Point Loma’s Pointers knew they had a powerful pair of opponents on their pre-league schedule and the first one used several big plays to defeat them in the season opener.

Madison High ranked No. 5 in preseason polls, has been a thorn in the Pointers’ side for years, last season going 9-2 and earning a spot in the Open Division (top eight teams in the section) playoffs before losing to eventual state champions Lincoln. So the Warhawks haven’t been and still aren’t pushovers as they walked away with a 35-14 win on their home turf.

The Pointers, coming off their own Div. III playoff championship appearances, are younger this year and should show marked improvement as the season continues. Still, the Pointers hung tight with their Div. I first-week foe.

The current Pointer roster includes no less than 14 sophomores, some who have earned starting positions, and only 14 seniors.

“We played them really tough on defense and battled for four quarters,” said head coach Joel Allen after the game. “A couple of big plays hurt us. We couldn’t establish the run on the offensive side which turned us one-dimensional.”

Indeed, the Warhawks stuffed most Pointer run attempts, leaving the offense relying more heavily than planned on the passing game.

QB Max Newbegin was also under pressure much of the game, an interception leading to the first Madison touchdown. But he persevered to throw for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

The first of those scores came on a beautiful second-quarter completion over the middle to Brady Allen who repelled attempted tacklers en route to a 70-yard touchdown that brought the Pointers to within 14-7 after an Aaron Lee PAT.

Ryan Burdine blocked a Madison PAT attempt on a Warhawk score with .08 left in the first half.

In the third quarter, Allen again had a big gain to the Warhawk 10-yard line and after that, Newbegin found Romeo Carter at the goal line who made a leaping catch of the throw for the second Pointer score with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

Returning first-team all-league linebacker Rocket Robinson spoke for his teammates.

“I think we put up a pretty good fight against a Div. I team and we held our own,” Robinson said.  “We need to work on team chemistry, lining up, assignments–basic stuff. It’s only going to go up from here. I think we can win every game ahead.”

“Hats off to (Madison), they’re a really good team,” Allen said. “But we as coaches know what we’ve got and it’s our job to convince our players what we’ve got. I’m really proud of our kids.”

EXTRA POINTS

The Pointer freshmen (20-0) and junior varsity (34-8) also dropped their openers.

Nobody is currently keeping game statistics, which can now be done live and posted by computer. Volunteers are needed.

The Pointers travel to Otay Ranch on Aug. 25 to meet the 0-1 Mustangs and 0-1 Rancho Bernardo on Sept. 1.

Madison proved a poor host, locking all gates and closing the snack bar Thursday to freshmen and fans on a very hot and humid day. After complaints, visitors were required to walk across the field and then backtrack to the home snack bar. At Friday’s JV and varsity games, locked gates prevented on-field Pointer coaches and players from reaching restrooms, and the visitor snack bar remained closed.