Pointer defense leads rout of Mater Dei; San Marcos next foe

SAN DIEGO – At some point in every courtroom trial, a lawyer tells the judge and jury, “The defense rests.”

That sentence will never be heard when Point Loma High’s football team is playing.

Call them what you will — relentless, ferocious, ruthless — but this edition of the Pointer “D” has established itself as one of the best in the school’s long history.

In eight of the team’s 11 games to date, opponents have scored just 101 points, an average of 9.2 per game. Take out 28 points scored against reserves during blowout Pointer wins, and that average shrinks to just 6.6 per game.

Last week, that defense scored three of the team’s touchdowns in a 41-7 rout of Metro Mesa League champion Mater Dei Catholic, sending the undefeated Pointers (Div. I, No. 5 seed) to North County to face the No. 4 seed San Marcos Knights (6-4, 1-3 in a brutal Avocado West League) on Oct. 14.

Against Mater Dei, the Pointers repeatedly held the Crusaders to short gains, keeping their punter busy before scoring themselves on their second possession of the game.

Quarterback Henry Heuser hit Romeo Carter with a 20-yard pass on the drive before finishing with a perfectly placed 15-yard pass to Carter in the right corner of the end zone that Carter caught despite a defender holding him around the waist. Referees huddled before ruling Carter’s feet properly landed inbounds before the Pointers led 7-0 with 3:08 left in the first quarter.

A minute later, Carter was in the end zone again after intercepting a Crusader pass and running it back for a 14-0 Pointer lead with 2:05 remaining in the opening frame.

Early in the second quarter, with multiple receivers shifting positions before the snap, Heuser tossed the ball to Wade Mettler along the left sideline, and Mettler sprinted into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown, giving the Pointers a 21-0 lead after just 11:25 of playing time had elapsed in the game.

The Pointers sat on that lead while continuing to stop the Crusaders until late in the third quarter when Ryder Watson replaced Heuser, who was experiencing back pain.

The Pointers drove to the Crusaders’ two-yard line as time expired in the third period, and Watson scored on the first play of the final quarter to build the lead to 28-0.

Then, less than one minute later, on Mater Dei’s ensuing drive, Ace Selchow intercepted a Crusader pass attempt and returned it 48 yards before diving into the end zone for another Pointer pick six. The score moved to 34-0 with 11:10 to play.

On the next Mater Dei possession, it was Pointer defensive back Chase Thomas snatching a Crusader pass and rambling down the right sideline for a 63-yard pick-six of his own. Ryan Cleator’s fifth PAT of the game finished Pointer scoring with a 41-0 lead. 

At that time, with 9:30 to play, game officials directed the remaining game to be played with a running clock. Ironically, it was during this time that the Crusaders broke up the Pointers’ shutout with a 58-yard pass play for a touchdown.

“We’re trying to treat (the playoffs) like a new season, and the kids got after it. They were hungry and kept their foot on the gas all week,” said Point Loma head coach Ryan Price during the post-game celebration. “It was an impressive performance, so it was great.”

Looking ahead, Price said, “Tough game. San Marcos is a great team, really coached well on both sides. It will be one of our toughest tests of the year, and we’re going to really have to get up for it.”

Indeed, the Pointers will. 

The Knights’ league sent three of its five teams (Carlsbad, Mission Hills, and La Costa Canyon) to the four-team Open Division, the top playoff bracket. Despite this level of competition, San Marcos’ offense averaged 36 points per game.

And, as a top-four seed, the Knights received a much-needed bye last week.

San Marcos lost to Mission Hills 28-21 in their final game. Senior quarterback Kreet Makihele leads the offense, completing 120 of 187 passes (64%) for 1,720 yards and 19 touchdowns with 9 interceptions.

The clear leader in the Knights’ running game is senior Zamar Reese with 1,321 yards on 166 carries, an average of 8 yards per carry. He is averaging 132 yards per game and has scored 18 touchdowns.

On defense, senior Jett Zayer has 54 solo tackles and 64 assists for 118 tackles, and senior Ty Sagaser’s 19 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks lead the Knights.

The Knights’ roster includes a 395-pound sophomore lineman, a pair of 290-pounders, and seven players between 250 and 280.

Extra points

The winner of the Point Loma-San Marcos game draws the unenviable task of playing No. 1 seed Lincoln if the Hornets defeat No. 9 Poway. Lincoln was the top-rated team all season before a loss to Cathedral Catholic dropped them to No. 5 overall and out of the Open Division.

The Pointer JV (7-3, 3-1 in league) lost to St. Augustine in its finale. Over the season, they scored 259 points, allowing only 96.

The freshman Pointers finished (8-2, 3-0), defeating St. Augustine 34-19 in their final game. They outscored opponents 214-112 for the season.