At stake: a second straight trip to the CIF Div. II finals for the Point Loma Pointers.

But the playoff run for the No. 5 ranked Pointers ended on a rainy night on Nov. 20 as No. 1 ranked Del Norte defeated them 9-7. And what made the loss so painful for the group of 50 teens and young adults who have strapped on the pads, perspired, and endured exhaustion and pain for over six months preparing for this game is that the Nighthawks couldn’t score a touchdown on the Pointer defense. Not one.

Three field goals, two of which came after the Pointer defense stopped the touted Hawk’s offense. And the game-winner, coming in the final minute of a hard-fought game, as a desperate couple of pass completions moved Del Norte within range of their excellent placekicker.

Prior to that moment, the Pointers had clung to leads of 7-0, 7-3, and 7-6 for 31:45 of the 48-minute game but their offense wasn’t able to convert turnovers and stops by their defense into more points.

Their first opportunity came after Del Norte ran the same running back over and over on their first possession until he fumbled. Matthew Cleator recovered to end the Nighthawk drive but the Pointers could not move.

On the Pointers’ next possession, following a long run by Canon Ogden, QB Brady Allen lofted a high pass into the left corner of the end zone where Aaron Lee was one-on-one with a Nighthawk defender. Out-leaping his opponent, Lee came down with the football for the game’s only touchdown. Following his PAT kick the Pointers took the lead that was to last until the game’s final seconds.

The Nighthawks struck with a long pass that set up their first field goal with just 16.1 seconds left in the first half, pulling to within 7-3.

In the third quarter, a low snap on a Pointer punt attempt resulted in a shanked kick that gave the Nighthawks a great opportunity from the Pointer 35 but a QB sack and strong defense stalled the Nighthawks and they settled for their second field goal with 5:06 left in the period.

The ‘Hawks intercepted a Pointer pass but could not move and the teams entered the fourth quarter separated by one point.

Becoming increasingly desperate in the final quarter, the ‘Hawks began moving the ball more effectively but a hard hit on their QB resulted in a fumble recovered by Pointer Nate Terzoli with only 4:30 to play. If the Pointer offense could gain a couple of first downs and keep the ball inbounds, they likely could eat up the remaining time and celebrate another trip to the finals.

But this wasn’t to be and once again they punted to the Nighthawks.

This time, with their backs against the wall and facing elimination, the Nighthawks were able to complete several passes that put them within range of their placekicker. And in the final minute, he calmly drilled the ball between the goalposts for his team’s only lead of the night, a kick that had the effect of driving a dagger into the hearts of Pointer players and fans.

After the game, head coach Joel Allen and his staff gathered their players, many of whom fought back tears as the Nighthawks cheered and celebrated across the field.

Allen praised his players for their never-ending effort and made special mention of the season-long leadership by the team’s seniors.

“I’ve come to practice every day for six months with a smile on my face,” Allen said, “And left practice with a smile because you seniors showed the younger players what they needed to do, how they needed to practice, and what it means to be a Pointer. As coaches, we didn’t have to do that.”

Asked to tell the Peninsula community about his team, Allen responded, “Competition is hard, and the community should be proud of the boys who wore ‘Point Loma’ on the front of their jerseys. They should be proud of the coaching staff who committed a lot of time to these kids and tried to fulfill the vision of the school.

“It’s important for the community to know when kids get into this program the coaches are all on their side and can be trusted, and that the younger ones can be helped by the older ones,” Allen said.  “What’s the road map to success? First, you have to find success and then you have to see people do it and this year’s seniors have said ‘This is how you do it. This is how you prepare. This is what meetings look like, this is what your summers look like.

“We’re going to play a lot of games like this, some we win and some don’t go our way. It doesn’t change the fact these kids know what it takes. I couldn’t be more proud of our players,” Allen concluded.

EXTRA POINTS

Former PLHS principal Kelly Lowry joined new principal David Jaffe on the sidelines to cheer on the Pointers.

The team is planning a banquet on Jan. 8 to celebrate the season.

The Pointers played nine games on the road this season winning six.

Current eighth graders wishing to play football next year should watch for information coming from the high school or visitors to their middle school. A physical exam and forms must be completed during the summer before any organized practices.