Mission Bay coach Willie Matson talks to his excited players after a 58-42 win over Santa Fe Christian/(619 Sports photo)
BALBOA STADIUM–Mission Bay senior quarterback Dillon Baxter was willing to do anything and everything to get his Bucs to the Division IV finals. Santa Fe Christian’s senior running back Sam Hoekstra felt the same way.
The two stars put on a dizzying display of yardage and points at old Balboa Stadium, but in the end it was Mission Bay (12-0) standing on top by a 58-42 score, earning a trip to Southwestern College next Saturday night to battle defending champ Valley Center for the D-IV title.
In a game that featured 14 combined touchdowns, 1,072 yards of total combined offense and zero punts, Dillon Baxter filled up the box score as few have done before. The USC-bound senior quarterback threw for 271 yards (13/16 passing) and two touchdowns, ran 32 times for 177 yards, three TDs and a pair of two-point conversions, and even caught a 27-yard touchdown pass. For good measure, Baxter added an interception on defense, and his presence as a kick returning threat led Santa Fe Christian to pooch or squib-kick every kickoff, leading to tremendous field position for Mission Bay.
All in a night’s work, said Baxter:
Meanwhile, Sam Hoekstra of Santa Fe Christian burst for scoring runs of 52, 43, 12, and 80 yards while racking up 313 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Eagles’ senior star knew his team’s offense would do the job, but stopping Baxter was a different story:
Read more, plus listen to complete interviews with Baxter, Mahbu Keels, coach Willie Matson and Sam Hoekstra after the jump:
The game featured two teams with completely different offensive approaches. Santa Fe Christian ran a veer offense which often operated from a completely tight formation, bunched at the line. Mission Bay worked out of the spread, with Baxter in the shotgun and four wide receivers. Either way, neither team was able to stop the other.
Trading touchdowns on the first six possessions, the game was tied 21-21 midway through the second quarter. Hoekstra’s first two touchdown runs were sandwiched around a 45 yard scoring run from SF Christian quarterback Keaton Giannotti. Meanwhile, Mahbu Keels had run for two touchdowns on flanker sweeps for Mission Bay, and a wide receiver reverse-option pass from Ray Herring to Baxter accounted for the third Bucs’ touchdown.
Keels, who rushed twice for 31 yards and two TDs, added eight receptions for 132 yards and a score. He enjoys the single coverage that comes when an opposing defense is entirely focused on stopping #28:
Finally, midway through the second quarter, the game saw its first defensive stop. Giannotti’s carry on 4th and 9 from the Mission Bay 24 gained only eight yards, and the Buccaneers took over on downs. Baxter quickly made Santa Fe Christian pay, marching the Bucs 84 yards in six plays to take the lead. His 31-yard rainbow to Keels gave Mission Bay a 28-21 edge.
All game long, with the Eagles’ defense keyed on Baxter’s running, Mission Bay’s wide receivers were gifted with man coverage. Dillon would get a visual cue from his wideouts to know when the bomb was open:
Willie Matson praised his QBs improved throwing and accuracy/(619 Sports photo)
Baxter is heading to USC to be a running back, slot receiver, or perhaps a wildcat QB. However, Mission Bay head coach Willie Matson has seen so much improvement from Baxter throwing the ball, he feels that Dillon could succeed as a pro-style quarterback:
SF Christian tied the game at 28 on a Giannotti five-yard run to send the game to halftime deadlocked. Mission Bay got the ball to start the third quarter and picked up right where they left off. A squib kick gave the Bucs possession at midfield, and eight plays later Baxter was diving in from four yards out to put Mission Bay in front for good.
The Eagles came back to score on Hoekstra’s third TD of the game, but a bad snap led to a failed extra point try, and for the first time Santa Fe Christian had allowed Mission Bay to remain in the lead. On the Bucs’ next possession, it was all Baxter, as Dillon carried four times for 30 yards and lobbed a perfect 39-yard arc to Rey Herring. Baxter capped the drive with an eight-yard rumble, then converted a two-pointer to give Mission Bay a 43-34 lead.
Finally, Santa Fe Christian cracked, as a missed route assignment led to a badly overthrown pass by Giannotti, easily intercepted by Baxter from the safety position. Baxter then put an exclamation point on his amazing night with another perfect pass, this one from 43 yards out to Jesse Klein making it 50-34.
Sam Hoekstra ran for 313 yards and 4 TDs in the loss/(619 Sports photo)
Hoekstra’s 80-yard scramble and 4th TD-featuring stops, starts, cutbacks and speed to burn-combined with a two-point conversion, drew SFC back within eight. But there was just no way for the Eagles to even dream of stopping Mission Bay. The Bucs recovered an onside kick attempt and then marched 49 yards, with Baxter’s third rushing TD and second two-point conversion setting the final score.
Next up for Mission Bay is a D-IV finals meeting with Valley Center (11-1), an ‘07 title-game rematch that went in favor of the Jaguars two years ago at the Q. Baxter and his teammates have a message for Valley Center this time around:
The D-IV final will take place Saturday, December 12th at Southwestern College, and could prove to be the best and most competitive of the five football finals. 619 Sports will be at all five title games with full championship coverage!
BONUS CIF SEMIFINAL COVERAGE: FULL POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
Dillon Baxter
Mahbu Keels
Mission Bay Head Coach Willie Matson
SF Christian’s Sam Hoekstra
