Finally, after some tough wins and losses, the Bakersfield High football team came away with a convincing win, 34-0 over Centennial, reminding us all who the defending Central Section Division I champions are.

It was much-needed — not just the win, but the way BHS won. The players said as much after the game. The big thing was that BHS did this without the two Jacksons, Alfonso and Tevin. That's huge.

The Drillers defense was on point and clearly the star of the night, harassing Centennial QB Cody Kessler the entire game. He was sacked seven times (BHS had eight altogether), and I can guarantee you the young sophomore felt the pressure. Meanwhile, the BHS offense was solid, and Jerrick Johnson stepped up and had a monster game with 192 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. 

Consider this an important victory more than anything for BHS. After winning and losing close games up until this point, a sound, convincing win like this one was just what the Drillers needed to regain that championship swagger. Sure, it was against a Centennial squad that is clearly having a down year, but you have to consider what would be said had the Golden Hawks taken BHS down to the wire.

It could've gone that way had Centennial capitalized early.

Cases in point:

— In the first quarter, from its own 5-yard line, Myren Moore runs for 43 yards, a big play to seize momentum. What happens next? Kessler gets sacked, killing the drive.

— Later in the first, Jon Lee intercepts, giving Centennial the ball at BHS's 19-yard line. What happens? The Golden Hawks fumble the ball away.

—And again in the first, wide receiver Matt Castellano was streaking down the middle wide open, had no defender within a 10-yard radius of him, but Kessler just overthrew him.

Those were the early opportunities coach Bryan Nixon was talking about. A few things early on happen differently, and maybe the complexion of the game changes.

But still, BHS deserves credit for this rout. They needed to win a game like this. Now the Drillers will have to carry the momentum into next week's SEYL showdown with Garces.