Baker Buffaloes

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: James Dartez (1st year)

2022 Record: 5-6

Class & District: Class 2A (District 6)

2022 Playoffs: Lost to Sterlington 37-0 in 1st Round of Division III (Non-Select) Playoffs

“I am the new Head Coach for Baker HS and I'm not looking to go anywhere but build this proud program,” said Baker head coach James Dartez.

The Baker football program isn’t the only thing getting that is going through a major development as Baker HS is getting a new building.

Baker QB Jayreal Payne

“Half the buildings will be built by the time the season is over in 2023 so we will have this to show the parents and kids coming up that it’s really happening,” Dartez said.

Dartez comes over from Bolton where he was the head coach from 2020-2022. He also coached a few years ago with Mike Roach at Southern Lab School. Coach Dartez graduated from Opelousas HS in 2005 and was a teammate of OT Daniel Baldridge (6-9, 320), who earned All-Conference USA honors at Marshall and went on to play in the NFL for a few years. Although Dartez is from Opelousas, he has a connection to the town of Baker as his wife is from there.

“I say let’s make the best of this and grow it right,” said Dartez. “Our guys are buying in and we will average over 260 pounds per player on our offensive line in 2023.We will run a lot but I will use spread at times in the Offense . We will go for two a lot in 2023 because right now we don’t have a kicker or Punter in place.It’s something we will practice a lot in Summer and Fall.”

The offense will be led by senior QB Jayreal Payne (6-1, 170), who is a late bloomer with a really good arm. Payne lettered in 2022 and got some good in-game reps. The run game will have a few players, that will start both sides of the ball rotating in like senior RB Jordan Edwards (5-9, 180) who is strong and quick, RB/LB Xavier Love (6-1, 185), a new player with 4.55 speed or better, FB/HB Markell Peterson 5-7 230 as well as some other young players will get a chance to rotate in. The passing game when they need a big play will be WR/DB Jaylan Williams 5-9 160 with 4.5 lighting speed and big-time CB for the team.

Baker RB Jordan Edwards

The offensive line will be the glue of the team. The unit is led by senior OG/DT Troy Toney (6-0, 290), who is a four-year starter. Toney has good feet and is very strong as he can squat 600 pounds. Baker also has a humongous 6-8, 295-pound lineman in OT/DE Derrick Jackson who is lean and ready to blossom in 2023. Other players in the trenches that will also contribute will be senior center Dontae Marshall (6-2, 260), who is very strong, four-year starter Shannon Holiday (6-5, 290), and OT/DT Glenn Barnes (6-1, 265) who is another strong and tough kid.

The defense will be a lot of the same kids above starting on offense. The front seven will rely on these three kids for a big season: senior LB Mikelyn Williams (5-10, 180), who had over 50 tackles with six sacks in 2022, DE/OLB Demone Williams & DE/OLB Deauntrey Singleton. All three of these kids could end up with over 50 tackles a piece in 2023 for this young team.

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