Head Coach Joe Early and his Palomar Comets football team enjoyed greater success this year than they did last season, when they finished with their worst record in 32 years.
After going 2-8 in 2013, the team started 2014 with new quarterback coach, Bill Diedrick. The team also lacked a clearcut choice at quarterback, with three people vying for the job.
After all was said and done, however, the Comets finished with a 7-4 record and a win in the CCCFCA Patriotic Bowl over the Glendale College team that was ranked 22nd in the state. Palomar won the game 30-22, securing the best season since 2011 and tying for 25th in the state.
The Comets offense was led by Mitch Bartram, a sophomore who transferred from McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. Originally a product of Escondido High School, Bartram wasn’t the team’s first choice at starting quarterback; that was Brett Hollingsworth, the freshman from Citrus Hills High School in Perris, Calif., who was the CIF Southern Section Inland Division Player of the Year.
However, after Hollingworth suffered a concussion in the team’s second game against Long Beach City College, Bartram made the most of his time on the field, eventually being anointed the team’s starting quarterback. Bartram finished the season with 12 touchdowns and 1,221 passing yards in his nine games played.
As far as the defense, sophomore defensive end Dylan Donahue, from University of Southern Montana led the team with 10.5 sacks, where sophomore linebacker Drew Miranda from Chaparral High School finished the season with 43 tackles, good enough for 47th in the state.
