The Mission High Bears continue to dominate San Francisco’s AAA league, leading with six consecutive wins, including today’s victory against the Balboa High Buccaneers. The Bears fought their way to a 50-38 win that guarantees them the top seed position in the upcoming league playoffs, which begin November 18.
“We did really well the first half, but we kind of let up in the second,” linebacker Amine Houri said of the team’s performance against Balboa. Though the Bears maintained at least a two-touchdown lead throughout the high-scoring game, Balboa threatened a comeback in the fourth quarter with a last-minute touchdown.
“Obviously we have stuff to work on, but what team doesn’t?” said Mission tight end Sidy Fall, who said he looks forward to playing his first post-season game.
“We’re going to keep it clean and keep it rolling,” said head coach Joe Albano. He noted that the team was running ragged in the last half. “We just need to get in shape and our reserves need to improve, so we can rotate and use our subs a little bit.”
The Bears have one regular season game left against Thurgood Marshall Academic High School next Friday.
“It’s not over yet,” defensive coordinator Alex Ware said.
One year ago, the Mission High varsity program was quite the opposite: The Bears forfeited their season with not enough players to fill their roster.
This season’s team boasts a huge turnaround.
“We’ve now gone undefeated; not only did we win, we got first seed. I’m so proud of these kids,” Ware said. “That’s something that’s a real accomplishment. It’s very rare to be able to flip the switch.”