The 2011 fall sports season is officially in the books for Mission Bay High School. The football program made a significant improvement this year with a 5-4-1 regular season record and a CIF playoff appearance after a poor season in 2010 (3-9). The Buccaneers have qualified for the playoffs every season under head coach Willie Matson since 2004, highlighted by a CIF title in 2009. Senior quarterback Nate Long was a dual threat in passing and rushing against opposing defenses. Long completed 51 passes on 98 attempts with six touchdowns and rushed for 835 yards on 98 attempts with 11 touchdowns to average more than 8.5 yards per carry. Senior runningbacks Chris Byrd and James Phillips also contributed to the running game with 273 yards, two touchdowns and 380 yards, two TDs, respectively. Byrd led the defense with three interceptions. Sophomore Devante Kinder added 301 yards on the ground. Senior JaQuan Maydun was the leading receiver with 245 yards on 12 receptions and three touchdowns. Maydun averaged 20.4 yards per catch. Middle linebacker Isaac Griffin, another senior, lead the defense with 130 tackles and nine sacks. Other programs • The girls’ volleyball team also qualified for the CIF playoffs with a 13-12 regular season record. The Lady Bucs made the playoffs with a victory over Morse in the final match of the regular season. A pair of seniors, Mikela Saili and Melissa Brandenburg, had outstanding seasons. Sophomore Rachel Odermatt lead the team with 67 kills and Saili was second with 64 kills. Brandenburg finished with 16 blocks and Kyanna Tamborini was tops on the team with 69 digs. Junior Nicole Zanchetta had 208 serving aces. • Coach Troy Merkel’s boys’ water polo team finished 15-11 overall, qualified for the CIF playoffs and won a first-round playoff match against Valley Center. The varsity team was lead by five starting seniors: Brendan Daly, Shane Gilsdorf, Mikey McCllelan, Matt Mershon and goalie Jacob Moreland. • The girls’ field hockey team went 7-9 and missed the CIF playoffs. The girls were lead by seniors Maile Saili, Varanee Chinnapong and Leslie Espinosa. • The Mission Bay boys’ cross country team finished third with a 2-2 record and the girls’ cross country team finished tied for fourth with an 0-3-1 record. The boys’ cross country team was lead by standouts Brandon Grisham and Nick Schoettle.
