By Bill Dickens
MaxPreps.com
Mission Bay’s Dillon Baxter probably doesn’t know how good he can be.
Fortunately for him, the University of Southern California does. Pete Carroll and the Trojans have already extended the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Baxter a football scholarship and he has accepted.
During his three-year career at Mission Bay, Baxter has bounced around the field meeting the challenge of performing at several positions. At the moment, Baxter is toiling at quarterback and has the Buccaneers (6-4-1) one win from the San Diego Division IV championship game after a three-touchdown performance in a 37-10 quarterfinal victory over Chula Vista Mater Dei Catholic.
Baxter rushed for scores of 2, 41 and 30 yards as the Bucs clubbed the Crusaders. He averaged 10 yards per carry on 13 chances, while going 7-for-9 for 104 yards passing.
Prior to taking over at quarterback, Baxter served Mission Bay as a wide receiver, slotback, defensive back and punter in his first two years. The fact that he’s taking snaps this year is due to an injury to the quarterback incumbent.
Baxter's ability to make something happen is natural. He started the season as a running back and wide receiver, but was moved behind center after an injury to starter Bryan Allen in mid-October.
Baxter’s college future most likely will be as a receiver.
Gaffney closes in on record
Senior running back Tyler Gaffney of Cathedral Catholic has scored 264 points (44 touchdowns) and needs 13 points to break the San Diego section season scoring record set by Brawley’s Zay Shepherd in 2004. Gaffney will get his chance when he leads the Dons (11-0) against St. Augustine in Friday’s (Dec. 5) Division III semifinals. Cathedral has won 18 in a row.
El Capitan guard hits quadruple double
Senior guard Ashley Duffy of El Capitan compiled a quadruple double of 24 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, and 11 steals in a 73-45 romp over Valley Center. In two games last week the San Diego State-bound Duffy averaged 33 points, 10.5 rebounds, 12.5 steals and eight assists, while hitting 17-of-18 free throws.
It’s Wynn again for Oceanside
Senior quarterback Jordan Wynn completed 14-of-24 passes for 295 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the top-ranked Pirates riddled Lincoln 41-0 in a San Diego Section Division II quarterfinal game, stretching the Pirates unbeaten streak to 33 games.
Seale finds new way to win
— No matter what it takes, Escondido’s Ricky Seale finds a way to help the Cougars win. In Friday’s (Nov. 28) CIF semifinal 14-12 win over Fallbrook, Seale made a crucial tackle late in the game to deny Fallbrook a two-point conversion.
Other Top Performances
— University City senior Mac Fleet, who has accepted a scholarship to Oregon, captured the Division III race at the California State Cross Country Championships Saturday (Nov. 29) in Fresno. Fleet covered the 3.1-mile Woodward Park course in 15 minutes, 8 seconds.
— Sammy Silva led Our Lady of Peace to the Division III California State Cross Country State Team Championship Saturday (Nov. 29) in Fresno. Silva was clocked at 17 minutes, 35 seconds over the 3.1-mile course. It was the first girl’s state title from the San Diego Section since 2001.
— El Capitan senior Philip Cook, one of the top receivers in the San Diego Section, made the most of playing in only seven games. Coming off an injury, Cook corralled 47 passes for 827 yards and 13 touchdowns.
— Valley Center senior quarterback Tyler Bernard clicked on 15-of-19 passes for 231 yards and four TDs in a 64-6 rout of Imperial in a San Diego Section Division IV quarterfinal game.
— Ironically, Imperial (9-2) posted seven shutouts, which ties the Tigers with Christian and La Mesa Helix in the San Diego Section record for third most in a season.
Coming attractions
Few surprises have occurred in the early rounds of the San Diego Section football playoffs which sets the stage for some highly completive semifinal contests on Friday (Dec. 5). Unseeded Steele Canyon scored the biggest knockout of No. 2 Ramona (24-23) in Division III, while unseeded Mission Hills eliminated No. 3 seed Poway (20-14) in Division I. All games have a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Dickens Dealings
Filtering out the cream of the class in boys and girls basketball in the San Diego Section is no sure thing.
Probably the best bet on the boys’ side is San Diego High, led by 6-foot-10 junior post Jeremy Tyler, who has a scholarship to Louisville in hand.
Despite their big man in the middle, the Cavers have often had a hard time living up to press clippings. Don’t look for any kind of fold job from coach Kenny Roy’s squad this season, because Tyler definitely has a supporting cast. That starts with 6-5 senior Terrence Boyd and 6-11 junior Zech (CQ) Smith. This powerful front line makes the Cavers a state contender in Division I.
Other standouts include Foothills Christian guard Troy Leaf (25.1 ppg), son of former Indiana Pacers 4th round draft pick and now Knights head coach Brad Leaf. Coach Leaf played 18 professional seasons in Israel.
The Bishop’s school, which features the area’s most talented player in Inga Orekhova, is hands down the team to beat. Dogged by knee injuries, the Austrian born Orekhova, a 6-3 sharp-shooting guard, seems to be healthy as a senior and that is good news for the Knights.
As it stands now, Orekhova is ticketed to attend Northwestern with a goal of playing in the WNBA. But don’t be surprised if she changes colleges in the next couple of months.