?The portable generators lining the sidelines of Bennie Edens Field at Point Loma High School (PLHS) Oct. 16 gave off 640,000 watts of light, allowing Point Loma to once again play its annual Homecoming game at night — this time against Mission Bay High (MBHS).??But two players from eighth-ranked MBHS shone even brighter, leading the Buccaneers to a dominating 49-27 victory, aided by no less than six turnovers by the hosts. The Pointers knew they had to contain Dillon Baxter, the Bucs’ dangerous USC-bound quarterback. Yet it was wide receiver/defensive back Ray Herring who also inflicted major damage on the Pointers’ plans. Baxter accounted for more than 300 yards of offense. His rushing total of 141 yards included touchdowns of 20, 14, 2 and 27 yards. He added 161 yards on an 8-for-17 passing performance, and that’s where Herring comes in.??One Mission Bay play called for Baxter to take the snap from center and immediately turn to his left and throw a strike to Herring in the flat. Twice in the second quarter the play worked to perfection, as Herring danced around potential Pointer tacklers who failed to wrap him up, speeding to the end zone for scores of 59 and 51 yards.??Baxter’s first two scores and Herring’s receptions helped the Bucs race to a 28-7 halftime lead. On defense, Herring intercepted two Pointer passes and ran back a recovered fumble 91 yards for a score. The fumble return and Baxter’s final score helped put the game away with a 49-7 fourth-quarter lead. The first quarter of the game, however, was evenly matched. The Pointers, behind quarterback Keegan Fitzgerald and running back Leslie Rogers, both returning from injuries, took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to score. Zach Gemmill covered the final three yards and Reuben Diaz’s point after gave the hosts a quick 7-0 lead. When Mission Bay was unable to move, the Pointers again took the ball downfield quickly. As Fitzgerald broke loose on a long run to the left sideline, it appeared the Dogs were about to put a 14-0 bite on the Bucs. But, as Fitzgerald was hit at the 3-yard line, the pigskin popped loose, and rather than rolling out of bounds, bounced awkwardly inside the line, a Buc defender covering it at the 2.??The play was to prove a turning point. Bucs head coach Willie Mattson, clearly disappointed with his team to that point, found the perfect elixir as his charges proceeded to shock the Pointers with 49 unanswered points.
