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Oceanside Pirates get even with the Bulldogs

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Oceanside High School is leaving the Valley League. Next season the Pirates will be in the Palomar League.

This season the Pirates are in a league of their own. The Pirates beat the Bulldogs 52-6 in a game that gave the Pirates the Valley League Championship.

The Pirates have their sights on higher goals. They will try to win their sixth straight CIF crown and are a strong candidate to go to the CIF State Playoff Bowl game, which they won in 2007.

Ramona finished in third place in the Valley League with a 4-2 record and ended up the season with an 8-2 record for the second year in a row.

“They just beat us in every possible way,” said Coach Damon Baldwin. “They beat us with their speed. They beat us up front. They are a great team. We will have to rebound and get ready for the playoffs. They are the best high school team I have ever seen. Give them all the credit they deserve. We showed great heart and did some things that other teams have not done, but they are just that good.”

Ramona forced the Pirates to settle for a field goal on their first possession and trailed 10-0 at the end of the first period. Oceanside put the game away with 21 second quarter points.

Ramona took the second half kickoff and marched for a score against the Pirate’s first team defense. It was the only score the Pirates first string gave up in league play and only the second this year. Ryan Morgan went 23 yards for the score. Morgan finished the game with 71 yards the most gained by any Pirate opponent in league play. Morgan had 71 of Ramona’s 80 yards rushing.

The Pirate defense held the Bulldogs to 88 yards total offense. Erik Ernst was under constant pressure all night and completed two of nine attempts. The Pirates sacked Ernst two times.

Ramona forced Oceanside to punt twice. Their only two punts in league play. It was a tough way to end the season. Oceanside has gone unbeaten in thirty-five straight games.

Ramona tied the Pirates in last year’s league finale. The Pirates did not forget that tie. It cost them a shot to defend their state championship.

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