After a highly successful regular season, Point Loma finished the season with an 8-2 record and No. 2 position in Div. III CIF power rankings. The team’s effort earned them a first-round bye in playoffs that begin on Nov. 4 and end in a 2 p.m. championship game on Nov. 25 at Southwestern College.

The Pointers’ quest for a championship begins next Friday, Nov. 11 when the Pointers host the winner of the first round game between No. 7 El Capitan and No. 10 Morse, a City League opponent the Pointers defeated 42-12 on Oct. 7.

A win means the Pointers will host the semifinal round on Nov. 18.

Other potential opponents in the Pointers’ bracket include No. 3 Del Norte, No. 6 San Pascual, and No. 11 West Hills, which the Pointers dispatched 43-14 on Sept. 9.

The other bracket in the 12-team Div. III slate includes No. 1 University City, a league opponent that edged the Pointers 13-7 last month, No. 4 Bishop’s, No. 5 Imperial, No. 8 Rancho Buena Vista, No. 9 Santana, a 48-10 victim of the Pointers on Aug.19, and No. 12 Patrick Henry.

For head coach Joel Allen, his current senior players played a big role in the team’s success.

“When someone asks, ‘How good is your team?’ I’ll say ‘Show me your seniors,” Allen said. “Your seniors drive the work ethic, the commitment, the discipline, all the little intangibles. Our seniors have done a great job giving the team, the coaches, and this community an opportunity to be excited about the playoffs. I’m just so proud and happy for them.”

Senior lineman Diego Huerta talked about his classmates.

“This year we have more chemistry connection between us,” Huerta said. “We hang out together, getting to know each other more. We want to go to regionals and state and practice for that starts (now).”

After every Pointer touchdown, the player scoring runs to Huerta, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, who lifts them high in celebration.

“I love them all. They come to me and I toss ’em up,” he said. “It’s a tradition for me, a result of my workouts.”

POINTERS 58, CANYON HILLS 26

The Rattlers made the same mistake repeatedly by kicking punts and kickoffs in the direction of Pointer Aaron Lee. The wiry junior, listed at 6 feet tall, 155 pounds, ran back two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns and also kicked a field goal to personally account for 24 of his team’s points.

The punt returns went for 48 and 55 yards, the kickoff return for 95 giving Lee 195 yards on three touches. His three scores were in addition to two previous rushing scores and six pass-reception scores. Including placekicking, he has scored 160 points.

The game saw touchdowns scored on offense by Cameron Lucas, Brady Allen, Noah Turbeville, and sophomore Ryan Upjohn. Nate Terzoli had a “pick six” on defense. The Pointers scored 24 points in the second quarter building a 38-14 halftime advantage.

A running clock was used late in the game with the Rattlers scoring twice including on the last play of the game.

The Rattlers attempted to beat the Pointers with their passing game, and although they completed several long passes, Terzoli and Ryan Burdine each had picks, and the Rattler QB was chased, hit, and sacked repeatedly.

POINTERS 53, MISSION BAY 14

Rolling up 449 yards of offense, the Pointers spoiled the Buccaneers’ homecoming party.

QB Max Newbegin completed 7 of 13 passes for 146 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Pointer running backs gained 303 yards on only 30 carries averaging a stunning 10.1 yards per carry.

For the first nine games, the Pointers outscored their opponents 411-135, out-gained them on the ground 2,100 to 1,175 yards, rushed for 233 yards per game against 131 for opponents, and outscored them 411 to 135.