It’s obvious now three weeks into the 2010 season that the Mission Bay Buccaneers are not quite the same team without the famed Dillon Baxter running circles around the rest of the section. Baxter — the California state Player of the Year in 2009 — is now at USC and the Bucs are now 0-2 and facing an uphill battle each week.
Mission Bay’s latest setback came last Friday at the hands of the Otay Ranch Mustangs in a game played at Chula Vista High School. The Mustangs improved to 2-1 on the season with a 34-17 non-league win.
Otay Ranch has now won two consecutive games but likely faces its toughest foe this season this Friday at unbeaten Ramona (3-0).
The Mustangs, who led 20-3 at halftime, ran a balanced attack in sinking the Bucs with 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards.
Quarterback Marcus Hernandez completed 12 of 21 attempts for two touchdowns while Marques Roberts rushed for 77 yards on seven carries and Ernie Hicks gained 73 yards on nine carries. Roberts and Hicks each scored one TD.
David Mondy and J’Vion Johnson also were other offensive weapons at the disposal of first-year head coach Anthony Lacsina. Monday rushed five times for 17 yards and caught two passes for 59 yards, including one scoring pass. Johnson had three catches for 40 yards, including an acrobatic TD catch in the corner of the endzone that earned him the KUSI-TV Prep Pigskin Report’s “Play of the Week” award.
There were other contributors. Andre Jones rushed seven times for 32 yards while Fernando Murillo caught one pass for 33 yards, Giovanni Conrady had two pass receptions for 30 yards and Chris Martin had two catches for 21 yards.
Otay Ranch’s strength this season has been its defense and that was the same story in the win over Mission Bay. The Mustangs registered seven sacks, with Kyle Doton and Jon Bajet each credited with two sacks and Shaun Licudine, Escobar Felix and Tyler Bell each credited with one sack.
Doton and teammate Albert Lopez each led Otay Ranch with eight tackles while Licudine and Bajet each made seven stops.
Licudine also had one fumble recovery in the game while Billie Bechtel made four PAT kicks.
“Offensively, I was happy with how well we did, especially the play of our quarterback Marcus Hernandez,” Lacsinsa said. “We’ve got many weapons. The ball can go to anyone’s hands and be productive.
“The strength of our team is defense. We were able to do what we did on defense without one of our best linebackers.”
Ramona is coming off a 28-14 non-league victory at Valhalla. The victorious Bulldogs rushed for 291 yards and rolled up 405 yards in total offense.
“We know they have a very good team, and we’re working hard,” Lacsina said.
