Point Loma upsets Cathedral to remain undefeated

POINT LOMA – What does a football coach do when his team is scheduled to face the section’s No. 2 team, one they haven’t defeated since 2017 and who ripped them 55-6 last year? Not a tough decision for Point Loma head coach Ryan Price: You convince your players they are capable of defeating that opponent. And they did. The Pointers scored their second touchdown late in the game after holding Cathedral Catholic to one early score to win a dramatic non-league game 14-7 – and remain undefeated at 7-0. “We focused on believing all week (in practice),”  Price said at midfield on Bennie Edens Field as spectators passed by shouting congratulations, “And you could see as the week went on, the kids believed more and more by the day.” To be sure, this wasn’t an easy task. The Cathedral lists 10 players who weigh 250 pounds or more, with three of those exceeding 300 pounds. But an inspired Pointer defense, led by Mateo Correia’s big night (11 solo tackles, two assists, six tackles for loss) led the way. Owen Ice (five tackles, three assists) and Braeden Bartocci (five tackles, two assists) limited the Dons’ running game to a meager 77 yards on 30 carries, a 2.6 average. And the Pointer pass defense was also very effective. With Dons’ starting QB Brady Palmer out, the Dogs’ defense dogged two backups for only 48 total yards on 5 of 7 completions and one crucial interception. That’s only 125 yards of total offense by a team that has averaged 211 per game passing and rushed for 221, a total offense of 431 yards per game.  Through seven games, the Pointer defense is giving up only 8.7 points per game. Most of the Pointer offense came through the air as starter Ryder Watson was 10 of 17 for 126 yards with one interception, and Henry Heuser was 7 of 10 for 85 yards and the game-winning touchdown. The Dons opened the scoring late in the first period when, after converting a fourth-and-one play, they drove to the Pointers’ 10 before scoring on a quarterback keeper and taking a 7-0 lead. Taking the Cathedral kickoff, the Pointers then moved downfield methodically, picking up yardage and first downs until, facing a third-down at the Dons’ five-yard-line, Watson scooped up a low snap, sized up the defense, and broke for the left corner of the end zone, diving in from the one for the tying score with 8:24 left before intermission. A critical moment late in the third quarter took place when the Dons advanced into the Pointers’ red zone before the defense held, and their field goal attempt sailed wide left. Then, with 8:55 left in the final quarter, the game’s key play came on a third-and-long play from the Dons’ 29. Heuser threw a pass to tight end Leo Sahd over the middle. Sahd was able to split the Dons’ defense and score the game-winner, and after Ryan Cleator’s second PAT, the Pointers took a 14-7 lead. Cathedral then went to the air, mounting a furious comeback effort, but that failed when Romeo Carter stepped in front of a Dons’ receiver and picked off the pass with just 1:34 left. The Pointer defense now has 13 picks. The Pointers ran a couple of plays before taking a knee as zeroes appeared on the scoreboard clock. Sahd’s scoring catch was his only reception of the game, while Carter (seven catches, 71 yards) was the top receiver with a 34-yard catch, his longest. Wade Mettler (four catches, 69 yards) was next with a long of 36 yards. “Our defense stepped up like it has all year,” Price said. “I’m just so proud of our kids. We told them they would have to match their (Cathedral’s) physicality, and they did. The way they rallied as a team is just amazing. It is a big win for the program.” “The way we stopped the run was the biggest key for me all night,” Price added. We practiced on that all week. Also putting pressure on their quarterbacks and the defensive stops.” Pointers 31, San Diego 13      Down 13-10 at halftime, the Pointers responded with 21 unanswered third-quarter points during the Oct. 3 win. Watson and Heuser combined for 200 yards passing. Watson passed for two touchdowns, one each to Carter and Mettler, and ran for another. On defense, the Pointers intercepted six Caver passes. Ice had four of those, one short of the CIF single-game record. Cleator ran his interception back 60 yards for a touchdown. Bartocci had nine tackles, three for loss and a sack, giving him 10 to date. Correia had seven tackles, two for loss. Kobe Kelly also had a sack. Extra points The Pointers travel for Eastern League games to Madison (2-5, 1-1) Oct. 17, and Christian (2-5, 0-2) Oct. 24. The regular season ends on Halloween night with a home game against St. Augustine. All are 7 p.m. kickoffs. Pointer freshmen are 5-2 (2-0 in league) after defeating Morse (since San Diego High did not field a freshman team) and losing to Cathedral 34-13. The JV team stands at 5-2 (1-0) after whipping San Diego 42-6 and dropping a 7-6 decision to Cathedral.