Mission Bay scored early and often against a determined, but outmatched Clairemont High football squad Friday, Sept 7. The Chieftains never gave up, but they never really were a threat to stop the Buccaneer’s potent offense.
The Bucs sailed away with a commanding 48-16 win.
“The offense did everything we expected of them. The defense and the special-teams were all pretty fair. Overall it was a real fine game,” said head coach Willie Matson. “I’m proud of ’em ” they did a great job.”
Among the Buc’s seven touchdowns, versatile sophomore Dillon Baxter scored four, including two running and two pass receptions.
Quarterback Evan Taylor capped the Bucs first drive with a 34-yard end zone pass to Baxter, who pulled down the lob in traffic.
Amazing catches are Baxter’s specialty. So far this season he has missed only one pass that hit his hands. Of course, he was leaping, backwards, trying to keep his feet inbounds, and had a defenders hand in his face ” that was the only miss.
When the Clairemont offense got their hands on the ball they pushed down to the 12-yard line where the Bucs defense held them to a field goal.
Midway through the first quarter, Baxter took a handoff toward the left side and danced down the sidelines for a 66-yard TD run.
Ten minutes later, Victor Johnson provided the last five tough yards to get Mission Bay into the end zone for their third TD.
Clairemont answered with a ground-drive all the way to the 1-yard line and scored with one minute remaining in the half.
Still anxious to make yardage at every opportunity, Baxter leaped up at the goal line to pull down the Chieftain’s kickoff before it went into the end zone. Then he returned it 55 yards ” running like the game was on the line, or like he simply loved it.
Two plays later as time ticked off the clock, Baxter caught a 45-yard Taylor toss to the corner of the end zone, giving the Bucs a 28-9 halftime lead.
The Bucs took the second half kick off and used more than half of the third quarter to get within striking-distance. Baxter again took it in from six yards out.
Bucs place kicker Carlos Sanchez bounced the extra point kick off the upright to break his streak at 14 successful kicks.
The Chieftains next drive was cut short when Bucs defender Mario Arellano intercepted a Clairemont pass and returned it 17 yards un-touched into the endzone.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Clairemont completed another ground drive to score, but the kick was blocked by Buccaneer Nick Croce.
With mostly reserves on the field, the Bucs scored again with four minutes in the game. Junior Sam Metu took the ball the last 10 yards up the middle.
Arellano earned the “You Rock” award for the week.
“Mario led the team in tackles, plus he had that interception to score,” Matson said. “But the most amazing thing was that four times on kick-offs, he avoided his blocker and went right to the ball ” it was an outstanding effort.”
The Bucs will next travel to Bonita Vista Friday, Sept. 14, for a 7 p.m. game.
“Buena Vista will be a tough team ” they have a lot of big kids,” Matson added.
The Bucs then go to Coronado. League play starts in Point Loma Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.