Broncos’ duo have run wild in the playoffs. Dos Palos seeking first title since 2006
The play is called “46 power.”
The Dos Palos High football team ran it on three consecutive plays in the first quarter in last week’s Central Section Division V semifinal game against Yosemite.
Senior running back Tyree Martin broke off scoring runs of 72, 85 and 48 yards on three straight plays.
Martin is a 6-foot, 170-pound speedster for the Broncos. He’s the big-play threat out of the backfield, rushing for 312 yards in Dos Palos’ 46-21 win over Yosemite.
Ryan Ramirez is the Broncos’ 6-1, 215-pound bruiser. He’s the closer. He took over in the second half, scoring three of his four touchdowns against the Badgers.
Together Martin and Ramirez give the Broncos a tough running back duo to stop. They’ve spearheaded Dos Palos’ playoff run and are a big reason the Broncos (13-1) are playing for their first Valley Championship since 2006 on Friday night against No. 1 seed Caruthers (12-1).
Kickoff for the Central Section Division V championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. A win would give the Broncos their first section championship since 2006.
For most of the season, Dos Palos has attacked teams with an aerial assault led by sophomore quarterback Trent Calvert, who has set school records with 2,632 yards and 32 touchdowns.
It’s a much different approach to the old Dos Palos teams that won 15 Valley Championships using a power-I rushing attack.
Calvert only attempted five passes for 51 yards last week against Yosemite. Dos Palos didn’t have to throw.
“It was crazy,” said Broncos head coach Rob Calvert. “We felt coming in we were going to throw the ball because of the way they play man to man defense. We’re trying to get our feet wet in the game and we break off the first long run. We forced a fumble and get the ball back. We try the same play and hit it again. We ran the same play a third time in a row and break another long run.
“To go ahead 20-0 against a team like that was huge.”
It’s going to be a challenge for the Blue Raiders defense.
It’s tough to load the box to stop the Dos Palos running game when you have to defend Calvert and his 6-foot-4 receiver Zane Merrell, who has hauled in 47 catches for 1,184 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“Tyree is our main big-play guy,” Rob Calvert said. “Ryan is more of your grind-it-out type kid. It’s a nice one-two punch to have. It’s great to have two kids who bring a different running style to the game. Early on Tyree is our playmaker. In the second half when we need to grind it out, get those tough runs to keep the chains moving we go to Ryan.”
Martin has rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Ramirez has pounded his way to 761 yards and 22 touchdowns.
In the last two weeks alone, the duo have combined for 727 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“I guess it’s just the way defenses have played us the last two weeks,” Ramirez said. “It’s help us just open the holes. The offensive line has blocked great.”
Martin looked like his uncle Kenny James, who was one of the top running backs to ever play at Dos Palos, breaking free for those long runs last week.
Martin remembers as a kid watching James play for the University of Washington.
“He was a great player,” Martin said. “He was fast and big. He ran hard. I’m trying to follow in his footsteps.”
Some of the excitement surrounding Dos Palos football when James played has returned with the success this season.
“The town is excited,” Rob Calvert said. “The faculty at school, the kids at school, everybody is excited. A lot of the old timers know what it’s about. For the new generation this is something new. It’s been a while since we’ve been back to a Valley Championship game.”
