Benefield: Windsor romps at Santa Rosa's homecoming

The only thing that could stop Jackson Baughman was a nap.

The senior running back and safety for the Windsor Jaguars was absolutely everywhere Friday night in a romp that ended with the visitors beating host Santa Rosa 50-26.

And the only time Baughman wasn't making things tough for the Panthers was when, with 5:40 to go in the third quarter, he went down with cramps and had to briefly leave the game.

“I took too long of a nap,” he said. His long snooze cut into his normal hydration plan.

So it was either his sleep habits or lack of water or the fact that the 5-foot-8 whiz of a runner carried the ball 21 times for 137 yards that led to his legs yelling “Uncle.” He also had four touchdowns and two as-close-as-you-can-get near picks.

And when it wasn't Baughman, it was workhorse David Escarcega giving the Panthers fits.

Escarcega practically carried the Windsor team on his back the first drive of the game and ended the night with 19 carries for 135 yards and one touchdown.

“He is so intense,” Windsor coach Tom Kirkpatrick said. “He will literally run through a wall for you. He wants to do so well for you.”

He did so well Friday night.

Escarcega set the tone on the opening drive. He carried the ball into the teeth of the Panther defense that could not bring the 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back down.

“He runs downhill,” Baughman said of his teammate. “He works hard. He's one of the hardest workers I know.”

Kirkpatrick, who said his team practiced with balls that were soaked down this week in preparation for what could have been a wet and wild night, was pleased that his team not only followed the script, but didn't let mistakes drag them down like they have in earlier games. And the game plan was simple: wear the Panthers out with an up tempo, straight up the gut run game.

“Just tire them out,” Kirkpatrick said.

The Jaguars ran for nearly 400 yards, which means doughnuts are on coach this morning at the team film session.

“It's so much fun when you play well,” he said.

The win was key for the Jags, according to Kirkpatrick, who praised the Panthers' athleticism.

“They have amazing athletes,” he said.

And the Panthers, when they are on, are fun to watch. Even their mistakes seem derived from their gifts.

Senior Cassius Banks, a wide receiver and backup quarterback, lined up in the wildcat position more than once.

With less than three minutes to go in the half and the Panthers down 22-14, Banks took the snap and took off.

He sprinted through the line for what would have been a gain of 15, but in the final moment of the play he leaped over a defender.

Penalty.

In high school, hurdling a player - no matter how cool it looks - is a personal foul, and Banks and the Panthers had to move backward to near midfield.

Next play? Panther quarterback Isaiah Steele's pass attempt was tipped and picked by guess who? Baughman.

And to finish it off, a couple of plays later Baughman ran 36 yards for the touchdown with 2:30 to play in the half, sending the Jaguars to the locker room up 29-14 at the half.

Despite a lengthy homecoming ceremony at the break, the Panthers came out of halftime flat.

They were three and out on dropped passes with zero zest.

But at one point in the third quarter, Baughman actually looked human. Seeking a first down on fourth and short, Baughman took the handoff but was wrapped up and the Panthers took over on downs. It might not have been fair had he put on a show every time he touched the ball.

The Jaguars sealed the game with seven minutes to play, not with a touchdown but with a sack. And then another. Bos Osborn dropped Steele for a loss of 10 yards putting the Panthers at fourth and 26. A penalty pushed them back another five yards.

Windsor took over on downs and two plays later Kobe Roman was in the end zone on a quarterback keeper, making if 50-26.

The win moves the Jags to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the North Bay League, a record that now mirrors Santa Rosa's.

“We don't feel we have much of a shot at league so we are trying to position ourselves for playoffs,” Kirkpatrick said.

What Kirkpatrick really needs to do is position Baughman in front of a tall glass of water on game day. The only thing that can stop him are cramps.

You can reach staff columnist Kerry Benefield at 707-526-8671 or Kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com, on Twitter @benefield and on Instagram at Kerry.benefield.