By Don Ketchum

Yes, his name is Cougar Baubien. For real.

His Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor football team is for real, too.

The Eagles proved that on Thursday night, rallying from a 16-7 deficit for a 28-16 Class 5A Northwest Region victory over Anthem Boulder Creek.

Baubien, a senior quarterback, and his teammates are now 6-0, the best start in the school's history.

They won't be able  to enjoy this one very long, since they play a highly regarded Glendale Mountain Ridge team next week.

Baubien completed 15 of 25 passes for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns rushed for 71 yards and two more scores.

He iced the game with a 28-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-2 call.

"No one is going to come into our house and beat us,'' Baubien said.

Of the deficit, he said, "I knew we could come back. In the first half, we were beating ourselves. We did a lot better in the second half.''

Sandra Day O'Connor's defense did a solid job, particularly in the second half. It limited Boulder Creek to just 60 yards in the second half.

"Our defense is probably the strongest part of our team,'' said senior linebacker Matt McElroy.

Boulder Creek led 9-7 at the half and increased its lead to 16-7 on a four-yard run by Mike Contreras with 6:20 left in the third quarter.

Sandra Day O'Connor pulled within 16-14 when Baubien hit Garrett Roque with a 12-yard TDF pass with 28.6 seconds left in the third.

Baubien threw another scoring strike, this one to Trevor Ermisch from eight yards out, with 8:14 to put the Eagles out in front for good.

Baubien scored on his keeper to the right, a 28-yarder, with 1:53 left to ice it.

"We knew we would need his legs tonight,'' said Sandra Day O'Connor coach John Rodriguez.

"We did well tonight because we were able to control our composure.''

Will the Eagles keep their streak going? We will see next week.