Point Loma needed to win this game to grab the top spot in the Western League, so they proved their dominance by decimating Hoover under the lights.
The Pointers won their homecoming game, also the second night home game in school history, against a league leader 48-21 on Friday, Oct. 29.
The atmosphere was electric, with the packed stands unable to hold all the spectators. School staff set up seats past the end zones on the turf, adding capacity and energy to the game. After head coach Mike Hastings presented a ball to David Ryan, M.D. “” a thank-you for funding the lighting for the night game “” the JV cheerleaders entertained the crowd.
“We just came out hard, wanting to play some football. This was a big victory for us; they were ranked higher than us so we wanted to get it done on the football field,” said junior running back Josh Wade. “This is a huge win for us to take into the playoffs and have a good season.”
The game was also a celebration for the Pointer offense, with running backs Lester Arnold and Josh Wade combining for 391 yards rushing, and the other backs tacking on 117 more. Fans are getting used to seeing Arnold sprint around and through defenses, but Wade put on his own show Friday, with 212 yards on his 12 carries and 3 touchdowns.
“I’m proud of the kids, they rose up to the challenge. [Hoover] was ranked higher than us in the Union-Tribune poll,” said head coach Mike Hastings. “When we ran the ball, everything just opened up. When they keyed on Lester Arnold, all of the sudden Edgar Herrera came alive, and then when Josh Wade, got his chance, he busted some real long runs.”
The game started off slow, with the first score coming midway through the first quarter when Hoover’s Todd Doxey hauled in a 37-yard pass for a touchdown. Lester Arnold wasted no time, breaking for a big run after the kickoff and setting up his 11-yard touchdown run up the right side a minute later, ending the first period tied at seven points.
Josh Wade made his presence known right away in the second quarter, with his 27-yard touchdown run breaking through the middle of the line. Hoover looked ready to score again, but when they fumbled, it gave Point Loma another chance. Wade ran 59 yards, setting up an Arnold 1-yard run with just over three minutes left in the half. Todd Doxey made a statement before the break, running for a 99-yard touchdown on the kickoff return.
During the extended halftime, each class got to strut their stuff during the float competition, though the juniors pulled the upset, much to the chagrin of the seniors.
Returning to the game, the score was close and both teams spent the extra time figuring out how to gain the upper hand.
“It was an overall domination of the ground game ,and our offensive line really is to be commended. They really came together and made great blocking adjustments and gave our backs nice holes to run through,” Hastings said. “When we play together as a team every week, nobody on the team is out for themselves, it’s all about what we do together from the first to the 48th guy on out roster.”
Four minutes into the second half, Josh Wade ran the ball the final 3 yards for his second touchdown with help from the other backs. Matt Arlington finished the quarter by adding a 4-yard touchdown run while the defense held Hoover scoreless during the third quarter, sealing the outcome.
“I thought our offense moved the ball real well, just ground it out and had some good runs,” said junior defensive end Justin Kundrak. “Our defense really buckled down and played assignment football and got it done.”
Anthony Wilson added the final points for Hoover with his 3-yard run. Josh Wade ran 18 yards up the left sideline for his third touchdown of the game a few minutes later, on the strength of Edgar Herrera’s set-up run.
The final score came with 1:30 left in the game, when Drew Callejon followed his blocker three yards to the end zone to end the already out-of-hand contest. The Pointers travel to San Diego High for another night game Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.