The Point Loma High School Pointers appear to have found their stride, playing the kind of football the coaching staff believed the team was capable of all season. In a sound thrashing Friday, the Pointers humiliated San Diego High, 62-6.
Midway through their Western League schedule, the PLHS varsity team is dispatching teams handily and doing it by using all their weapons on both sides of the ball. Because the Pointers were up by 42 points going into the second half on Friday, the coaches were able to get less-experienced players on the field to give them experience in game situations.
“It was really fun to see all 44 kids on our roster get a chance to play and have some fun,” said head coach Mike Hastings. “We knew going into this game that we should be able to do what we did. Going into our bye week we really needed a good shot in the arm, something to keep the momentum going.”
Having a week off in the middle of the season can be a blessing and a curse. But the PLHS coaching staff sees the timing of the bye as an opportunity to get team members healthy and to work on the fundamentals without having a specific game to prepare for. Friday’s big win will help the players stay up during the time off. And with three tough games coming up, the players will have their work cut out for them.
“We’re getting good momentum now from these games,” said senior running back/defensive back Josh Wade. “We just want to finish off strong in league and get a good spot in the playoffs and play with the best of them. I think we’ve meshed together and found a rhythm. We just need to use our speed to get to the edge, keep playing good defense and hit ’em hard and keep up the good tempo.”
With so many seniors this season, it has been important for the team to rotate through the roster, giving the younger players some game experience before they take the reins next season. The younger members of the team have taken their chances seriously so far. Many juniors and even sophomores are starting, and making big plays in every game.
“The kids really believe in the team concept,” said Hasings. “Look at how the offense has been clicking with the improvement of guys like Leslie Rogers, who’s got unlimited potential, and really staring to come into his own. We have senior leaders like Josh Wade doing what he does naturally, and our quarterback, David Jaros, has been getting much better at leading the offense.”
Rogers, a sophomore running back, was forced into a bigger role early in the season when junior Matt Arlington tore his ACL. Rogers has taken off on both offense and defense. His two touchdowns trailed Wade’s three TDs on Friday, but the duo has been splitting the running duties all year and are at the top of the statistical charts for rushing and scoring.
With a senior quarterback, Hastings said it is important to groom the playcaller for next season. Junior Marquel Specks played the second half for the Pointers against SDHS and had a good showing after a few early stumbles. He demonstrated that his head and legs will be able to lead the squad when the time comes, even breaking free for an 87-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“It feels good to get playing time,” said Specks. “It sets us up better for next year. This was our best game as far as leadership. The defense is setting the tone and the offense follows.”
The Pointers’ next game will be against second-place Serra High in a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 26.