Derek Carr of Bakersfield Christian will lead his Eagles team this Friday night as they play host to the Tehachapi Warriors. Through 6 games this year,
Carr has completed 128 passes for 1,614 passing yards, and 18 TD passes. Photo by The Bakersfield Californian.
Posted by thswarriors.com on October 21, 2008 SSL Ramblings ...
It's Showtime in the SSL
Derek Carr vs the Warriors
During spring football --- some six-months ago --- the Warriors were challenged by coach Steve Denman to establish their goals for the upcoming 2008 season. It's not hard to imagine what those goals would be:
1. Defend their SSL Championship
2. Defend their CIF Division III championship
And it's not hard to guess which game on the 2008 schedule the Warriors circled as the BIG GAME of the season if goal #1 was to be accomplished. Taft.
Well, that all changed when a young man named Derek Carr made the much anticipated decision to attend Bakersfield Christian High School for the 2008-09 school year. Some thought he would attend Bakersfield High --- and play with the big boys. Some thought he would play at the same high school as his older brother --- Stockdale High. But no, it was the Christian faith of the family that guided the final decision, and the well deserved reputation of a wonderful head coach named Doug Barnett.
Oops, keep that big red circle around the Taft game on the schedule, but add a bigger blue circle around the Bakersfield Christian game.
Carr has lived up to all the hype. Behind his talented throwing arm, Bakersfield Christian is 5-1. The only loss was to undefeated Oaks Christian of Westlake Village in the opening game of the season.
And while Carr is enjoying a great season at "little" Bakersfield Christian --- he has earned his stripes playing with the big boys. Before returning to Bakersfield, Carr started the past two years in Texas at Clements High-Fort Bend, where his team went 13-1 in 2007, and fell two wins shy of reaching the Class 5A, Division II state championship.
Derek, the younger brother of former Fresno State great David Carr, has made a commitment to play at Fresno State. Carr also received offers from Southern Methodist and Utah, and was getting looked at by UCLA, USC and Boise State.
The Warriors will have their hands full in trying to contain Carr. In fact, Carr will be the best QB the Warriors have faced since the days of Karsten Sween. Sween, who is currently the starting QB at the University of Wyoming, led Burroughs to successive victories over the Warriors in 2003 and 2004. Sween throttled the Warrior secondary for 214 passing yards in 2003 and 352 yards in 2004.
Carr's main target is #7 wide receiver Jake Peterson. Before Carr decided to attend Bakersfield Christian, Peterson was set to be the returning quarterback. Peterson, a legitimate 6'5" Division I prospect in his own right, leads the Eagles in receptions (42 catches for 522 yards). When Bakersfield Christian goes to the ground, the ball is usually in the hands of running back #5 Christian Taylor.
And so what do the Warriors need to do to knock off the Eagles? Well, do what they do best, ball control and long sustained drives. Keep Carr and the highly potent Bakersfield Christian offense off of the field. The Warriors have the offensive line and the talent in the backfield to accomplish this feat.
This could be the game of the year in the SSL --- don't miss it!
Around the SSL This Week ...
In other SSL games this week (October 24), Wasco (3-3; 0-1) will travel to Taft (5-1; 1-0). Look for Taft to easily win this game.
Arvin (2-4; 0-1) will travel to Shafter (1-5; 0-1). Arvin will earn their first SSL win of the season.
Derek Carr, at 6'3" 200 lbs, started the past two years in Texas at Clements High-Fort Bend, where his team went 13-1 in 2007 and fell two wins shy of reaching the Class 5A, Division II state championship. He passed for 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007. In 2008, he is leading a Bakersfield Christian team that is averaging 39 points per game.
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