PREP FOOTBALL: Kicker propels Valley Center past Ramona

Last's field goal with 58 seconds sends No. 6 Jaguars past No. 4 Bulldogs

By JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 1, 2008 12:59 AM PDT

Valley Center High's Stanton Upson takes to the air during a push up the middle against Ramona Friday night. (Photo by John Koster - For The North County Times)

RAMONA ---- Tyler Bernard, a player who has earned a reputation of beating teams with his arm, used his legs to help his team to victory Friday night.

Bernard, Valley Center High's senior quarterback, escaped a heavy rush late in the fourth quarter, eluded three tackles and scrambled 23 yards for a key first down. Sophomore kicker David Last finished the drive with a 25-yard field goal with 58 seconds to play as the No. 6-ranked Jaguars upset No. 4 Ramona 16-13 in a key Valley League football game at the Dawg Pound.

Click here for boxscore

The win keeps Valley Center (7-1, 3-1) alive in the league race. The Jaguars travel to No. 1-ranked Oceanside on Friday.

Ramona (7-1, 3-1) is still in the title hunt with games remaining against Westview and Oceanside.

"I don't know how I did that," Bernard said of his scramble. "That was crazy. I just stayed with the play, stayed on my feet and looked for the first-down marker.

"There were a couple of other scrambles where I thought I had first downs, but was short."

The first half belonged to Ramona as the Bulldogs outgained the Jaguars 179-61 and led 13-3.

But it could have been more.

Ramona's first drive ended at the Valley Center 20 when Joey Dambrose was stopped short on a fourth-and-one gamble.

The Bulldogs gambled again on their next series as Dambrose bulled his way for 2 yards on a fourth-and-1 at the Valley Center 3. Quarterback Ian Hunt pushed his way into the end zone three plays later.

Valley Center answered with a 65-yard drive, but it stalled at the Ramona 15 and it had to settle for a David Last 32-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs gambled again on their next series as Hunt picked up 2 yards on a fourth-and-1 at the Valley Center 31. Six plays later, on a fourth-and-1 gamble from the Valley Center 7, Dambrose broke free for the TD.

The score came after the Bulldogs were going to settle for a field goal, but Valley Center jumped offside, giving Ramona and fourth-and-1 instead of a fourth-and-6.

Then, just before the half, Ramona's Jesse Cappadocia's 34-yard field goal attempt banged off the left upright, denying the Bulldogs another three points.

"They beat us physically in the first half," said Valley Center coach Rob Gilster. "We got our butts beat.

"They were doing some things on defense that we hadn't practice against much. We made some adjustments at the half, and beat them physically in the second half.''

The second half, indeed, was all Valley Center.

The Jaguars closed the deficit to 13-6 on the opening series of the third quarter when Last connected on a 41-yard field goal.

After forcing a Ramona punt, Valley Center drove 59 yards on 12 plays with Justin Lawrence scoring from 3 yards out and Last tying the game at 13 with 11:12 to play.

Ramona came right back, driving to the Valley Center 11, but James Johnson ---- who was held to just two pass receptions for 18 yards ---- fielded a batted ball in the end zone for an interception.

Bernard then led his team on a 13-play, 72-yard drive, hitting tight end Jeremy Dozier for gains of 27 and 16 yards and scrambling for a key first down.

"My quarterback was awesome," Gilster said. "So was Dozier.

"Those passes were hot reads (where Bernardo and Dozier read the defense at the line of scrimmage and adjust). Dozier found a way to get open."

Ramona got very little going in the second half, rushing for just 7 yards while passing for 69.

But Valley Center had the ball for 33 plays in the final 24 minutes while Ramona ran just 15. Four of those were in the game's final seconds.

"We played great defense," said Ramona coach Damon Baldwin. "But (linebacker) Tanner Hix had the flu and couldn't play the second half.

"So we had to juggle some things and had a couple of busted assignments on blitzes. That's how the tight end got open, and that hurt us.

"Give Valley Center credit. They made some plays on third-and long. And we did some things that we hadn't done for seven weeks.

"But the league still has to go through us.

"We get Westview next, And if we take care of business, we'll play Oceanside the last week of the season with the league title on the line."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.

This text will be replaced by the slide show.
Next Previous

Advertisement

Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

i feel sorry for you wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:21 AM:The cocky ones always fall harder, san clemente in 05' came in praising themseleves before the game was played, so with the upmost rescpect...god luck next week.

hahaha wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:45 AM:lets keep it goin boys

realsdfootball wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:10 AM:Valley Center will have two losses after Friday and will not win league.

ncfootball wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:19 PM:I was at the game and was very impressed with both teams. Ramona is a class act team that played very hard from start to finish. Nobody likes to lose but I tell you what, they are a very good football team with a lot of class. I know that those boys have played against each other through Pop Warner and many of them talked after the game. Valley Center was equally a class act and fought hard to come from behind. That QB of theirs is absolutely amazing. He might not of had his best stat night through the air, but he used his speed to get them into position to score on several occassions. Congrats to both teams and I hope nobody bashes each other on this message board. There is no need to, you are both great and each have a chance to go deep into the playoff's.

vc fan wrote on Nov 1, 2008 3:00 PM:to #45 ramona you are a class act
nice job.

