The date of Oct. 15 had been circled on the Pointers’ football calendar for months. They knew their City League game against University City would likely decide the league championship. The game probably did and it won’t be the Pointers hanging a banner in their gymnasium.

The game, played on a misty, wet night on the Centurions field, got off to a strange start when, on the first play of the game, a long Centurion pass downfield appeared to be intercepted by Emmett Jacobson who leads the team with six picks to date. But while Jacobson clutched the ball with both hands to his chest, referees signaled a first-down completion. It was to be that kind of night.

And as the game ended, the Pointers appeared to be driving easily for the winning touchdown only to suddenly run out of gas after earning a first-down at the home team’s eight-yard line.

Final score: University City 13, Pointers 7, ending the Pointers’ five-game winning streak. The two teams held the top spots in CIF Div. III rankings meaning each would earn a coveted first-round playoff bye that goes to each of the top four spots.

Entering the game, each team had put up some big offensive numbers. The Pointers had scored at an amazing rate of 41 points a game, giving up only 11.7. The Centurions were outscoring opponents 40.8 to 26.4.

Both teams started slowly and it wasn’t until the waning minutes of the first quarter the Pointers’ offense seemed to come to life. A drive that carried over into the second quarter ended with a 17-yard scoring pass from Max Newbegin to Brady Allen. Aaron Lee’s PAT gave the Pointers a 7-0 lead.

The Centurions then found openings in the Pointer defense, running five straight plays up the middle before throwing and scoring on a pass play that caught Pointer defenders by surprise, tying the game 2:51 before halftime.

A Pointer drive was stopped in the third quarter by a Centurion interception.

In the final quarter, the Centurions were picking up bigger running yards and turned that success into a touchdown with 7:48 left in the game. It appeared the Pointers were in good shape when they blocked the PAT, meaning a Pointer touchdown and PAT would win.

And it appeared the Pointers were going to do just that, easily in fact. A big run, one of several by Cameron Lucas and another pass reception by Allen made it appear the offense had suddenly caught fire before that final stall.

After the game, senior defender Max Umberg shared his thoughts.

“We couldn’t stop the run down the middle,” Umberg said. “We got blown off the ball and could not fill the holes very well. We’re waiting for the playoffs now, we have to finish the last two games and I think maybe we’ll see them (University City) again.”

Pointer head coach Joel Allen was focused on his players.

“I feel bad for the kids,” Allen said after addressing his team. “You want it for them. They played a great game. I’d love to have some plays and calls back, but that’s football, that’s why you play the game. You love to win and it hurts to lose. I think we’ll see them again and it’s up to us to figure them out.”

POINTERS 42, MORSE 12

Newbegin, forced to take over the offense when starter Jackson Emerson went down on the team’s first drive, made a flawless transition. Of his six passes, four were complete and two were for touchdowns to Lee. In this opening City League game, the offense averaged a staggering 9.0 yards per carry as Allen, Lucas (56 yards), and Chase Lowary each scored on the ground while Jacobson had his first career “pick six” when he grabbed a Tiger pass and took it to the end zone.

EXTRA POINTS

The Pointer JV defeated Morse 20-14 but lost to University City 22-14. The Pointer freshman team shut out Morse 41-0 before also blanking University City 27-0.

The Pointers are at Mission Bay on Oct. 21, and home on Oct. 28 to face Canyon Hills to end the regular season. Playoffs begin the following week.