Football: Bakersfield wins first state title in 86 years

Bakersfield has defeated Loomis Del Oro 56-26 to win the CIF state Division I championship bowl game at StubHub Center in Carson.

It was the Drillers’ first state title since 1927 and record seventh overall. Asauni Rufus threw a touchdown pass and ran for two more scores and Jeremiah Reddick added two scoring runs for Bakersfield (13-2), the Central Section champion.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, I’m still in disbelief,” said Rufus, who has committed to Nevada, where he’ll likely play defensive back. “We just did what we do. We didn’t try anything different because of the big stage. It’s all about reads, being smart and reacting to what the defense gives us.”

Dylan Kainrath’s third touchdown was followed by a safety to pull Del Oro within 42-26 early in the fourth quarter but Marcus Bruce leaped over the goal line from a yard out and safety Kevin Hayes returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown to provide the final margin.

“This is a blessing man,” said senior receiver and defensive back Darius Dallas, who intercepted a pass on the final play of the first half. “It’s a good way to end my senior year. Even after we started 2-2 we never put our heads down. We have great senior leadership on this team and we came here with the mentality that it’s just another game.”

Rufus finished with 184 yards rushing and 71 passing, Derrick Vickers caught three passes, had a 76-yard kickoff return and intercepted a pass for Bakersfield, which won six state titles in the 1920s under Coach Dwight “Goldie” Griffith.

Del Oro quarterback Michael Moore completed 17 of 31 passes for 232 yards but was sacked seven times and threw four interceptions. Kainrath rushed for 198 yards in 35 carries and Tyler Meeter had six catches for 83 yards for the Golden Eagles (13-3), the Sac-Joaquin Section winners.

Bakersfield scored on all three of its first-quarter possessions and led 28-17 at halftime. Reddick’s 47-yard touchdown run and Vickers’ one-yard plunge after Nate Stancil’s 13-yard interception return gave the Drillers a commanding lead.

“It’s surreal,” Bakersfield Coach Paul Golla said. “Del Oro’s a great team. I’m really happy for our seniors who put in four years of hard work.”