Bakersfield Rallies From 14 Down to Beat Clovis 17-14
Video courtesy of vfranco_sports
Bakersfield High opened the 2026 season with a comeback to remember Thursday night, erasing a 14-point deficit and defeating Clovis 17-14 on the road.
The Drillers found themselves trailing 14-0 late in the third quarter before quarterback Elon Mackey helped spark the offense.
Backed up near their own 40-yard line, Mackey connected with No. 7 on a screen pass that quickly turned into a huge gain. The BHS receiver broke into the open field and nearly took it all the way before a shoestring tackle brought him down inside the Clovis 10-yard line.
The play set up Damir Lomax, who finished the drive with Bakersfield's first touchdown of the season to cut the deficit to 14-7.
BHS carried that momentum into the fourth quarter.
With the Drillers near midfield, Mackey took a shot over the top of the Clovis defense and dropped a pass in stride to No. 4, who hauled it in for the touchdown. The score completed the comeback and tied the game at 14 with 9:04 remaining.
From there, Lomax began making his presence felt on special teams.
The junior delivered multiple big returns in the fourth quarter, repeatedly giving Bakersfield favorable field position. His biggest came after Clovis was forced to punt from near its own goal line. The punt reached midfield, but Lomax brought it all the way back to the Cougars' 5-yard line, once again showing why he is considered one of the Central Section's most electric athletes.
That return eventually put the Drillers in position to take their first lead of the night.
With 3:56 remaining, Jackson K'Miller delivered under pressure, converting the go-ahead field goal to give Bakersfield a 17-14 advantage.
The Drillers held on from there, completing the comeback and leaving Clovis with a season-opening victory.
After being held scoreless for much of the night, Bakersfield scored 17 unanswered points to turn a 14-0 deficit into a 17-14 win.
Mackey provided the big throws, Lomax impacted the game on offense and special teams, and K'Miller finished it with the clutch kick.
