In a game that many thought would be a squeaker, Point Loma High School’s (PLHS) Western League showdown with Serra High on Oct. 30 proved to be more of a massacre on the Pointers’ home turf. The Pointers, scoring on each of their first four possessions, raced to a 24-0 halftime lead while the Conquistadors retreated and tried to mount a defense. The Pointers prevailed 31-7 in a game that simply wasn’t that close. “It’s all about preparation,” said Pointers head coach Mike Hastings. “All week long our kids believed in the practice and game plans we installed Monday.” Those preparations included adopting a “crunch time” theme, with each player receiving a Crunch candy bar as a symbol of the game’s importance. The victory leaves the Dogs nicely positioned at 5-3 (2-1 in Western League) with two games remaining before CIF Division III playoff pairings are determined. Serra proved no match for a Pointers squad that came out ready to assert itself after sputtering through some early-season problems of inconsistency, injuries and execution. “In all three phases (offense, defense and special teams) our kids came out and took care of business,” Hastings said. Offensively, the Dogs trotted up and down the field almost at will, amassing 395 yards — 306 of that coming on the ground. The Pointers never punted. Running backs Stephan Jackson and Leslie Rogers each recorded 117 yards and scored a touchdown. Jackson averaged 16.7 yards on just seven carries with his 53-yard jaunt the team’s longest play from scrimmage. Morris Mathews averaged seven yards per carry and scored a touchdown while Emilio Diaz added 6 yards per carry to the total. Quarterback Keegan Fitzgerald connected on 4 of 9 throws for 89 yards and a touchdown, while adding 33 yards rushing to account for 122 total yards. Jordan Sparkman snared three passes for 62 yards and a score while Davis Callejon snatched another for 27 yards. Defensively, the Pointers dogged the Conquistadors continually, applying pressure and sacking their quarterbacks on several occasions. Serra switched signal-callers multiple times after brutal hits by Pointer defenders, who blew through the Conquistador offensive line consistently. “I’m super proud of the kids’ effort on defense,” Hastings said. After the Pointers’ second touchdown, sophomore kicker Ruben Diaz was injured when he knocked a Conquistador kick returner out of bounds. On a day when virtually everything went right, even this proved no setback. In stepped 6’4″ junior quarterback Sean McKaveny, who calmly booted the final two extra points and, for good measure, sent a 29-yard field goal through the uprights from the hold of Thomas Mize. The Pointers will attempt to cage the host Cardinals of Hoover High School tomorrow, Nov. 6. The 2:30 p.m. kickoff takes place at Hoover’s El Cajon Boulevard campus. Hoover, also 5-3 overall, stands at 1-2 in Western League and is led by running back Dominique Brooks, who has accounted for 184 offensive yards per game.
