The Bucs are back. Well, at least they’re back to respectability. A 34-7 road win at Clairemont High School (CHS) on Sept. 24 improved Mission Bay High School’s (MBHS) record to 2-2 through four games this season. The 2011 squad is already well ahead of the pace set by last year’s varsity squad, which managed just three wins over the 2010 season. “We have to continue to grow,” said head coach Willie Matson after the victory. “The thing we’re hoping for as a coaching staff is that the guys see this is the right way you play football. It’s not an individual sport, and if we all pull together, good things will happen.” The star of this year’s up-and-coming group is senior quarterback Nate Long, who has been torching opposing defenses with his uncanny running style and accurate passing abilities. “He’s seeing the whole field, he’s very hard to defend and it opens up room for our other running backs,” Matson said. Followers of local high school football have probably already heard of Long because he’s been featured several times on local TV programs for his signature move. On multiple occasions, Long has been seen (and filmed) leaping over would-be defenders who attempt to get low and anticipate contact while trying to make a tackle. The key word here is “trying,” because Long regularly hurdles those same defenders and comes away untouched for big plays — plays that give fans endless amusement. In the game against CHS last week, Long cleared a defender with ease in the first half but when he tried to pull the trick again late in the game, the defense was waiting for it. Whenever a player leaves the ground, he is more susceptible to a potentially serious injury, which is something Long appears to be very aware of. “I try to be as safe as I can,” he said. “I did get pretty stupid at the end of the game with the last dive. It was unnecessary.” While Long is clearly on the short list of San Diego County’s high school football highlights in 2011, the determined team leader is much more concerned with turning around this once-proud program. “Last year was a disaster and we seniors were not having that again,” Long said. While this quarterback has learned to lead the team and its offense, several other aspects — including the defense — have also had its fair share of success so far this season. In the game against the Chieftains, the Bucs gave up an early touchdown and found themselves in a 7-0 hole. However, the MBHS defense kept its chin up and shut out CHS from that point on while piling up 34 unanswered points. The Bucs’ defense had several big hits during that span and a couple of interceptions to boot. Cornerback/running back Chris Byrd had MBHS’ first interception when he timed the opposing receivers’ running route and stepped in to rip the ball away in a bang-bang play during the second quarter. The Bucs’ pre-game preparation has served it well thus far. “During the warm-ups, I saw the way he was doing his slants and I said I was going to get it,” Byrd said. “I read his head, broke on it and took it from him.” Like Byrd, Long also said much of his own success against Clairemont came as a result of studying film at home during his free time. MBHS’ added attention to detail and the sacrifice that comes with it has been paying off. Excited by his team’s play following the win, Byrd said the battle for Balboa Avenue will also serve notice to any team in the area that thinks they can walk all over the Bucs this year. “We wanted to show all of Mission Bay and Pacific Beach that this is our house and when you play us, you’ve got to come hard in the second half and when you don’t, this (34-7) is what happens,” Byrd said. It’s still too early to know what kind of season the Buccaneers will ultimately put together, but at least fans and alums have something to cheer about as long as excitement surrounds the gridiron in Mission Bay once again.