Point Loma Pointers coaches had a rare opportunity last Friday night to play everyone on the roster for an extended time when they visited Valhalla High in El Cajon, a team that was clearly overmatched in a 52-0 blowout. Consider these results:

Failing to move the ball after the opening kickoff, the Norsemen tried a surprise punt that didn’t travel very far and was returned 22 yards by Cameron Lucas to their 13-yard line. From there, Noah Turbeville gained five yards before QB Jackson Emerson ran left on a keeper for eight yards and the score. Pointers 7, Valhalla 0. Elapsed game time: 1:24.

The Norsemen punted after their next possession and Lucas’ return covered 21 yards. Turbeville again picked up yards on a sweep before Emerson hit Drake Cobb on a 24-yard scoring pass. After running four plays on offense the Pointers were up 14-0. Elapsed game time: 4:42.

After being backed up by the Pointer defense, a Valhalla punt from the back line of the end zone went out of bounds at their eight-yard line. Turbeville scored on the next play for a 21-0 lead. Five plays, elapsed game time: 7:28.

Finally, towards the end of the first quarter, a Valhalla punt went to the 50-yard line where backup QB

Maxim Newbegin, into the game for Emerson, ran 40 yards on the first play, then tossed a swlng pass in the left flat to Brady Allen, who trotted into the end zone untouched for a 28-0 Pointer lead. Only seven plays had been run on offense. Elapsed game time: 9:30.

In their first possession of the second quarter, the Pointers actually stalled on a drive but Aaron Lee booted a 46-yard field goal, the longest by a Pointer in recent memory, for a 31-0 lead.

But Lee wasn’t done. Grabbing the next Valhalla punt, he broke to the right sideline and raced 55 yards for another touchdown to make the score 38-0 with just 14:18 elapsed in the game.

The Norsemen had their biggest scoring opportunity of the game on the Pointers’ next possession but, in a Murphy’s Law sequence, ended up giving the Pointers seven more points. It began with a fumble by Newbegin that was picked up by a Norsemen player who raced 70 yards downfield to cheers from the awakened crowd, only to be caught by a Pointer before he could score.

Valhalla was stopped and also assessed a personal foul penalty before their long snapper sailed a punt attempt ball between the punter’s legs where the Pointers took over at the Valhalla 41. On the next play, Turbeville covered the distance in one play to up the lead to 45-0 with 16:12 elapsed in the game.

The second half was played with a running clock but the Pointers, with all starters resting, still managed to score, Lucas sweeping to the left on a 29-yard scoring run that yielded the game’s final score.

The game was a statistics festival for Pointer defenders. Seven players picked up tackles for loss, led by Chase Lowary (3.0) and Nate Terzoli (2.5), River Abenroth, and Max Umberg (2.0 each).

Interceptions were made by Noah Allen, Brady Allen, Lucas, and Lee. Ryan Burdine and Lucas each caused a fumble.

Can a game like this cause teammates to become complacent? Team captain Lowary won’t allow it.

“Come Monday, we’re working, focused, and locked in to prepare for West Hills next week,” Lowary promised as he watched substitutes play in the fourth quarter. “Work on your craft, work on your technique, work on yourself.”

Head coach Joel Allen agreed.

“This week was about us,” Allen said, “but next week is 100% about our opponent, a really good West Hills team. After a loss (against Central) the energy is kind of sucked out of you. But after this game, I think we’ll be re-energized and have a really good week of practice. We’ll clean up a few things and bring the energy next week.”

CENTRAL (EL CENTRO) 30, POINTERS 14

A perfect storm of adverse conditions came together as the Pointers lost to the Spartans in a game played in 105-degree temperatures at kickoff.

EXTRA POINTS

The Pointers end their three-week eastern road schedule when they travel to Santee to meet West Hills tonight (Sept. 9) at 7 p.m. The Wolf Pack is also 2-1. On Sept. 16 the Pointers host Christian at 7 p.m. The Patriots are members of the Eastern League, last year’s home for the Pointers.

The Pointers JV is off to a 3-0 start, defeating Valhalla 40-0 and Central 7-0. The Pointers freshman team is 1-2 after a 35-7 win over St. Augustine and a 3-0 loss to Cathedral.

Lowary has received interest from D-I universities in the form of letters and campus visits.

Photo by Scott Hopkins