Jerome Baker stars on both sides of the ball in Benedictine's championship
COLUMBUS -- With Cleveland Benedictine getting to use the Ohio State locker room before Friday's Division IV final against Kettering Alter, Jerome Baker got to scope out where he will be suiting up next season.
Baker, who was named co-Defensive Player of the Year in All-State Division IV voting, sat where the Buckeyes' linebackers normally do. For all the accolades Baker has had on defense though, he made a huge impact on offense in the Bengals 21-14 win at Ohio Stadium. The senior had 12 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in the fourth quarter.
With Baker mostly playing defense, he would be used as a quarterback in the Wildcat only 4-6 snaps per game. With a state title on the line though, Baker saw much more against Alter, including taking most of the snaps in the fourth quarter.
"He came up to me with 55 seconds left in third and clicked over to offensive headset. He seed wherever I need to play and what you need to do, let's go," Benedictine head coach Joe Schaefer said. "We had used him sparingly on offense but there was 12 minutes left in the season."
Baker led the Bengals offense out with 46 seconds left in the third quarter and directed a 5-play, 67-yard touchdown drive. He had three carries for 28 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run around right end. On the first play of the fourth quarter, he had a 36-yard completion to Justin Layne to put Benedictine in Alter territory. He also had 11 tackles on defense.
Said Alter head coach Ed Domsitz about Baker: "I guess from our perspective that is a compliment to us that they had to put him out there that much. This is the last game, you are going to pull out all the stops. He's a playmaker."
Benedictine's other quarter, Brandon Schoeffler, was 8-of-11 for 78 yards and had a key quarterback sneak late in the game on third-and-1 deep in Benedictine territory to move the chains.
Baker had originally committed to Florida but switched to Ohio State six weeks ago. He wore gloves with Ohio State's logo on them and still had them on after the game. Baker was at The Horseshoe last week for the Michigan game but said winning a state title here was more special.
"It is really amazing. I've been here when there are 108,000 people screaming and yelling but nothing like having my family, friends and the Benedictine family here cheering for you. Nothing like it," he said.
With their seventh state title, but their first in Division IV, Benedictine became the first school to win a football championship in five different decades. The first one came in 1973, which was the second year that Ohio had the playoffs, and was in Class AA. They also have four titles in Division III (1980, '96, 2003-04) and one in Division II (1981).
Schaeffer also becomes the first Benedictine alum to win a title as a player and coach. He was a co-captain on the 2003 team.
"Honestly it is better as a player. I'm just happy for the kids because they got to win theirs," he said.
Alter trailed 14-0 in the first half but made a game of it in the second and third quarters when it rallied to tie. The Knights got the ball back with 1:13 remaining and drove to the Bengals 36 before turning it over on downs.
Quarterback Dusty Hayes was 5-of-10 for 73 yards but had an interception returned for a touchdown, which gave the Bengals a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. He also had 19 carries for 79 yards.
Both teams end the season 14-1.
