Bulldogs set sights on homecoming win
By Bill Tamburrino
Ramona High School lost to Torrey Pines 21-10 on the road on Friday. The Dawgs will finish their regular season in the Dawg Pound as they host Rancho Bernardo for Homecoming this Friday and then will battle Westview High School on Senior Night on Veterans Day to end the regular season.
“Ramona has to be the best 1-7 team in the county. They play hard and they have played a tough schedule,” said Torrey Pines (4-4, 2-1) Coach Scott Ashby after the game.
Ramona is in Division III and needs another win to get a playoff berth. Max Preps and Cal Preps rates Ramona’s schedule as one of the toughest in the section and those are the power ratings used by the playoff committee. One win might get the Dawgs in the playoffs, but two would almost ensure a playoff berth.
Torrey Pines used its ball control offense to eat up most of the first quarter and take a 7-0 lead with 2:43 in the first period. Ramona dominated the second period as Ali Aparicio drilled a 25-yard field goal and Kirk Kaliszewski scored on a 5-yard run to give the Dawgs a 10-7 advantage at intermission. Kaliszewski had 138 yards on 23 carries in the first half.
The Dawgs mounted a drive in the third period but turned the ball over to the Falcons and Torrey controlled the ball and the clock for the remainder of the game. Ramona only had 15 offensive plays in the second half.
“They ate up a lot of clock on their two scoring drives. We only had the ball once in the third period and then again very late in the game. Our offense played well. The offensive line (Luke Papps, Connor Guasti, Kwayde Miller, Eric Box, Daniel Kemp and Ivan Rodriguez) played their best game of the season when we had the ball. The o-line did not give up a sack,” said Ramona Coach Damon Baldwin. “I can’t say enough about Kirk Kaliszewski. He is a warrior. He rushed for 194 yards and has 1140 yards for the season. He is leading the Palomar League in rushing and the second leading rusher is 500 yards behind him (actually 607). And he plays defense and special teams when we need him. He is a workhorse.
“Chandler Vasquez played well on the d-line and on offense. Give Torrey Pines credit. They controlled the ball in the second half.”
Kaliszewski rushed for 194 yards on 35 attempts. Vasquez added 28 yards and Hunter McHargue rushed for 3 yards. McHargue completed three passes for 25 yards. Keyanis Crichlow, Jason Laws and Javier Dominguez all had one reception apiece.
Ramona is hoping for some homecoming magic as Rancho Bernardo (4-4, 1-1) will come up the hill to test the Dawgs. RB staged a come-from-behind victory over Westview as the Broncos scored 14 fourth quarter points.
There will be a big crowd. RB travels well. The junior varsity game starts at 4:30. The homecoming game will kick off at 7:30.