Ramona Bulldogs 14, Poway Titans 10
On paper Friday nights match up looked to be an offensive showcase of Palomar League foes. As the score indicates though, it was anything but as Ramona walks away with a 14-10 win over Poway. What a happy start to homecoming weekend for the Bulldogs.
Throughout the game the defenses of both teams held their ground creating the low-scoring result. Ramona scored on its first drive on a Marco Cobian Hunter Gurolla connection that Bulldog fans are used to but will never get tired of seeing.The long scoring play must have fired up the Poway defense because they settled in not giving up another point until midway through the second quarter. Poway’s stingy defense continuously put the Bulldogs in third and long situations but as good as Marco Cobian’s recruited arm is, his legs are just as good. Cobian followed third down conversion after third down conversion on QB keepers, channeling his inner Cam Newton. The Titan defense was obviously frustrated at the plays they made on early downs being erased by Cobian’s scampers on third.
With a 14-3 halftime lead, the Ramona Bulldogs just looked to sit on the lead they had accumulated and put it in the hands of their defense. Jared Adelman and the Titans had other plans however as they began to click. The offensive line came out of the locker room at half and Adelman began to cut and find holes moving the ball into Ramona territory. On third down and 8 yards the Bulldogs cornerback blitzed Poway QB Robbie Sullivan. Unblocked he reached Sullivan in the backfield, but as he grasped him to take him down he grabbed him behind the neck and flags flew, horse-collar. The penalty set the Titans up at the 21 yard line, and on the next play Jared Adelman punched it in the end zone to cut the lead to 14-10 late in the third.
In the fourth quarter the Titans defense stepped up as they could tell the momentum and the game were both up for grabs. The defensive line started to get pressure on Cobian and cause not one, but two turnovers. Both drives, the Bulldog offense bailed out their teammates as they stopped Poway from capitalizing on the few mistakes they made all game. In a play that could have been the difference in the game, the Titans fumbled the ball inside the 30 as the running back had a shot to reach the end zone. Instead of a 3 point lead in the fourth, the Titans handed the ball back to the Bulldogs.
After a controversial pass interference call, Ramona was set to hold a 4 point lead with Poway 36 yards away from taking the lead and likely winning the game. Robbie Sullivan dropped back and found Chris Butler at the 10 yard line with 1:38 left to play. A Titan run was stopped at the 1 yard line, bringing up third down with 50 seconds left and a running clock. On third a QB sneak by Robbie Sullivan was stuffed again at the 1. In the biggest play of the game, fourth and goal with 36 seconds left, Austin Goodwin broke through the O-line and sacked Robbie Sullivan to win the game for Ramona. Game ball to the Ramona defense for stopping the Poway Titans from ruining homecoming on four plays from the goal line.
PREVIEW:
A tough Palomar League will continue Friday as the end of the season nears closer and closer by the day. Week 9 brings a great match up featuring the Poway Titans as they travel out to Ramona to face the Bulldogs. Both teams have hit rough patches in their respective seasons, but are far more talented than their records indicate. Poway comes in at a 4-3 mark, while Ramona’s record sits at 3-4.
Poway will look to snap its two game losing streak to Ramona on Friday night. The Titans come into the game off a big win against a talented Mt. Carmel Sun Devil squad. Mt. Carmel was held to just 13 points last week by the Poway defense after scoring no less than 40 points every game since Week 1. This Titans team has 3 losses on the season, but all have been to top-ranked opponents in San Diego County. Poway lost to both El Camino and Grossmont in close one-possession games, and took another L at home to undefeated Mission Hills. Led by quarterback Robbie Sullivan and running back Jared Adelman the Titans will strive to stay unbeaten in the Palomar League as they prepare for a huge grudge match next week against #4 ranked Westview. They better focus on the Ramona Bulldogs before all that however, or they could be upset on the road.
Ramona has one of the county’s most talked about players under center in Marco Cobian. The Bulldogs quarterback is sought not only locally by Rocky Long and San Diego State, but has caught the distinguished eye of some of the United States finest academic institutions including Yale and Harvard to name a few. A three year starter who has passed for 1,292 yards with 13 TD’s compared to 7 interceptions this season has resulted in recruiting attention, but has yet to translate into big wins. Among the Bulldogs losses are to #3 St. Augustine, #4 Westview, and formally ranked Mt. Carmel. If the Ramona defense does not step up, the Bulldogs may not be able to notch wins just on one side of the ball. In their last pair of games the Bulldogs have allowed 73 points to their opponent, and that is too much to overcome even with a potent offense. In the last 2 games against Poway, Ramona has outscored them 93-7 and hope that trend continues Friday.
Hunter Gurrola and Noah White are great weapons at receiver for Marco Cobian, and that will be the match up to look for this week. If the Bulldogs can slow the run game of Poway to create more possessions for its own offense, they could force an offensive shootout. If Poway’s production on offense is limited and the ball is kept in the hands of Marco Cobian, Ramona could find themselves with an upset win at home. Add to that Poway is set up for the proverbial “trap game” before Westview, and Fridays match up in Ramona could be a toss up.
