Pointer future bright for 2026 despite playoff loss to end unbeaten season

SAN DIEGO – In a journey that began in the weight room last February, Point Loma’s Pointers enjoyed their most successful season in the last 20 years.

Sadly, it ended on a stormy night on the campus of San Marcos High, where the Knights’ second-half surge erased a Pointer halftime lead as they went on to win 24-14 and erase Point Loma’s Div. I playoff hopes.

Pointers head coach Ryan Price had an idea his team was special during passing league competition last summer on local college fields. His thoughts proved accurate.

The season began with a convincing 42-24 win over Del Norte in August, and the team, led by 25 dedicated and determined seniors, continued to put up wins week after week. Soon, there were few county teams without at least one loss.

By season’s end in November, the Pointers were one of only three teams in the San Diego Section of CIF with undefeated records. The others (Mission Bay and Santa Fe Christian) faced lesser opponents and were ranked below Point Loma.

The highlight of the season was a 14-7 win over Cathedral Catholic, and the biggest scares came against Madison and San Diego, where those opponents opened up leads against the Pointers, only to be overwhelmed by second-half Pointer surges.

Players raved about offensive coordinator Gavin Pruett, who installed an offense players loved,  resulting in 377 points scored, including four games with 40 or more.

The defense held opponents to 10 points per game, which included about 35 points scored by other teams against Pointer reserves. First-team defenders yielded a stingy average closer to eight points, with eight teams scoring a touchdown or less.

In the Nov. 14 game against San Marcos, the bigger Knights drove the ball several times in the first half only to be stopped by the Pointer defense, once at the Pointer eight-yard line, once at the 10. Two field goals put the hosts up 6-0.

The Pointers took possession with 4:37 left in the first half when Kobe Kelley stripped the ball from the Knight’s quarterback, shifting momentum.

Some 40 yards later, Pointer quarterback Ryder Watson put his head down and drove into the end zone, and after Ryan Cleator’s PAT, the Pointers led 7-6 with just over two minutes before halftime.

But the second half kickoff by the Pointers gave the Knights the new life they needed.

Caught at the 10-yard line, San Marcos returned the ball 55 yards before a 15-yard penalty for face masking put the Knights in business at the Pointer 20. A pass into the left corner of the end zone to an uncovered receiver plus a two-point conversion put San Marcos in front 14-7 just 3:05 into the third quarter.

When the next Point Loma drive stalled, the Pointer punt again was returned over 50 yards to the Pointer 10, and the Knights immediately went in for the score to go up 21-7 late in the third quarter.

After some outstanding pass defense work by juniors Cleator and Chase Thomas, the Knights kicked a 41-yard field goal for their final points with seven minutes left to play.

But these Pointers didn’t have the word “quit” in their vocabulary, putting together a late drive, climaxed by a Ryder pass to Leo Sahd for the final score with four minutes left.

“Special team miscues and penalties,” Price said, “that’s what changes the outcome of the game. Those things can’t happen against a good team, and they’re a good team. We just didn’t have it tonight when it came to doing the little things right. It happens sometimes, and ultimately, at the end of the day, that’s on me.

“But that doesn’t change anything about how special this season was,” Price said, “and how proud I am of these guys and everything they accomplished. It was a historic season for Point Loma and something these guys will remember.”

The future is also looking bright for Pointer football, and next year’s league alignment already has been released.

Point Loma and Mission Bay move back up to the Western League with Cathedral Catholic and Lincoln. Both Scripps Ranch and University City move down to the Eastern League. Among what are called “cross league games,” the Pointers will play Scripps Ranch. The full schedule has yet to be revealed.

“We were deep at both the JV and freshman levels,” Price said. “They were 7-3 and 8-2, respectively, and we have a lot of guys ready to step up next year. I’m excited about the group coming back for the second year on offense and third year on defense. The program is headed in the right direction. We’re going to miss our seniors. They’re a special group, what they did for this program and the school. It was great being able to coach them for two years.”

For the returners, it’s back to the weight room in February.