want to finish with a winning record."

Baker did his part last week, finishing with 169 yards and two touchdowns, but saw the team's hopes of a state title run dashed. Baker, like so many others around the Bloomingdale program, has been encouraged by the Bulls' performances this season regardless of falling short of the playoffs and believes that good things lie ahead.

"We're going to make the playoffs next year, I just know it," Baker said. "This year we had a few bumps and bruises but we've always fought hard. We're going to see Wharton again next year, and it'll be different outcome."

The Bulls now face a bye week before facing their next contest, and after the disappointment of being eliminated from the playoffs, Booth is hoping the Bulls can regroup and seize the opportunity to finish with a winning record.

"We talked to them about all the work we've put in to this point all the way from last spring to right now," Booth said. "It comes down to what do you want to do? We can finish 6-4 or 4-6, it's up to them. Hopefully the bye week will give us some time to refresh our focus, but they've already learned this year that they can compete with anyone when we play with confidence."