While Point Loma High head football coach Joel Allen begins his third season at the helm it will be the first time he has greeted a full returning team of familiar players.

Hired in November 2020, the COVID pandemic derailed Allen’s first short-season Pointer team months later before getting a chance to see his players in full game mode last year as they posted a 4-6 overall record, 2-2 in Eastern League.

Those games included three blowout wins by a combined score of 131-24 and a win over eventual Div. IV champion Patrick Henry. Losses by five points (Ramona) and seven after leading by 14 (La Jolla) could have reversed the won-loss record.

But Allen came away feeling very pleased with the athletes he works with.

“These are tough kids,” Allen said of his Pointers, “And they are all playing for the right reason. In youth sports nowadays, it’s harder and harder to tell if kids are here for the social media or for mom and dad but I feel like the Point Loma kids are out here working their butt off every day in strength and conditioning, in practice. They want to be here, and as coaches, we’re loving it because we enjoy the same feeling with the kids.”

Allen’s plans include running the Wing-T offense again “out of a little more shotgun look.”

“There’s been a learning curve for all of us,” Allen noted. “We’ve had to learn brand new terminology, how we’re going to run this offense. The kids have been really good, this summer has been a really valuable time to implement it. It’s like learning a new language.”

He believes these new additions to the Pointer offense will make the team more exciting for fans to watch. Defensively, Allen feels the team was good last year and plans to build on that success.

Allen cited “senior leadership” as a team strength this year, and the first name that came to his mind was FB-MLB Chase Lowary, who led last year’s squad in numerous categories on both offense and defense.

“I don’t think Chase was surprised last year by how good a year he had but I think it also proved to him he can also do it at the next level too,” Allen said, “The seniors this year are committed.”

Allen summed up the task of every prep football head coach and their staff.

“It takes so many kids with many different attributes and skill sets and brings all of them together and if each person does their job you have a chance to be a successful football team. The second (a player) becomes selfish or tries to do more than their job is when you see teams struggle. I think our guys realize that.”

EXTRA POINTS

A shortage of referees will likely result in changes to the Pointers’ schedule. Athletic director Manny Diaz Jr. reports each City Conference team was asked to submit two currently scheduled Friday games that could be moved to either Thursday or Saturday. Fans should check for changes at plhsfightingpointers.com where community members can sign up for alerts and much more.

The Pointers will once again field a freshman football team this year led by coaches from the Pointer youth football program. About 35 ninth graders with previous experience are expected to don PLHS jerseys.

Fans will find new seating for 500 visitors and a restroom/concession building in place on the North side of Pete Ross Stadium for the future. All were in use at the recent commencement ceremony.