Dillon Baxter, Mission Bay
File photo by Steven Silva
San Diego Mission Bay senior quarterback Dillon Baxter accounted for seven touchdowns during a 56-17 rout of Coronado to tie California’s record for combined touchdowns in one season.
The 6-foot, 205-pounder ran 15 times for 224 yards and six touchdowns, while also completing six of eight passes for 111 yards and one touchdown. That gave him 64 touchdowns this year, which ties the state record set by Tyler Ebell of Ventura in 2000.
He can break the record Friday when Mission Bay plays Santa Fe Christian in the San Diego Section Division IV semifinals.
Baxter has 40 touchdowns rushing, 23 passing and one on a punt return. While leading the Buccaneers to an 11-0 record, the multi-talented Baxter has rushed for 2,402 yards (11.9 average per carry) and passed for 1,651.
“His field vision is really the thing," Mission Bay coach Willie Matson said. "Whether he’s running or throwing, he makes the right decisions. He sees the game at almost a different speed and has a great feel for the game.”
Matson noted Baxter’s great versatility. He said he volunteered to blanket an outstanding 6-6 wide receiver and in just three plays he put his team out of danger.
“When we need a field goal blocked, he’ll go in there and block a field goal,” Matson added.
Veteran sports writer Steve Brand has been covering prep football – including four future Heisman Trophy winners – for 35 years in San Diego. He rates Baxter as one of the 10 best ever produced in the area.
"He can put moves on people and just leave them standing there," Brand said. "Give him a crease and he’s gone. You just can’t tackle him. He can flat-out throw the ball, which makes him doubly dangerous.”
Baxter actually was a highly-promising wide receiver as a freshman, but Matson moved him to quarterback as a sophomore so he could handle the ball on every play. That same year he made a commitment to the University of Southern California.
Both Matson and Brand believe that next year USC may use him at its “Wildcat” position where, as a running back, he would take a direct snap and have the option of running or passing.
“In my mind, he could play right now at USC," Brand said.
