In a repeat battle between Point Loma High’s snarling Pointers and Mount Miguel High’s dapperly dressed Matadors, this was a night that belonged to the colorfully dressed cape-holders. The 10th-ranked Matadors, using both size and lightning speed, darted and sped away from the mistake-prone Pointers during a 41-7 nonleague victory last Friday on the Spring Valley campus. For the Matadors, payback for a 34-10 whipping by the Pointers in last year’s CIF quarterfinals was clearly on their minds, and they celebrated this success like they had just won a county championship, complete with a Gatorade bath for their coach. “Tonight, we just came out and didn’t execute well,” said Pointer head coach Mike Hastings. “I thought our defense played pretty well at the beginning. Any time you don’t execute offensively and give a team short fields, they’re bound to break through.” A scoreless first quarter was highlighted by Pointer Aaron Watkins’ interception and excellent runback of a Mount Miguel pass. Watkins later had a second interception.  But on the second quarter’s first play, the Matadors stung the Pointers with a long pass-run play that ended five yards from the Dogs’ goal. The Matadors scored for a 7-0 lead. Following the kickoff, the Pointers gave the ball right back on a pass interception at midfield. After a long run took the Matadors close to the goal, the hosts punched it in for a 12-0 advantage with 3:26 left before halftime. At this point, it was still anyone’s ballgame, but the Pointers were immediately bitten by the turnover bug again. This time, it was an underthrown pass picked off by a Mount Miguel defender, who returned his theft for a score. Pointer would-be tacklers seemed determined to deliver a bone-crunching blow rather than simply bring the thief down. Nobody did and the Matadors went to intermission with a 20-0 lead. Pointer coaches, who usually make needed corrections during the break, didn’t get much of an opportunity to see their strategies implemented. After receiving the second-half kickoff, the Pointers coughed up the football again. The Matadors would then take advantage for a 27-0 lead. After the next kickoff, Pointer Morris Mathews broke his longest run of the season, covering 50 yards and sprinting deep into Matador territory. But again, the Pointers couldn’t hold the pigskin and a massive Matador lineman emerged from a tangle of bodies to return the stolen ball 29 yards before Pointer Jaivon Griffin (5’6″, 155 pounds) jumped on his back and rode him down. The Matadors continued to punish the Pointers, scoring again on this turnover to go up 34-0. The Pointers don’t find themselves in this deep a hole very often, and anger and frustration began to boil over among players on the sidelines. Griffin’s emotions may have helped him pull off a lengthy run to the left side that earned his team’s only score. With Ruben Diaz’s point after, the third quarter ended at 34-7. Following yet another interception, the Matadors finished their scoring with 6:39 left to play.  “They are a quick, athletic team,” Hastings said. “They made a lot of plays tonight. So tip your hat to them, but this is just one regular-season game. We know that. Come playoff time, we’ll probably see them again and it will be a different story.” The Pointers travel to Scripps Ranch on Friday, Sept. 23 for a 6:30 p.m. battle. The Falcons (1-2) have lost 35-0 to Eastlake, the county’s top team, and to Poway, 41-21, before defeating Escondido 18-17 last week on the strength of a last-minute touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Dogs chased away the Falcons 21-14 last year at home. BITS ’N’ BITES: • The 7 p.m. kickoff at Mt. Miguel was delayed while school officials and an electrician rushed to repair two of the six, huge light poles at the field. Both had been vandalized, reportedly by someone who stole copper wiring from the devices. Repair efforts were successful, preventing a possible postponement of the game. • The Matadors used a type of “no-huddle” offense that may have contributed to their success. However, after receiving signals from sideline coaches, the quarterback moved from player to player along his line, apparently communicating the play to them and giving the Pointers additional reaction time. • If you hear Pointer players humming or singing the Willie Nelson hit “On the Road Again,” don’t be surprised. Following Scripps Ranch, the Pointers play at Steele Canyon on Sept. 30. They have a bye week Oct. 7 before returning to the familiar confines of Pete Ross Stadium for Homecoming on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. against league foe Hoover.