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Preps
Football: Baker's got it covered
Brandon's Samir Baker contributes from anywhere.
By JOE SMITH
Published November 2, 2007
BRANDON - Brandon defensive coordinator Dale Caparaso screams the phrase often at every Eagles game.
"Samir! On you!"
Senior linebacker/tailback Samir Baker, the Eagles' Mr. Versatility, is one of just a handful of players in Caparaso's 25-plus years of coaching that has ever been given full autonomy to blitz whenever he wants.
Baker, a 5-foot-7, 163-pound ball of energy, is a perfect blend of speed, savvy and, as Caparaso says, "special ability." One of the county's top playmakers, Baker averages more points per game 13.5 than several bay area teams.
But as Brandon (6-2, 2-0) plays Plant City (5-3, 3-0) tonight for the district title - in one of the biggest games in the history of the rich rivalry - the Eagles' hopes may partly hinge on Baker's sprained right ankle.
Eagles coach John Lima said Baker, who hasn't practiced all week, is a "game-time decision." However, Lima knows one thing for certain: "Samir is a gamer."
"Pound for pound, he's gotta be one of the best," East Bay coach Brian Thornton said. "He's got that special talent, like a Chris Rainey, a Mike Brown. He's got unbelievable quickness, and hips. He can do it all."
Baker (817 yards, 13 TDs), a slippery scatback, combines with bruising junior Marquel Gilmore (893 yards, 9 TDs) as the Eagles' "Thunder and Lightning" tandem in the backfield. And when Brandon tries to stymie one of the county's other top duos in Plant City's Sirchauncey Holloway and Keith Dawson, it'll be the ball-hawking Baker blitzing as a safety or linebacker.
"I've seen a bunch of Hillsborough County football," Caparaso said. "I've seen Chamberlain and all those guys. But of all of them, if I had to pick one player to build around, Samir would be at the top of my list."
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or (813) 310-9024.
[Last modified November 2, 2007, 00:19:39]
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