All it took was a complete game by the whole team.
Point Loma’s varsity football team has been getting better each week, but the rivalry between the Pointers and Mission Bay High has been a test for the team in the past. It became a non-issue on Friday at PLHS.
“As a team I think we finally got it down on all phases: special teams, defense and offense. We’re coming together becoming more fluid,” said running back Ben Ogle, a senior. “We knew it would be a very physical game, we wanted to get it done in all aspects and that’s what we did today.”
The team has been solid on defense all year, with the most room for improvement on the offensive side of the ball, especially the passing game. The Dogs pounded out 429 yards on the ground against the Bucs but only had 45 in the air. Not that it mattered in the end, however, with five touchdowns spread between three Pointers.
The question mark a few weeks ago was who would replace injured Matt Arlington at running back. That has been answered with the tandem of senior Josh Wade and sophomore Leslie Rogers. Wade averaged ten yards per carry on his way to 151 total yards and two trips to the end zone. The younger Rogers matched the scoring total and ran for 100 yards of his own. With numbers like these, the pair will be a force to be reckoned with in the Western League.
The consistently solid play of the defense has been a key this season, keeping opponents within the grasp of the Pointers. Senior Josh Canup leads the team with 42 total tackles, averaging 10.5 per game this year. His assignment this week was no small task, shutting down the Bucs senior star receiver Dillon Baxter.
He did his job, and with the big wide receiver tied up all afternoon, Mission Bay was at a loss offensively. The Bucs were unable to sustain big drives and floundered under the weight of the well-prepared Pointers.
“It was great coaching, to be honest. They set us up and put me in the right place. I just did what they told me to and made the plays,” said senior defensive back Josh Canup.
“We have had great scout teams and we were able to dissect them. We just wanted it more than they did today,” he said
The coaching staff agreed.
“The pressure of having played that tough preseason schedule is off now. We knew Mission Bay would be good, but we’ve played good teams. We knew going in that we could play with these guys,” said PLHS head coach Mike Hastings. “Each week we’re getting better and today we had a great all-around game today. It all came together.”
Beating Mission Bay proved that the Pointers have what it takes in the Western League.
With only two teams ahead of them in the league standings they will be looking to move to the top. If they play more games like this, another title could well be in the cards this season.
The Pointers’ next game will take them east to challenge the unbeaten Hoover Cardinals at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct 5th.