Mission Bay reached the CIF Division IV Championship game at the University of San Diego Friday, Dec. 8, with a crew of gifted athletes. The Bucs came to play, but the Jaguars came down from Valley Center to win. While the Buccaneers scrambled in the mud, the Jaguars ran a clever path to a 26-0 victory.
Two hours of heavy rain preceded the game, but stopped 10 minutes before the kickoff, leaving the natural grass field slippery and soggy.
The Jaguars threatened first with a 60-yard drive to the Mission Bay 15, where the Buccaneer defense held them to a fourth-down field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide into the chilly wind.
The Mission Bay defense continued to make plays when it counted. Four times in the first half the Bucs stopped the Jaguars in the red zone.
The second half opened with a circus. The Bucs fumbled on the first play, giving the Jaguars the ball on the Mission Bay 10. On the next play, Valley Center fumbled the ball back at the 15.
Then Buccaneer sophomore Dillon Baxter fumbled the ball again on the third play of the half, giving the Jaguars the ball on the 20.
Valley Center stopped the clowning and struck on the next play with a 20-yard pass over the mistimed jump of defender Victor Johnson in the end zone.
Midway through the third quarter Valley Center placed another 20-yard pass over the reach of Johnson.
Four minutes into the fourth quarter Valley Center went to the well one more time, delivering a 35-yard pass over Johnson to the 2-yard line. The defensive line held for three plays, but on fourth down the Jaguars banged in their third touchdown.
It began to rain again, but Valley Center owned the momentum and added a final touchdown with a 55 yard run with 2:44 left to play.
Mission Bay’s offense sputtered all night while Valley Center looked like a team who earned five shutout victories this year. The Bucs earned just two first downs.
The Bucs’ play calling followed a predicable pattern ” up the middle or off-tackle runs, nearly every time. Muddy conditions required simplicity. But when there is no tomorrow, some drama may have improved the result.
Mission Bay completed no passes ” Valley Center about 16.
On the field there was plenty of heart poured out by the frustrated Bucs.
A powerful senior class was at the center of the 9-3-1 Mission Bay squad. They were led by quarterback Evan Taylor, Mario Arellano, Qualin Simmons, Willie Washington, Gabe Martinez, Lorance Davis, Kevin Nash, Carlos Sanchez, Josh Rivera, Nick Croce, Mike Kennedy, Jose Bolanos, Arturo Castillo, David Robles, Chase Bove, Andres Guzman, Luis Alvarenga, David Rivas, Eduardo Alvarado, Bonifacio Rangel, Galvin Boger, Abe Vigil, Jose Jimenez and Johnson.
The Mission Bay defending CIF champion basketball team’s season starts Wednesday, Dec. 19 with an 8:15 p.m. tip-off in the Kiwanis Tournament at Mission Bay.
The other major sport where the Bucs may fare well in playoff action will be baseball in the spring ” where the Bucs may have a shot at revenge against the Jaguars.