Meet Brian Baldrige, the leading rusher of West York's PIAA Class AAA semifinal opponent Thomas Jefferson. He scored all of the touchdowns in Thomas Jefferson's win over Strong Vincent in last week's PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals. Two weeks earlier in the postseason, Baldrige ran for 382 yards on 32 carries to help the Jaguars earn their sixth consecutive WPIAL championship.
He also said at Thomas Jefferson, "they expect you to win a state title." The Jaguars have won two since 2004 and are two games away from a third. Baldrige told me that whether or not you're able to earn the crown is "what you're measured on when you graduate from T.J." I told him that sounds like a lot of pressure.
"It is, but our coaches really take it off us because they work us hard in the summer and that's how we keep making it back to the state playoffs," Baldrige said. "We work harder than any other team and it pays off."
West York has never reached the state semifinals in football at the Class AAA level and on Friday will take on a team that won the crown last year and will view this season as a disappointment if they fail to do it again. Although the Bulldogs will undoubtedly fight hard to stay alive and earn a state title of their own, they seemingly have a lot less pressure on them this week. It's sort of like they have nothing to lose.
I asked Baldrige whether he thought the lack of pressure might be an advantage for West York.
"It is in the standpoint of telling your team to go out there and play hard because they have nothing to lose and they go out and give their all the whole game," Baldrige said. "But in a way, it could be a disadvantage because they haven't been there before and they don't know what to expect."
Baldrige makes a good point, but after knocking off 15-time District 3 champion Manheim Central last week, I can't see West York being intimidated by anyone, even the defending state champs. Of course, a team like Thomas Jefferson isn't likely to take anybody lightly at this point in the season. So, and I know I'm going out on a limb here, it'll probably just come down to which team can play better football on Friday. What a crazy thought.
TJ Rules! Speed, Power and Size....
TJ RULES! Speed, Size power and experience!!
Lets GO Boys! Two Wins away from being BACK 2 BACK STATE CHAMPIONS! Finish Strong.
dont count the bulldogs out, speed size and heart,GO DOGS....