The Pointers gave it all they had and held a typically high-scoring Saints team to two touchdowns in the CIF Division III championship game Monday, Dec. 4.
“I’m just proud of my kids. They came out and played with a lot of heart today,” head coach Mike Hastings said. “The reality is that St. Augustine is a darn good football team and our kids played their butts off against them.”
The schedule in the playoffs is such that teams don’t have normal amounts of time to prepare for the games. Point Loma played Steele Canyon in the semifinal Thursday, Nov. 30, then had only the weekend to get ready for the defending division champs on Monday. Many teams would have folded, but the Pointers are made of sterner stuff.
“We came out strong; we didn’t give up even when we were down,” said senior running back Edgar Herrera. “We kept fighting and gave it all we got “” that’s all you can ask for. We held a really good team.”
The game started off slow, with no scoring by either team in the first period. The Saints struck first when they got within kicking range of Brynmor Hughes’ leg and put up three from 31 yards out. In the next series, the Pointers fumbled on the Saints 19-yard line after a drive that looked like a scoring certainty for the Dogs.

A fumble in the opponent’s red zone turned from Pointer opportunity to unpleasant surprise when St. Augustine senior quarterback Chris Forcier showed his running skill. The UCLA-bound Forcier was flushed from the pocket, but instead of panicking, he simply ran down the field for a 66-yard touchdown, putting the Saints up 10-0 in the middle of the second period.
The sun shone on the Dogs a few minutes later when they punted to an unprepared Saints returner, who simply dropped the ball on the 28-yard line, allowing junior wide receiver Thomas Dobbs to scoop it up. The Pointers sole touchdown came in this series, when Herrera ran the ball in from the 19 near the end of the half.

“We had good blocking by the o-line and I saw the hole and hit it,” Herrera said of the score. “I knew I was there when I saw the huge hole open for the touchdown. I just hoped to not get hit from behind.”
The second quarter proved to be the most action-packed of the contest, with the third giving up just one score. Saints senior running back Leitch James set up his own score with a 49-yard run up the left sideline to the 1-yard line at the beginning of the third period. He rolled through the line for his touchdown seconds later to post the final score of 17-7.
Even though the Pointers looked bright a few times, the Saints’ defense smothered them in the second half, with senior quarterback Lucas Shaw seeing most of the pressure.
“They bring a bunch of guys up on the line, they trust their corners,” Shaw said. “Larry Parker is one of the best in our division and that doesn’t leave much time to throw. Our line did pretty good, but it was tough to read what they were going to do “” we couldn’t pull it off.”
At the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, it looked like Point Loma may have a chance to score again after a big hit by senior Drew Callejon on the running back in the backfield, turning the ball over on the 8. After another couple of punts, it was Callejon’s turn to march the field on defense. Along with senior running back Lester Arnold, they took the team forward with big first downs. On a fourth-and-nine play with minutes to go, PLHS went for it instead of punting “” and Callejon came up big. But it was all over when the Saints’ defense crushed Shaw one last time as the clock wound down.
“Overall, it was a great season. We’re 10-3 and now the kids know what it’s like to get back here (to the championship). We had a great season and a great team,” Hastings said. “It’s just a matter of time before we win one of these. I know the Saints lost a couple before they won their first one. We’re gonna be back here.”