Go Jags wrote on Nov 1, 2008 4:00 PM:Great comeback. Lets roll that momentum into next week.

hater wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:30 PM:both schools are horrible.
both schools have no class and are way too cocky for schools that are in the middle of nowhere.
i hope oceanside runs the score up on you "bros" from VC and you farmers from ramona.

VC JAGS wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:54 PM:YOU ROCK!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!! IT'S VC TIME, IT'S VC TIME, WHAT! WHAT!

and just like that... wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:44 PM:but next up...oceanside

Duh wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:51 PM:VC is the smallest public school in NCounty with an enrollment listed at 1472. San Diegieto, the closet school has 1478 but no football team. The smallest school in its league is SM with 1809. Oceanside with 2308 should win easily against VC, they all should. But not all of them do. VC is not a private school. Congrats to VC for doing as well as they do. Most of their games, win or lose, are darn good games.

to realsdfootball wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:59 PM:Why do you hate so much on VC? They are a great football program. They are led by great coaches and a group of young men that come out and play ball. They may not be up to Oside's caliber but I guarantte you they will come out and leave everithing they have on that field. It will be a good game. you never know what will happen on any given friday night.

to ncfootball wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:41 PM:I agree no bashing needed ever. I have not had a chance to see Ramona's Varsity team but if they are like their freshman team they are a great classy team. My son's team played them on Thursday and it was a very clean hard played game both ways. It was great to see those boys all play right up to the end and not give up. Good luck the next two weeks Ramona.

To hater wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:49 PM:Niether VC nor Ramona are slamming anyone. I would say that they are both classy. What does being from small schools have to do with anything. Stop the hateing there is already to much of that in this world. If you don't like the teams in wont bother them a bit but no one else cares to hear your anger.

To duh wrote on Nov 2, 2008 1:42 PM:The size of your school doesn't determine wether or not you have a good football team. So why should everyone be beating VC? It is the quality of your program and the talent of your players that determines how you do. I'm sure that there are alot more kids at the larger schools to play football or any other sport but that does not mean they will. Have you ever heard that dynamite comes in small packages.

To Duh wrote on Nov 2, 2008 2:04 PM:El Camino has 3100 students, and based on what I have seen, the VC jaguars could beat El Camino becuase of better coaching and team play. Crespi in Encino has around 800 students yet they are one of the top teams in California.

Book It wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:53 PM:VC caught Ramona on an off night. They were fortunate to get a win. VC is just not that good. They will be exposed on Friday night. Oceanside will crush them. The Pirates will teach them some manners. Prediction Oceanside 55, VC maybe 14.

Not a VC Fan wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:47 PM:VC is very overrated. Ramona just had an off night. The VC coaches are constantly getting personal fouls calls on them and the players think they are better than anyone else. The NC Times need to reconsider having VC ranked so high in their Top 10.

To Not a VC Fan wrote on Nov 3, 2008 10:28 AM:Wow such hatered and anger. Both teams played a good game. As for your comment that the VC coaches are constantly getting personal fouls called on them that has not happened once this season and our players do not think that they are any better than anyone else. They are just a group of hard working guys who go out every week and play there best. If that gets them a win great if not they work harder. I don't know why everyone thinks that they need to hate on VC but I think that everyone needs to grow up and back off. I don't know if you all have noticed it or not but EVERYONE gets on here and hates on VC but VC does not do that all of the comments are against them not from them.
I do think that the o'side fans are worried because they have been making comments for weeks now about how they are better and are going to beat us. You have a great team we all know that but let your team play the game. A true measure of your team is not how well your fans run their mouths it is how well your players play the game and how well they conduct themselves. I will not say that we will win because that is not determined here, but I will tell you that they will come out and play their best with lots of heart. Good luck to both teams.

ALRIGHT ALREADY wrote on Nov 3, 2008 10:56 AM:Okay everyone gets that they Oceanside fans love their team. That is great you should support your team. But to come on here and boast about your team and cut down another is not what I would call someone with manners. I have been ready comments for weeks about how bad VC is but I have not read one comment from them against another team. All I read are comments of support from their fans makeing sure that they know that they are loved win or lose. I do think that those that keep trashing them are the ones who need to be taught manners. To all of the teams who do not come on here and trash talk way to go I have lots of respect for you. But to all of you who think that they way to win is to trash someone else's reputation. Shame on you!! I am now a VC FAN because of the class that they are showing. A small school from a small town with a big heart. GO VC A CLASS ACT!!

class act wrote on Nov 3, 2008 12:09 PM:i see the phrase "class act" and "classy team" a lot on articles of games. its high school football guys, how unclassy can a team possibly be? lets ban the phrases and discuss how the games were...i read comments and get nothing about the games except for how "classy" they are...

to me...vc is okay..ramona had an off night if u ask me

Easy wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:17 PM:Oceanside will beat VC easily this Friday, and do the same to Ramona next week, regardless of class or behavior. No one can stay with Oceanside in this county...and I am not necessarily an Oceanside fan. I am merely stating the obvious.

to class act wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:32 PM:Ramona lost....period off night or not. VC won. Did VC say they had an off night against WV. No WV beat-em.. Ramona is a good team and they might bounce back or might not. Try strengthening your pre-season schedule a little...

