Attack Dawgs earn trip to playoffs with solid victory over San Marcos

By Gary Johnson

When Ramona Pop Warner Junior PeeWee Attack Dawgs took the field Saturday against San Marcos, they had one objective: Making the playoffs. The boys from Ramona knew if they win they are in; lose and their postseason dreams would be over.

The feeling at Wilson Field was electric. The fans could sense they were in for an exciting game, and the Dawgs did not let them down. Just like every game this year, it was the defense controlling the tempo of the game and not allowing the Cavaliers to get anything going offensively

The first quarter was a battle of field position, and it was starting to shape up to be another game of Attack Dawg Smashmouth football, but the second quarter was a different story.

After stopping the Cavaliers on four straight attempts from the 1 yard line, the Attack Dawgs took over needing to go 99 yards for a score. On the second play of the series, quarterback Dylan Luna was sacked in the end zone for a safety to give San Marcos a 2-0 lead.

Remembering their objective, the offense went to work trying to get the Dawgs back in the game. It was a “running back by committee” approach that sparked the team, with Shawn Coane and Dylan Luna opening a hole for hard running Kellan Starmack.

Saturday’s game proved to be a bit of a personal highlight film for Kellan Starmack, who not only scored both of Ramona’s rushing touchdowns, but also picked off a Cavaliers pass and ran it back for a touchdown, which accounted for all three Attack Dawgs touchdowns.

Even after being spotted a 22-2 lead by their offense, the Dawgs defense never let up. The defense is led by its hard-hitting group of linebackers, Dylan Imig, Ethan Blackburn, Dylan Luna and Lucas Lotero, who spent the entire day making tackles in the San Marcos backfield.

This is a great group of boys, who never quit and have the heart of a champion, coaches agree, adding, “Good luck in the playoffs.”