2-A SEMIFINAL : El Camino, Ramona Face Rematch But Not Replay

Both coaches agree tonight’s El Camino-Ramona game will be different than the last one--a 23-0 El Camino victory in the fifth week of the season.

How different?

Ramona Coach Mel Galli said he expects his team to score this time. He also says his players won’t be intimidated.

“Our kids on offense have more confidence in themselves,” Galli said. “They feel better about themselves, and we have improved offensively, especially in the passing department.”

Ramona hasn’t done too badly in the running department, either. Last week, in their 20-6 victory over Mission Bay, the Bulldogs (8-4) ran for 181 yards in 41 attempts and controlled the ball more than 70% of the time.

Galli said a ball-control offense will be essential in tonight’s 2-A semifinal playoff game at Mira Mesa High (7:30) against powerful El Camino (11-1).

That will not be easy against a defense that has five shutouts this season and placed two players on The Times’ All-County team--linebacker Ricky Spears and nose guard Peau Atoe. Cornerback Jerry Avery was named to the second team.

The El Camino offense has also played well, especially lately. It is averaging 44 points over its past three games and features one of the county’s best backs--Brian Madlangbayan (24 touchdowns, six in the playoffs).

But El Camino Coach Herb Meyer said he realizes he will be facing a changed team.

“I’m sure their last two wins have helped their confidence level,” Meyer said. “They’re much more physical now. They evolved to a point where they’re just hammering on people.”

Maybe the only negative in El Camino’s past three victories is its tendency to give up the first score--something Meyer said cannot happen tonight.

“The more success we allow them to have, the more trouble we’re going to get into,” Meyer said.

Two key individuals--Ramona halfback Sarn Salmon and Spears--are nursing injuries but should play.

Salmon, who was taken off on a stretcher last Saturday night against Mission Bay, suffered a bruised vertebra. Spears has not played since breaking a bone in his foot three weeks ago but did practice twice this week. Meyer said he won’t start but is expected to play.

“We consider Spears the best linebacker in the county,” Galli said. “He was really a major factor the last time we played. He made a lot of tackles and caused an interception, which they scored a touchdown on. But then again, they’ve played pretty well the last three weeks without him.”

Galli said he’s counting on quite a turnout from victory-starved Ramona, which hasn’t seen its team in a 2-A football playoff game until this year.

“It sounds,” he said, “like the whole town’s going to be there.”