Mission Bay learned what an effective passing game was like while Coronado High scored five touchdowns through the air and one on the ground during the Islanders’ 44-19 win over the Bucs Friday, Sept. 26, at Mission Bay. Coronado completed TD passes of 57, 81, 69, 10 and 48 yards plus an 8-yard quarterback keeper and a 36-yard field goal. Along with the Bucs, Coronado is a Division IV team. Mission Bay got on the scoreboard late in the first half, while they were already down by 27 points. Dillon Baxter took the hand-off and punched it in from six yards out. The extra-point kick was blocked. After 10 minutes of play in the third quarter, Mission Bay quarterback Bryan Allen connected with a leaping Baxter for a 4-yard pass to the end zone. Senior Manuel Bohena got the PAT up and through to give the Bucs 13 points. With 1:30 left in the game, the Bucs added a final score. Allen found Ray Herring streaking down the left side for an 18-yard touchdown. The extra-point kick attempt was again blocked. Coronado was so disciplined that on one down in the devastating second quarter, they ran a play where the entire bench participated in the deception. The Islander quarterback took the snap and faked a hand off to the halfback charging into the line. At that point the Coronado bench yelled, “RUN” while their quarterback bootlegged the ball to the right and lobbed a first-down pass. On Sept 19 the Bucs hosted North County Division II powerhouse Bonita Vista. During that contest, the Bucs learned the value of a great offensive line in establishing a running game. Bonita Vista scored three times while dominating the game. The Bucs’ lone highlight came while Mission Bay’s goal-line defense was on the field. Baxter stepped up from the safety position and intercepted a pass at the 3 yard line — then easily won the foot race 97 yards to the other goal line. The final score was 21-6 Buena Vista. The Mission Bay varsity football squad is now 2-2. This Friday is the Bucs’ bye week while they rest up. On Friday, Oct. 10, Mission Bay will host Lincoln High at 3 p.m. in their final pre-season game. Oct. 17 the Bucs will start Western League play when they host Point Loma. The match-up with the Pointers will be the annual homecoming game. During halftime, Mission Bay will hold an induction ceremony for athletes voted into the school’s Hall of Fame — the first ceremony in more than five years. Mission Bay football information is available at www.missionbay high.com or from coach Willie Matson at (858) 273-1313 ext. 137.