Okay wrote on Nov 3, 2008 3:46 PM:Those of you saying how easy VC will be to beat. How many of you have gone and watched a VC game? I'm sure none of you!!The one team that they lost to this year did not just walk away with the win and either will O'side. Go VC !! We love you win or lose.

VC WE LOVE YOU wrote on Nov 3, 2008 4:23 PM:Hey Boys we don't care what anyone says WE LOVE YOU!! Keep up the good work and don't listen to all of the haters out there. It's VC TIME, IT'S VC TIME WHAT WHAT!!

just a fact... wrote on Nov 3, 2008 5:12 PM:losing is not an option for oceanside
vc like ramona will be 2 more wins for a perfect leauge season

to just a fact... wrote on Nov 4, 2008 10:41 AM:you may think that losing is not an option for oceanside but just because it is not does not mean it wont happen.
VC and Ramona are both great teams and will play hard. Why do you have to have a perfect season? Will all be for not if you lose a game? I don't think so. How many profesional teams do you see with a perfect season? Only a few have done it. Let your team play the game and make sure they know that you support them win or lose that is what is important. facts cannot be stated on something that has not happened yet what you have done is make a prediction. Which can either be right or wrong.

Hey just a fact... wrote on Nov 4, 2008 10:44 AM:Do you ever stop to think that maybe Ramona and VC think that loseing is not a option?

to I feel sorry for you... wrote on Nov 4, 2008 10:47 AM:Who do you feel sorry for? It can't be Valley Center because they certainly are not being cocky. They are preparing for this weeks game and will just go out and play hard. They are not the ones tooting their own horn calling for a win before game day is here.

to everybody on here wrote on Nov 4, 2008 7:34 PM:It should be a good game. Both teams have quality players and I'm sure they all will play hard. These message boards are fun for the fans but mean absolutely nothing in the end. Good luck to both teams on friday. By the way, the game is the channel 4 game of the week so tune in.

just a fact wrote on Nov 4, 2008 7:46 PM:im not an oceanside fan but

like i said and i dont care what anyone else says vc and ramona beating oside??? hahaha dont think so.. vc lost to wv who oside killed need i say more? come on now vc wv said the same thing oh our teams gonna go out and play hard but what happened wv got killed... vc and ramona you can play as hard as you can put you have know chance against those oside guys...

to just a fact wrote on Nov 4, 2008 9:21 PM:You don't ever put a game in a teams win colom until the game is actually won. Saying that you will beat someone just because they lost to someone that you beat is crazy. Differnt night differnt game. Let these teams play the game. You can talk all you want but the score is determined on the field.

to just a fact wrote on Nov 5, 2008 7:35 AM:your an idiot...go post on o-sides page..

THATS IT wrote on Nov 5, 2008 4:11 PM:I have been reading these comments for weeks now and have had enough. I can not believe all of this hatred. We are lucking enough to be from a country where we have freedom to speak our opinions but to do so against our youth is just wrong.

If you don't like someone for a ligit reason that is fine don't have anything to do with them but to spew such venom about people you don't know is just unbelievable.

When we were kids we were taught that if you couldn't say anything nice to someone to keep your mouth shut. But that just isn't the case any more.

All any of these kids want to do is just go out and play football. It seems to me that one of these days all of this trash talk is going to find its way to causing violence. I think that it is time to stop all of this hate.

I challenge all of you to stop all of this and go one week with out a bad comment. We know that you all love your teams but it does not make them look good when the only thing that their fans can do is trash another team.

Let you teams playing do the talking for them. I'm sure it will do more then all of this trash talk.

to just a fact wrote on Nov 6, 2008 12:18 AM:dude stop it man! ur making us oside fans look bad!!! good luck to both teams! vc and oside!!

to Thats it wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:50 AM:Oceanside has thoussands of fans, and maybe a couple kids or smack talkers are making comments here. It is uncool, but dont take it that serious and rememeber the rest of the 5600 Pirate fans are not blogging.The Oceanside players could care less about talk. They are preparing for a good team on Friday.

to to thats it wrote on Nov 6, 2008 2:15 PM:We all know that it is just a few fans and not the players. You can always tell by what they say. Good luck this week to all of the teams playing.

Registered Comments[-]Go to Top

Advertisement

Videos