On the road to the CIF championships, the Mission Bay football squad defeated Santana High Thursday, Nov. 30, by a commanding score of 21-0, earning a berth in the championship game at Qualcomm Stadium Monday, Dec 4.
Santana was a strong team that averaged 33 points per game in 2006 ” and the Bucs held them scoreless. Plus Mission Bay had already defeated their challenger in the finals ” the Bucs were so hopeful.
But the CIF Division IV title game against Santa Fe Christian (SFC) of Solana Beach did not go as scripted for the top-seed Buccaneers.
The Eagles flew away with the 34-21 decision.
“We had the momentum early, but we made a few mistakes,” said Mission Bay head coach Willie Matson. “(SFC) made some big plays and got on a roll ” I wish we could play that game again, but that’s not going to happen.”
The Bucs defeated SFC in September with a score of 28-21. Mission Bay felt confident they could handle the Eagles. But 10 penalties for the Bucs versus three by SFC ” combined with the Eagles disciplined blocking and running attack ” kept grinding out the yards and first downs while eating up the clock.
“All year we dreamed of a rematch with Mission Bay,” said SFC head coach Brian Sipe. “We just got better all year. This great bunch of kids came here to win.”
On the second play of the game, the Bucs exploded with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Evan Taylor to Dillon Baxter. Lucas Balbi added the extra point kick.
The Bucs defense held SFC until they managed a long field goal three minutes into the second quarter. Five minutes later SFC added a touchdown on a 12-yard run.
The Eagles had only attempted one pass as the final seconds ticked down on the first half. Then a 40-yard halfback-pass surprised everyone and took the ball to the 3-yard line. But the Bucs again held and SFC settled for a field goal.
Midway through the third quarter the Eagles drove down to the 3-yard line where the quarterback drove it in to put them up 20-7.
The Bucs answered on the next drive, which was capped by another Taylor-to-Baxter pass for a 37-yard touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked.
SFC started the fourth quarter with another successful rushing drive for seven points. On their next possession, they kept the drive alive with a fake punt. Then SFC added seven more on a 31-yard blast through the line and a foot race to the end zone.
With 2:30 left in the game Taylor again hit Baxter for the 4-yard score with another safe pass and spectacular catch by the gifted freshman. Taylor added a 2-point conversion to complete the scoring.
“I’m very proud. The guys played hard,” Matson said. “I have to give credit to Santa Fe. They battled back, were disciplined and played well.”
SFC Head Coach Sipe was the star Aztec quarterback for Don Correll in the early 1970s and played 11 years in the NFL. Sipe works as an architect in North County while giving generously of his athletic talents to SFC.
Buccaneers who stood out in the game in addition to Taylor, Baxter and Balbi were linebacker Johnny Nguyen and sportsmanship award winner Chris Austin.
Bucs cheerleader Danielle Wilson also opened the game with a perfect rendition of the national anthem.
Many of the key players on the Mission Bay squad are juniors and will be back next season including the quarterback, center Chase Bove, running back Victor Johnson, defensive back Lorance Davis and much of the offensive line.
Seniors will be most missed among the defense on the 2006 squad, which ends the season with a 10-2 record.
More than 400 Mission Bay students were allowed to attend the 10 a.m. championship game Monday morning, along with the family and friends of the players.
“Students had to qualify to take the day off. They needed to have no attendance or other discipline problems,” said Mission Bay principal Cheryl Seelos. “This sort of opportunity is one of the incentives for good behavior.”
The final game was Mission Bay’s fifth trip to the CIF Championships in school history. They are 3-2. They went in 1995 and won in 1996, 2000 and 2001.
Athletic program information is available from the school at (858) 273-1313.