HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : San Pasqual Shuts Down Oceanside; Garrett Sits

When the Oceanside High School football team got off the bus for its Avocado League game against San Pasqual Friday night, something was obviously wrong.

Defensive leader Sibian Fuimaono was sullen. Coach Roy Scaffidi was evasive. Star quarterback Jerry Garrett wasn’t talking.

And when No. 3-ranked Oceanside came out to warm up, and Garrett wasn’t dressed, no one on the Oceanside sideline would say why: not Scaffidi, Garrett or anybody else associated with the team.

With Garrett out, No. 9 San Pasqual dominated, 19-0, with a solid running attack and aggressive defense.

San Pasqual (6-2, 4-1) put itself right back in the race for the Avocado League title and a playoff berth, and did it with a quarterback problem of its own. Starter Andy Loveland, who was 9-1-1 as a starter, injured a knee a week ago and didn’t play. Jon Ramirez, who was shaky in the 8-0 loss to Carlsbad last week, played like a veteran.

Ramirez only threw 3 passes, but he controlled an offense led by the running of Jim Clayton (14 carries, 64 yards) and Tony Medina (22 for 88).

“One guy isn’t going to make our team,” San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan said.

But for Oceanside (6-2, 3-2), one guy’s absence made a difference. Oceanside, which had been averaging 27.4 points per game, was shut out for the first time this year.

The first half began with question marks all around. Loveland warmed up, but his injured leg slowly stiffened, and Ramirez played throughout.

On San Pasqual’s first possession, Ramirez relied on the running game for an 11-play, 50-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard Medina run that made it 7-0 with 4:27 left in the quarter.

With Garrett out, senior Chad Crites was the obvious choice at quarterback. But who would replace Garrett as the punter and kicker?

The new punter was Felipe Beltran, who on his second attempt had trouble fielding a high snap. He got the kick away, but for minus 6 yards. San Pasqual went 37 yards in 6 plays, with Clayton running off left tackle 3 yards for a touchdown with 8:58 left in the first half. Medina’s kick sailed wide right, and San Pasqual led 13-0.

Garrett’s absence as a kicker was obvious in the final minute of the half, after Oceanside’s Michael Coe intercepted a pass attempt by Ramirez at midfield and returned the ball to the San Pasqual 20.

Crites passed to Lee Strain for 12 yards, and with 1 second remaining, Oceanside skipped the field goal try and went for it all. Crites lofted a pass toward Strain in the corner of the end zone. Mike Burkhart intercepted but was whistled for pass interference, and with no time left, Oceanside had one last play from the 4. Steve McClurkin and Joe Dougherty clogged the middle, and Oceanside’s Butkus Tuitasi was stopped at the 1.

Crites struggled, completing 10 of 31 pass attempts for 116 yards.

Medina capped a 13-play, 42-yard drive in the third quarter with a 1-yard run to conclude the scoring.