In a rain-soaked Western League showdown Nov. 4, Point Loma High School’s (PLHS) Pointers succeeded in spoiling powerful Madison High’s effort to record an undefeated season. But the Pointers didn’t win, either. The two teams battled to a 13-13 tie before a small crowd at the new Warhawks stadium complex after the Dogs’ tenacious defense and strong running attack staked the visitors to a 10-0 third-quarter lead. But it didn’t last. In fact, only a pressure-packed 29-yard field goal in strong windy conditions by senior kicker Felipe Soares with 17 seconds left in the game prevented the Pointers from losing a game they had led almost all night. The tie left the Pointers at 6-2-1 overall (3-0-1 in Western League) while Madison, who entered the game averaging 40 points per game, dropped to 8-0-1 (3-0-1). The long-awaited game took an unexpected turn when Warhawks all-star quarterback Chase Knox left the game in the first quarter after suffering a dislocated finger. With backup Bo Kaimuloa under center, Madison went to an unproductive up-the-middle running game that the Pointers repeatedly shut down. Pointers running backs, meanwhile, had picked up significant yardage against the stunned Warhawks, and a Jaivon Griffin 16-yard touchdown run sent the teams to intermission with a 7-0 lead in favor of Point Loma. Knox reappeared to open the second half for Madison, but was ineffective until Soares’ first field goal of the night gave the Dogs a 10-0 lead with 5:34 left in the third period. The Pointers again threatened to score, but a 38-yard field goal attempt by Ruben Diaz failed, giving Madison the ball on their own 20. From here, Madison star running back Pierre Cormier, who had been bottled up all night, broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run, closing the Pointer lead to 10-7. Outside of this run, Cormier carried 15 times for only 14 yards. After a 26-yard pass completion from Sam Augustine to Matt Magers, the Pointers threatened again after rains resumed in the fourth quarter, but an interception killed that drive.  The Warhawks then made their move, driving to the Pointer 8-yard line where, on a fourth-down play, Knox hit Kaimuloa with a scoring pass. Jon Denae Bailey’s block of the Madison extra point attempt and a desperate Pointer drive set up Soares’ crucial tying field goal. The Pointers totaled 322 yards in offense, 269 of it on the ground. Griffin (23 carries for 112 yards) led the attack while Morris Mathews’ nine carries for 87 yards included a 49-yard burst. Eric Bueno picked up 46 yards and Branden Martin had 29. In a strange series of events, an overtime session was agreed upon some 15 minutes after the end of regulation time. The teams had met for handshakes, while game officials left the field and many fans had left the stadium.  During the extra period, the Pointers were driving before Diaz’s 33-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked. The Warhawks’ possession resulted in a 41-yard field goal situation, but when a Pointer jumped offside, the resulting 36-yard attempt was successful. Bits ’n’ bites • Many in the audience and news media questioned the need to play the overtime session. The Pointers (CIF Div. III) and Warhawks (CIF Div. IV) are not pitted against each other in playoff seeding meetings. Madison, however, was declared the official Western League champion based on the overtime results. • Diaz was given the opportunity to attempt a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter. His booming kick bounced off the goalpost crossbar, falling perhaps a foot short. • The Pointers dominated the undefeated Warhawks throughout much of the game. • The Madison junior varsity prevailed 21-6 in a drenching rain before the varsity match, leaving the Pointers with a 5-4 record. •?The Pointer freshmen topped Madison by the same score, improving to 6-2.