Whether Loveland’s Ready or Not, San Pasqual Needs Victory Tonight

The San Pasqual high school football team was 3-5 last season before it moved Andy Loveland to quarterback. Under Loveland, then a junior, San Pasqual finished 4-0-1 and shared the San Diego Section 2-A title.

Because Loveland is one of few players returning, it didn’t appear San Pasqual would be able to repeat its success in 1988. To the surprise of many, Loveland played magician again, and San Pasqual was 5-1 going into last week’s game against Carlsbad.

But on the third offensive series of that game, Loveland, scrambling for an 8-yard gain, was tackled by two defenders and sprained a knee ligament. San Pasqual lost, 8-0, to fall to 5-2 and 3-1 in the Avocado League.

San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan said Loveland’s status is “day-to-day” for tonight’s key Avocado League game against Oceanside at San Pasqual at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re going to make a decision Friday,” Dolan said.

Dolan said he couldn’t blame the loss to Carlsbad on the loss of Loveland.

“We had 7 fumbles, 6 penalties and an interception, and none were forced turnovers,” Dolan said. “We weren’t very disciplined.”

When Loveland went down, he was replaced by junior Jon Ramirez. Ramirez, the starter on a 5-4-1 junior varsity last season, had little playing time in San Pasqual’s 6 previous games.

“With the new guy, the timing changes a little bit,” Dolan said. “He came in in the first half and did real well. The second half, we kind of self-destructed.”

No matter who quarterbacks, No. 9 San Pasqual cannot afford to self-destruct against No. 3 Oceanside (6-1, 3-1) if it hopes to return to the playoffs. A week ago, it looked as if San Pasqual was a lock for a berth. Now, with Ramona and top-ranked Rancho Buena Vista remaining on the schedule, the Eagles may not make it at all.

“We realize we’re right back to where we were,” Dolan said. “The win over (fifth-ranked) El Camino gave us a 1-game cushion, but we’re back to where we were at the beginning of the season.”

Of Oceanside, Dolan said: “They are big, talented and fast. We have to play real disciplined, within ourselves and not make a lot of mistakes.”

Oceanside, ranked fifth in the state in the medium-school division, looked disorganized 2 weeks ago in a loss to Rancho Buena Vista and fell behind Ramona, 14-0, last week before rallying, 27-14. What Oceanside did against Ramona was something it hasn’t done consistently all season: pass.

Quarterback Jerry Garrett, the player who strikes fear into every opposing coach, had trouble finding time to throw against Rancho Buena Vista and had to rely on his strong running ability.

Against Ramona, Garrett, who has excellent receivers in Lee Strain and Fred Dunn, completed 13 of 25 attempts for 196 yards. Strain caught a season-high 7 passes for 146 yards, and Dunn caught 3 for 29.