Mission Bay gets 8 sacks, rolls to win over University City

by Clark Fahrenthold

Through three weeks, University City boasted one of the most efficient and high-powered offenses in San Diego County.

None of that mattered to the Mission Bay defense.

Anchored by an eight-sack performance from their front four, the Buccaneers rolled to an impressive 29-20 road victory over UC. Mission Bay improved to 4-0.

“We knew they live and die with their quarterback,” said Mission Bay coach Greg Tate. “We wanted to make sure we put bodies in his face and never let him get comfortable.”

Mission Bay was led early by running back Shane Brushie. The senior logged the game’s opening score with a five-yard touchdown on Mission Bay’s opening drive. With 9:45 to play in the second quarter, Brushie hit paydirt again. Hauling in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Trey Arnold along the far sideline, Brushie pushed the Buccaneers ahead 13-6.

“Shane is just a classic football player,” Tate said. “Whatever you need him to do, on offense or defense, he’ll go out there and lay it all out on the line for the team. He leads by example. As a four-year varsity starter who plays with that type of tenacity, guys want to follow him.”

On University City’s final possession of the half, Mission Bay’s pass rush was unleashed. Jevyn Higman and Nero Kraft collected two of the four Buccaneers’ first-half sacks. Keeping the Centurions off the scoreboard and allowing their offense to drive down the field for an end-of-the-half 27-yard field goal, extending Mission Bay’s lead to 16-6.

“We took care of the quarterback and got them behind the chains.” said Mission Bay defensive end Nereo Kraft. “We sent a few linebacker blitzes and a few inside moves, but we didn’t do anything crazy. Just win the one-on-one and get to the quarterback.”

Returning from the half, University City appeared to flip the momentum after a 53-yard touchdown run by Deshaun Hill made it a 16-13 bal game.

Mission Bay quickly snuffed out that grab at momentum, thanks to the big right arm of Arnold. On a first-and-10 from the UC 34-yard line, Arnold took a shotgun snap and hit receiver Sean Lander on a skinny post for a 34-yard touchdown.

“I liked my matchup a lot on the outside with Sean being pressed up,” Arnold said. “I knew they were sending a blitz, so I had to get it out hot and put it only where my guy could get it.”

University City was presented with a comeback opportunity late. After a 10-yard touchdown pass from Quentyn DeMara to DJ Ferguson made it a 23-20 game with 1:45 to play, the Centurions forced Mission Bay into a fourth and one at the 43-yard line with under a minute to play.

On the crucial fourth down, Mission Bay handed the ball to Jevyn Higman, who’d bounced it to the outside for a 43-yard score.

“Today was a testament to these guys’ composure,” said Tate, “They had each others’ backs, picked each other up, and kept fighting.”