On to the state championship! Morro Bay continues magical run with 35-27 win
Morro Bay football knows how to keep a game interesting — and they know how to win.
Once again, the Pirates found a way to win another close game, beating Loara High of Anaheim 35-27 in a narrow contest with big momentum swings in the second half.
The victory moves Morro Bay moves on to the state Division 7-AA championship game, which will be on the road against an opponent to be determined, said Pirates Coach Jake Goossen-Brown.
Morro Bay, the last San Luis Obispo County high school football team standing in the postseason, pulled off the victory at home in front of a packed stadium.
The fans included the return of the 1995 Pirates’ CIF-Southern Section title team that went 13-0, with former players on hand to root on their alma mater.
This year’s Pirates (8-6) put on a show with a big performance from hard-charging running back Dylan Turner, who was involved in four of Morro Bay’s five touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving).
Quarterback Nicky Johnson overcame two consecutive interceptions in the second half that helped the Saxons (10-7) narrow a 28-14 the lead to 28-27, going on to make several big plays and using his scrambling ability to find open targets.
Johnson found Pirates receiver Ethan Lisman for multiple slant routes and threw strikes to Turner while rolling to his right.
Johnson recorded a 16-yard touchdown pass to Lisman with less than a minute left in the second quarter and a 30-yard score to Turner in the corner of the end zone in the first quarter, after the junior quarterback juked a defender to avoid a sack.
Key defensive plays included a first-half strip for a turnover by Nami Hoag, who ripped the ball out of the Loara player’s hands in the red zone and ran it for about 30 yards downfield.
Late in the fourth quarter, a strip by Morro Bay’s Manny Diaz and a fumble recovery by Johnny Botello stopped a Saxons’ drive near the end zone and helped seal the win.
Then the celebration was on with cheerleaders jumping up and down in jubilation and the band pumping out raucous beats.
Players posed for photos after yet another feat, the team’s fourth playoff win in a row. The Pirates earned the CIF-Central Section Division 6 title on Nov. 26.
““It felt pretty nice,” said linebacker Alexis Martinez. “As a senior, it’s so nerve-racking, and our season can end at any time. But I’m so happy we got this win and happy we could do it with the 1995 guys coming out here to support us.”
Win advances Morro Bay to state title game
With receiver Christian Merrill out due to injury Friday (he’ll return for the state title game), Morro Bay had to find a way with an already limited roster as a small school and many of its players serving in multiple roles on the field.
“We’re not the biggest, not the fastest, we’re not the strongest, but we’re the toughest team and that’s what gives us our edge against our opponents,” Turner said.
Goossen-Brown said the coaches used formations that opened up plays for Lisman and Turner, which proved to be effective.
“We had some mistakes, but for the most part, we executed well and we were able to make plays,” Goossen-Brown said. “Nicky is a magician sometimes and there are plays when he looks dead in the water and he’s able to make something happen.”
Goossen-Brown also credited the defensive turnovers for keeping Morro Bay in the game.
“It’s a 15-week season right now for us,” Turner said. “None of us have been this far. We played five games last season (in a COVID-shortened spring season). We’re one of the smallest teams in the area with 25 or 30 guys and a lot of us are playing both ways. One guy goes down, the next man steps up, and we have a lot of guys who can make plays.”
Hard work leads to success
Martinez said that Goossen-Brown pushes players to work hard in practice with situational drills and studious game-planning for the team ahead.
“He’s one of the hardest coaches I’ve ever had to deal with,” Martinez said. “And I love him for it.”
Johnson said it’s easy to feel pressure, but it’s important for the team to stay calm. Even after two turnovers on offense, they stuck together.
“You have to flush mistakes and continue to keep going,” Johnson said. “We’re ready to go and travel next week, even if it’s an eight-hour drive. We’re ready.”
After a 4-6 regular season record, and notable progress as a program after a 1-4 spring, the Pirates hit their stride and won three straight games in the Division 6 CIF-Central Section playoffs.
Each of those victories were by three points or less, including the 35-33 upset of No. 1 Taft High in the CIF-Central Section Division 6 final on the road.
Embracing the underdog role, the Pirates tallied multiple big wins on the season, beating Templeton 31-28 in overtime in the regular season.
In the playoffs, they topped East Bakersfield 36-33, edged out a larger school in Pioneer Valley 29-26, and then secured the CIF title in dramatic fashion with a goal-line stand on a two-point conversation versus Taft.
The success has helped the Pirates change a program culture.
“Let’s get that win one more time and cement that legacy with a state championship,” Goossen-Brown told his huddled team after the game. “Nobody thought we could be here, but we’re not done yet. Let’s get one more.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2021 at 11:24 PM.
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