Over the past two weeks, the MBHS football team has lost one game and won their first game of the season. On April 2, MBHS lost to Nipomo High 42-8, and the next week during Spring Break on April 9, MBHS defeated Atascadero 20-19.
First off, MBHS had an away game against Nipomo High on the Friday before spring break. MBHS held an 0-2 record headed into the game, while Nipomo was 1-1. All throughout the game, MBHS was never able to get going, as they put up 8 points throughout all four quarters. On the other hand, Nipomo’s offense was rolling, putting up 42 total points behind 259 yards rushing. This game would put MBHS down to 0-3 on the season, with Atascadero up next.
On April 9, during spring break, the 0-3 MBHS Pirates went one-on-one against the 0-3 Atascadero Greyhounds. Beginning in the first quarter, Atascadero went downfield and scored a 28-yard touchdown play on the opening drive, making the score 0-6 after a missed PAT. Once MBHS got the ball back, they drove down to the 45-yard line but threw a costly interception to give the Greyhounds the ball back. The MBHS defense held strong, and the first quarter ended with a score of 0-6.
The second quarter began with an Atascadero punt to MBHS. On that drive, a big run play got MBHS down to the 45-yard line, but they were forced to punt anyway. On the next Pirate drive, the offense made into the within the 20-yard line, but got nothing out of it, as Atascadero was able to force and recover a fumble. The Greyhounds proceeded to score another touchdown from the 3-yard line, making the score 0-13. After another Pirates punt, Atascadero went and scored a 35-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 0-19 after another missed PAT. This ended the first half.
MBHS began the first half with the ball but punted. Atascadero looked to extend their 19 point lead but was forced to punt after a strong defensive effort by the Pirates. QB Nicky Johnson then threw a 35-yard touchdown strike to cut the lead down, and the score was 6-19 after a missed extra point. The third quarter ended with a score of 6-19.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter for MBHS, Nicky Johnson threw another touchdown pass, this one from 30 yards out, making the score 13-19 with 6 minutes left to play. Atascadero drove all the way down the field, getting into the red zone of the Pirates. With about 3 minutes to go, MBHS got a game-saving interception and was downed at the one-yard line. The Pirates needed to go 99 yards in 3 minutes, score a touchdown, and most importantly make the extra point to win the game. MBHS did exactly that. The Pirates took the ball all the way downfield, and with under a minute to go, the offense was able to get their third passing touchdown of the game from 12 yards out to tie the game at 19 points apiece. The extra point was good, and MBHS took their first lead of the game. The game was not over yet, as Atascadero drove all the way to the two-yard line with only seconds to go. Atascadero went for the game-winning field goal. The ball was kicked, and it bounced off of the back of an offensive lineman and was no good. MBHS won their first game of the season, beating Atascadero 20-19, and boosting their record to 1-3.
In the next game, the 1-3 Pirates will have a home game against 2-2 Mission Prep. The game will happen on Friday, April 16 at 6:00 p.m. This game might be the last football game of the regular season barring any changes.
