MBHS Football Honors Seniors in a Big Win

The Morro Bay High School Pirates faced off against the Santa Maria Saints on Friday, Oct. 17, in their last regular-season home game for senior night. Despite the Pirates having a rough away game streak of 0-4, they clearly feel comfortable on their home field, boasting a 3-1 record.

Straight from the get-go, the student section and players on the field knew this was going to be a dominant game. The team collectively put up excellent stats altogether, but the seniors really showed out. Senior wide receiver duo, Tony Campanario and Efrain Hernandez, both put up two touchdowns each, with Hernandez making a 40-yard run for one of his touchdowns. Senior Colton Rosenlieb, a middle linebacker, had 10 total tackles this game, along with a sack, making his defensive performance a highlight for the big win. “I knew this was going to be a big win when our coaches started putting in our second string early,” said senior Radden Batalla, but senior Sands Dougherty knew earlier than most the team. “I felt it after the first touchdown, we scored quick,” Dougherty said. Luca Macari, another senior and the team’s first-string running back and outside linebacker, made his own mark in the 50-0 win. Macari had two touchdowns alongside his fellow seniors Campanario and Hernandez, but lit up the stands with his interception during the third quarter. “Getting an interception and two touchdowns made my night, I got to ball out,” Macari said. Dougherty contributed 300 passing yards and passed for 6 touchdowns, and Batalla dominated with two sacks besides his total of eight tackles. “Sacking the quarterback felt great, what felt even better was when I pancaked the corner that kept running his mouth though,” said Batalla.

Before the game started, a ceremony was held for the nine football seniors as well as the cheer seniors. The ceremony reflected on their high school careers, and for as long as they’ve played football, as they walked with their families across the field. “The biggest lesson that football has taught me is that hard work pays off,” said Sands Dougherty, the team’s quarterback, who has played football for 6-7 years now. Football and sports in general, for many people, teach them more than the sport, but life lessons and how to become a resilient person later in life. Batalla, a first-string defensive tackle and offensive lineman, said that football has taught him “to stick together and not to give up on others. Stay as one.” Batalla has been playing football for almost 10 years, so it means a lot to him, “Football is the family aspect, how we are all able to come together as one and work hard,” said Batalla. Macari can agree with Batalla on what football is to him, despite having only played for 5 years now, “you get accustomed to hard work, and that helps us work hard in whatever career we choose later in life. Football is really about the bonds you make and the brotherhood; it’s more than a sport,” said Macari. 

Being able to have such a big win over the Saints on senior night meant a lot to most of the team. “The win felt amazing, we played as a team and we all played our hearts out,” said Batalla. Despite this being the last regular-season home game for the Pirates, Dougherty is confident in the team getting another home game for the playoffs, “This being the last regular-season home game, especially being a senior and all, felt like a great win. But I know we’re gonna make it to the playoffs and secure a good seed,” stated Dougherty. Dougherty likes to think of himself as “the mother bear and they’re [the other seniors] like my cubs. I’m like the boss,” Dougherty said. Dougherty does lead his team, though; despite his joke, he has been on varsity for three years and is a captain this year. Dougherty averages 331 passing yards per game and has great field vision, finding his open receivers quickly. Currently, Dougherty is ranked number four in passing yards in the state of California, and he is only three yards behind the number three spot. Dougherty doesn’t just have a great field IQ; he is also quick on his feet and has 596 rushing yards just this season, which effectively helps the Pirates’ offensive strategy and shows his quick feet and thinking. Dougherty even made a 30-yard run in the win that highlighted his night, “My 30-yard run felt great, it was a great play and a great feeling in general,” Dougherty shared. MaxPreps also ranks Campanario at number 45 for the most receiving yards this season in the state of California. It’s clear that the seniors are a major part of MBHS football’s success.

The bond between the senior class is strong as they show appreciation for one another. Batalla gives credit to Dougherty with no hesitation, “Shout out to Sands for staying in the pocket, when he does that, we get a lot of touchdowns,” stated Batalla. Dougherty wanted to highlight standout performer Macari for helping lead the team to the win over the Saints, “Shout out to Luca, he had an amazing game. He plays great overall in general.” Dougherty praised. Macari also shared a few names that stood out in his mind, “Tony and Efrian are always there for me, so shout out to them. Shout out to Ellis for always being a hard worker, and shout out to Colton, me and him have been playing together for a long time,” Macari said. Their ability to shout out their fellow teammates with such ease reflects the tight-knit bond the senior class this year has, and it shows the team’s chemistry even off the field.

The boys like to give props to their coaches as well for shaping them not just as an athlete but as a person. “Coach Bradley teaches us what we did wrong and what we can do to make it right. He doesn’t just get mad, he helps us find solutions,” Batalla explained. “They’re great people and they know what it takes to be great, so they hold us to a high standard,” shared Dougherty. “Coach Dougherty and Coach Bash make us better people by pushing us to work harder. To show up in the offseason and train all year round. They teach us life lessons,” said Macari. “Football means sacrifice, to love the game and sacrifice for it. Usually, when you can do that, it makes you happier because you’re reaching the goals you want,” said Dougherty to help reflect on how the players and coaches collectively make sacrifices to better the team. It’s clear that the coach’s impact goes far beyond the field, and it goes to show that not just the players’ dedication but the coaching staff’s dedication to try and better the players.

Senior night marked more than just the end of a season; it celebrated years of dedication, growth, and teamwork. The seniors’ impact was felt on and off the field, and their 50-0 win served as the perfect sendoff for a group that has helped shape the program’s identity.