It’s not a good way to start the season when your team has more turnovers than points scored.
That was the case for much of the game as Point Loma Pointer fumbles and interceptions repeatedly stopped them last Friday night in a 21-8 loss to host El Camino at Herb Meyer Stadium.
The frustration for coaches and a good turnout of fans who made the long rush-hour trip was the Pointers moved the ball on the ground with ease for much of the first half, yet were down 14-2 at halftime.
With yardage from a quintet of running backs including Michael Blakley, Antonio Quintanilla, Antonio Pelayo, Josh Ball and fullback Mathew Faa’lele, the Pointers took the opening kickoff and marched down the field with quarterback Kyle Grady directing the action.
Two yards before the end zone, the Dogs coughed up the ball, the ‘Cats recovering.
But on the hosts’ first play, the ball was snapped high over quarterback Jaden Casey’s head into the end zone as Pointer Patrick Rutledge alertly pounced on the ball for a two-point safety with only 4:24 gone in the game.
They did not score again until, with just 4:58 left in the game, Grady, scrambling out of the pocket to his right, threw a pass that covered 50 yards in the air to the right corner of the end zone. Sophomore receiver JL Skinner used every inch of his 6 foot 5 inch height to leap and grab the ball for the Pointers only touchdown of the game.
What happened in between often was marked by disappointment and missed opportunities.
Following the Wildcat kickoff, the Pointers again marched down the field with relative ease, only to fail on a fourth down play close to the brown-and-gold suited hosts’ goal.
This time El Camino found its offense, with Casey completing a pass and run play of 60 yards before running back/linebacker Chris Brown scored from nine yards with 10:54 left in the first half for a 7-2 lead the Pointers couldn’t catch.
On the night, Brown ran for 155 yards, scored twice, intercepted a pass and broke up a crucial fourth-quarter Pointer pass at the three-yard line.
After moving the ball well for several plays, another Pointer fumble gave the Cats a 50-yard field which they covered quickly, Brown scoring from the 32 to give his team 14 points in just 2:26 of elapsed second quarter time.
The Pointers again fumbled, this time on their own 38, but another errant Wildcat snap resulted in a Dog recovery with 3:19 left before halftime and a chance to take the lead.
Two plays and 56 seconds later, a Pointer pass was intercepted, wasting their final good scoring opportunity of the first half.
The Dogs caught another break early in the second half when Casey’s pass was intercepted by Pelayo.
This time, they moved the ball well again, including a nice pass reception by Gabe Hall. But a fourth-down halfback option play inside the Wildcats five-yard line was intercepted in the end zone to frustrate the Pointers yet again with 1:49 left in the third quarter.
For the game, Quintanilla led the Pointers with 88 yards on eight carries.
The Wildcats added their final score when, with 7:32 left in the game, Manuell Kariuki easily caught a 34-yard pass in the end zone with no defenders within ten yards of him.
“I thought our kids came out and did what we expected, which was move the ball well,” said a disappointed Pointer head coach Mike Hastings after the game. “We did, but didn’t put it in the end zone. Any time you turn the ball over it’s disappointing because I thought tonight we really beat ourselves. El Camino’s a good football team, but our team’s better than we showed tonight. With five turnovers, it’s hard to win any football game.”
The Dogs did, indeed, show a strong running game and tough run defense. But from now on, let local bakers produce the turnovers. EXTRA POINTS: -0 The Pointers will be eagerly awaiting a doctor’s findings this week on the left leg and ankle of top player Faa’lele. The 6 foot 2 inch tall junior, a returning all-league player, was injured late in the game carrying the ball on offense. Trainers had iced and wrapped his leg from knee to ankle but he appeared in intense pain as a Wildcat staff member drove him to the team bus in an electric cart.
– Only the Pointer freshmen were victorious against the Wildcats, winning 15-8. The JV team lost 12-7.
– This week’s varsity game against Ramona is a Friday evening affair at Clairemont High, kicking off at 6:30 p.m.
– A pre-season poll has the Wildcats finishing third in the Avocado League.