Point Loma hopes for cleaner offense at homecoming game

POINT LOMA – After their annual bye week, the Point Loma Pointers are hoping to put on a more consistent offensive display on Sept. 19 at the school’s homecoming game.

The Pointers’ off-week came after a successful start to the season in which they posted a 3-0 record with wins over Del Norte, Otay Ranch, and Scripps Ranch by a combined score of 81-34. But for head coach Ryan Price, there are elements of the Pointers’ game that need work.

Specifically, it’s his team’s offense.

“The offense had a few struggles (in the last game against Scripps Ranch) in the first half but got going in the second half, and I’m really proud of how they fought through it,” Price said.

“We’re going to practice, clean up a lot of stuff, and get some rest during the bye week. When we run the right routes at the right depth, we get the ball out at the right time and get our blocking assignments done, our offense is on fire.”

Price has been happy with the Pointers’ defense. In the 42-24 win over Del Norte, his reserves gave up two late touchdowns to the Nighthawks, something Price told his players is not acceptable. Taking away those 14 points, the Pointers outscored Del Norte 42-10, meaning the Pointers’ defensive starters have yielded only 20 points (6.6 points per game).

Also planned during the break was a team bonfire and additional team bonding activities.

Ironically, Scripps Ranch is one of the teams that was moved up to the Western League, replacing the Pointers, who moved down to the Eastern League. But the Pointers had little difficulty disposing of the Falcons in the Pointers’ first home game of the season.

The Falcons’ field goal, their only score, came midway through the first quarter, the Pointers’ defense shutting them down from that point.

Henry Heuser played the entire game at quarterback, completing 23 of 31 attempts (74%) for 195 yards, including two touchdowns and no interceptions. Eight of his passes were caught by Romeo Carter, covering just 59 yards but including both touchdowns.

Sophomore standout Tanner Spradling caught seven balls for 81 yards that included a full, mid-air body extension to grab a 39-yarder, Heuser’s longest of the game. A later catch and sprint by Spradling for a touchdown was negated by a Pointer penalty.

Other pass receivers included Wade Mettler (three for 27 yards), Braden Lane (three for 15), and Leo Sahd caught one for six yards.

On the ground, Heuser ran six times for 85 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown dash. Carter carried once for a big 47-yard gain, and Lane ran five times for 15 yards.

Defensively, Carter had seven tackles, Owen Ice, Sahd, Ryan Cleator, Chase Thomas, and Ace Selcow each had five. Braeden Bartocci had four tackles and two tackles for loss plus two sacks. Sahd intercepted a pass and Jack Lepore recovered a Falcom fumble caused by Carson Allen.

Cleator kicked a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to give the Pointers a 9-3 lead at the break and a longer one in the third quarter for a 12-3 lead.

Looking ahead to Eastlake, the Titans arrive with a 1-3 record and a defense that has given up 107 points in four games, to go with an offense that has scored only 38 points. Their lone win came against a weak Bonita Vista team, with losses against Beckman High (Irvine), Olympian, and St. Joseph (Santa Maria).

Extra points

The Pointers JV is 2-1 after a 21-7 win over Scripps Ranch. The freshman team is also 2-1 with a 28-7 victory over the Falcons.

The annual “Battle for The Shoe” takes place on Sept. 26 when the La Jolla Vikings sail to Point Loma for the renewal of this long-running rivalry. The Pointers have The Shoe after last year’s 34-20 triumph at La Jolla.