RAMONA – Tyler Bernard took a different approach to studying defenses this week. The Valley Center quarterback scouted Ramona's defense against the Jaguars freshman team earlier this week.
Bernard got an idea of what Ramona's defense would bring last night. But he never expected to be forced to make plays with his legs in Valley Center's 16-13, come-from-behind Valley League win against the previously unbeaten Bulldogs.
With Ramona's defense shutting down big-threat receiver James Johnson (2 catches for 19 yards) and stifling the Jaguars' running game, Bernard was forced to scramble often out of the pocket.
He zig-zagged his way on a third-and-6 for 23 yards late in the game to set up a 25-yard, game-winning field goal by David Lost with 58.2 seconds left. Lost also hit a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter and made one from 41 yards in the third.
“I don't know how I did that one,” said Bernard, who rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries and completed 8-of-13 passes for 111 yards. “I didn't know how close I got until I saw the marker. I was pretty surprised.”
The Jaguars (7-1, 3-1) were somewhat surprised at a Bulldogs' stingy defensive effort in the first half.
The Bulldogs (7-1, 3-1) held the Jaguars to 61 yards of offense in the first half; Ramona piled up 175 yards, 112 on the ground.
“We beat them in the second half physically,” said Jaguars coach Rob Gilster. “They won the first half physically. We knew the winning team was the one who would be more physical.”
The Jaguars defensive line had trouble applying a surge against the Bulldogs in the first half. Ramona converted on two fourth-and-short plays during two lengthy scoring drives.
Joey Dambrose scored from 7 yards out on a fourth-and-1 play to give the Bulldogs, after a missed extra point, a 13-3 lead at the half.
Ramona quarterback Ian Hunt (10-of-20, 129 yards, one interception) squeezed in from 1 yard out for a touchdown with 2:42 left in the first quarter for the game's first score. Ramona kept the drive alive by converting on fourth-and-3.
Valley Center tied the game at 13 with 11:19 left in the game when Justin Lawrence extended his arm past the goal line on a 3-yard touchdown run. The ball came lose and was recovered in the end zone by Ramona. but officials said the ball crossed the line before the fumble.
Ivan Orozco: (760) 752-6758; ivan.orozco@tlnews.net.
