For the Homecoming fans who packed the stands at Point Loma High School on Friday night, there was plenty of action to cheer about.
The Pointers were in control of every aspect of the game for all four quarters, scoring at will and moving the chains with every other play to defeat La Jolla High, 27-3.
Point Loma did not look like a team that hadn’t played a game in weeks because of a bye and the wildfires.
“It’s been three weeks since our last game. Twenty-one days is a long layoff, and I’m really proud of our kids,” said PLHS head coach Mike Hastings. “I think we played good, but I think we’re just getting our legs under us again after the layoff. Next week we’ll be better against Lincoln for our last league game.”
It’s easy for teams to lose focus and drive that keeps them winning games when they have a bye week to interrupt the flow. But to compound that with a second missed game can sometimes have even worse consequences for a squad. The relatively young Pointers team showed their mettle Friday night, proving to the Homecoming crowd that they are the real deal.
For many at the game, it was a very special Homecoming celebration, as the school honored the 1982 PLHS varsity football team and cheerleaders before the game and then again at halftime. This year is the 25th anniversary of the squad that played an undefeated season and won a CIF championship.
“Having the ’82 team here was really special,” said Hastings. “My big brother, Glen, is here. That’s the team that I watched growing up. It was great for us to be able to honor them after 25 years,” said Hastings. “I stressed that to these kids, that maybe they can come back after 25 years and have the same experience.”
The game was lopsided, but that doesn’t mean La Jolla is not a good team. Their three league losses have all come to the top teams. The best thing about the Viking squad may be the never-say-quit attitude of the players, even in adversity.
“I thought we just got outmatched tonight,” said LJHS head coach Dave Ponsford. “The point of the matter is that they [Point Loma] have been taking it to everybody in our league. The consolation prize is that we came as close as anybody has come all season.
“We stressed at halftime that we cannot give up,” he said. “We’ve only had one team since I’ve been involved with La Jolla since the ’80s give up. We told them not to let that happen. Go out there and battle back.”
The Pointers took the Vikings by the horns in the first half, with senior Josh Wade scoring twice on runs of 67 and 31 yards, while sophomore Leslie Rogers added his own 30-yard sprint to make the score 21-0 going into the locker room at halftime.
The 20-minute halftime break featured the traditional halftime parade, with convertibles transporting the Homecoming Court from each class. Because of difficulties with the public address system, the class talent competition was postponed until after the game, when each class represented a different era of music, to the delight of the crowd.
As the game renewed, it was clear Point Loma’s defense was again rock solid this season, with more returners than that fielded by the offense and more seniors overall. But some of the younger defenders stepped it up as well. Players such as sophomore defensive end Will McDonough have proven themselves this year through consistent play on the gridiron. McDonough notched a sack against La Jolla on Friday.
“It was a good game all around,” said McDonough. “The defense held them. In the middle, our offense was amazing. This game means a lot. I talked to our seniors [beforehand]. They lost to these guys a while back, and they [La Jolla] ruined the undefeated season. They were mad and they said that this game means a lot to them and if we’re going to win one game this is the one.”
The Pointers play at home again Friday, Nov. 9, with Lincoln High visiting for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
It will be the last league game for both teams.