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Jenna Laine, ESPN writer
A celebratory Sunday afternoon cookout turned tense for the Space Coast Vipers high school football team in Cocoa, Florida. Gathered around a television at junior linebacker Jacob Starkey’s home, 130 miles from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium, they watched as quarterback Baker Mayfield nearly pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback against San Francisco. 49ers.
“Now you can hear them all. They always talk about what Baker does on Sundays,” said coach Jake Owens, who called Mayfield a “turnaround tool” for his program. “When we’ve had all the success we’ve had this year, for so many different reasons, we never try to forget what people have done to help with this. And Baker and Emily [Mayfield] They are a big part of that.”
After finishing 1-8 last year with just 14 total wins over the past six seasons, the school re-signed Owens in February. Owens, who had previously coached the team in 2012-17 and became its winningest coach, had left to take some time away from coaching.
Upon his return, he discovered that it was only acceptable to play with a handful of helmets.
“They had gotten some helmets, but they were already falling apart,” Owens said. The program needed a total of 60-70 to outfit the varsity and junior varsity teams. So Stephanie Starkey, Jacob’s mother and a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners fan, reached out to the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation for help.
The Mayfields donated $17,900 worth of equipment, including 70 Riddell SpeedFlex helmets in matte black with bright purple decals that sell for about $500 each, along with Riddell, Razor and Z-Cool pads.
“Baker and Emily have become lifelong fans,” Owens said. “These guys really appreciate it. We talk about it every day. [basis] simply being humble, grateful and understanding how blessed we are. And I think that’s something that’s lost in today’s world.”
The gift helped pave the way for a 9-3 record, and after a 21-19 win over the Umatilla Bulldogs on Friday, the Vipers are headed to the SSAA 1A State Championship for the first time in program history. They will host the Bell High School Bulldogs in the SSAA 1A State Championship game on Friday at 7 pm ET.
“They needed guidance, they needed some leadership and they needed someone to say, ‘We’ve got your back,'” Owens said. “And now we’re playing for a state championship. It’s just an incredible story.”
In last week’s semifinal, senior running back Christopher McDonel rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, with senior Christian Burt adding a third and senior receiver/defensive back/special teams returner Dee Parker recording 117 receiving yards. Defensively, senior defensive end Camron Walker tallied 2.0 sacks to go with 13.5 on the season, with 3.0 tackles for loss and 24 on the year.
On top of that, they have earned the program’s first playoff wins in team history (2) and the most wins in school history (9) and their defense has produced the most shutouts in history. of the team (5).
But Owens said he’s very proud of how they’ve done it.
“They go out every week and play with each other,” Owens said, adding that this group also spends a lot of free time together. “They fight for each other and understand that it’s bigger than themselves. There are no selfish players on this team. When those things happen, victory happens.”
Owens said this season’s success has galvanized his small, tight-knit community after several years of losing. Their Friday night games have taken place solely at their stadium, called the “Snake Pit.” Yard signs have appeared everywhere and restaurants now display “Good Luck” messages. And they recognize that this would not have happened without the Mayfields’ help, along with their faith in each other.
“Everyone is so grateful for what he and Emily did,” Owens said. “He’s got so many fans now in Port St. John…oh God, this whole show…This is a guy who really didn’t have to do this. I mean, we’re on the other side of the state. He really didn’t have to do this, but he saw that there was a need for help and he used his platform. And that impact will be a generational thing for these children and they will accept it and one day they will understand, if they haven’t already, that they could have the same opportunity to make the same impact on. someone, and they will do it.”
