Once again, the Pointers are playing football after Thanksgiving and looking for a return to Qualcomm Stadium in the coming weeks after manhandling Brawley 47-14 in the CIF quarterfinals on Friday.
Facing a team from the east that had won its last seven games, the Dogs had to prepare themselves and make the best use of their first-round bye in the playoffs. Apparently the preparation paid off, as the Pointers shut out the Wildcats until the fourth quarter (47-0) when Brawley scored against a host of young PLHS defenders getting playing time.
“The key for us today was just to come out right off the bat, play hard-nose football and outhit them,” said PLHS head coach Mike Hastings. “Our kids did that, played hard-nosed football, and we outhit them all day long.
“After the Lincoln game [on Nov. 9] we needed to bounce back and really play a solid four quarters, a really good game of football,” he said. “And we did that.”
The Pointers face off with St Augustine at Mount Carmel High at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 for a chance to once again play in Mission Valley for a shot at the Division III title. PLHS played the Saints in the finals the last two seasons, so Friday’s game will give the Dogs a chance to leapfrog St. Augustine and jump into the championship game.
It has already been quite a season for the Pointers. The team started the season with a young team, especially on offense, but after playing a full season against other very talented Southern California teams, even the sophomores have become veterans. One of the big keys to the success this year have been the unsung heroes of the team ” the blockers who keep the ball carriers in business.
“We’re putting it all together,” said senior offensive guard Armin Kolendvic. “We don’t have too many returning seniors on the line, so we’re just picking up the game better, getting more aggressive. I just try to make the right calls at the right time.”
“Our biggest challenge is ourselves,” he said. “Every game that we’ve lost we beat ourselves. We shouldn’t have lost any games this year.”
The team mentality is that of interconnectedness, where all players must “hold the rope” as stated on much of the team gear. That cohesiveness is apparent when the running backs can hit holes and made big plays. The fullbacks, led by senior Ben Ogle, has not only opened up the field to the smaller backs, but Ogle also added his own scoring this season. He has three touchdowns and is third on the squad for total rushes behind Josh Wade and Leslie Rogers, who both had over 100 yards against Brawley.
An area that was not a concern for the coaches this year was the defense, with eight starters returning for the season. Led by seniors Josh Canup, Justin Kundrak, Alex Blair, Thomas Dobbs and Edwardo Bustamonte, the defense has been frustrating opponents all year. It has forced quarterbacks to throw bad passes while running from a squad with 19 sacks and 12 QB hurries. The team is quick to pass on the credit to good preparation and solid coaching.
“We have a great defensive scheme week in and week out,” said Bustamonte. “Our defensive coordinators come up with a great plan to shut down the offense, and year after year that has been the case.
“When Coach Aros leaves it’s going be real tough to replace him, because he comes up with some genius schemes,” he said.
The game against Brawley showed the CIF that Point Loma is still a team to be reckoned with ” a serious contender for the championship again this season. The outcome was never in any doubt against the Wildcats, but St. Augustine will be out for blood this week, not wanting to be shut out of the big game.
The Saints have dropped their opponents in the past three games, beating Morse 56-6, then taking Monte Vista out 20-6 in the first round of the playoffs before beating Steele Canyon 35-21 late Friday night in Spring Valley.
“We had the ability to realize that we are a better team than the one that played Lincoln,” said Hastings. “And the kids couldn’t wait to get that bad taste out of their mouths. Knowing this is the playoffs you just have to take your game up quite a few notches.”