As CIF championship games go, they don’t get any better than this.

The No. 7 seed Point Loma Pointers trailed top-seeded Calexico High 1-0, and their struggles to tie the match were repeatedly thwarted by the Bulldog defenders, and time was running out.

As is the custom, the scoreboard clock at the D-I site was stopped at 2 minutes, and the match was now in injury time as kept by the referee on the field. The game-ending whistle could come at any second.

But a throw-in by the Pointers suddenly saw the ball at the Calexico goal, and in a flurry of flailing legs and bodies, the ball was headed in by sophomore Ezekiel Varela.

A large contingent of Pointer fans who made the trip to Bonita Vista High in Chula Vista exploded in celebration as Calexico coaches and players fell silent.

So wild was the scramble in the goal mouth that Pointer head coach Elliott Savitz was not sure who scored until told later.

With their new-found energy, Pointers players battled through a scoreless overtime to send their season to a five-round series of penalty kicks. For this, Savitz selected backup goalkeeper Jacob Heider to replace starter Seamus Donovan.

The move worked as every Pointer attempt was good, while one of Calexico’s attempts sailed over the crossbar, the errant ball proving the game’s difference as Pointer players rushed the field in celebration.

Penalty kick shooters were senior Jovanny Orozco, junior Bryce Caffo, Varela, and seniors Matheus Tessari and Fin Rohnow. Officially, the penalty kick scored as 5-3 since Calexico did not take its final shot.

The game was marked by aggressive play on both sides. Several yellow cards were shown to players on each team.

This marks Savitz’s fourth CIF title in six recent appearances, a record any head coach in any sport would envy and aspire to. How does he accomplish this?

“Our league (Western) is either the best or second best around,” Savitz said as players and fans mingled and continued the celebration. “We try to win all of our league games, but we look at the league games as how we can improve and get ready for the playoffs.”

Indeed, one of the Pointers’ league foes was St. Augustine, who won the Open Division crown the same day.

The Pointers posted a 0-4 record in league play and 7-8-4 overall. They scored only 18 goals in 19 games but won all four of their playoff games for the title.

“Once we figured out our best lineup, we’ve played well,” Savitz said.

This year’s win is also special since the Pointers were seeded only No. 7 in Div. I going in. Along the way, they defeated No. 10 San Diego Southwest (3-2), No. 2 Eastlake (2-1), and No. 11 San Dieguito Academy (3-0) before Calexico.

Senior Nico Rashidi was selected by CIF officials to receive the Sportsmanship Award.

The championship win sends the Pointers on to regional state playoffs, and they earned a home game. Seeded No. 4 in Southern California Div. III, they will host No. 5 Warren High of Downey (18-8-4 overall) on March 4, with the winner playing the winner between No. 1 Harvard-Westlake of Studio City (14-5-2 overall)  and No. 8 Porterville (22-3-4 overall) on March 6. The finals are on March 8.