Point Loma’s Pointers did a good job riding Mustangs but ran into difficulty when they tried to saddle up a team of Broncos.

That meant trampling Otay Ranch 42-6 before losing momentum and only putting up seven against Rancho Bernardo in an aggravating 10-7 loss last week.

It was an uncharacteristic performance by the visiting Pointers who held the Broncos in check defensively while a normally potent Pointer offense struggled and special teams were hampered by mistakes. The loss dropped their record to 1-2.

The Pointer defense dogged the sputtering Broncos throughout the game, forcing punt after punt only to have their own offense gain yards but unable to create scoring drives as first downs became difficult and penalties negated some of the team’s biggest gains.

In fact, a third-quarter 45-yard touchdown pass from Max Newbegin to a wide-open Brady Allen was called back for an illegal man downfield, a play that would have given the Pointers the win despite their problems.

The Broncos drew first blood after a chain measurement at the Pointer 15-yard line gave them a first down and they scored several plays later for a 7-0 lead with 2:40 left in the first quarter.

The hosts followed later with their game-winning field goal from 41 yards out for a 10-0 lead.

The Pointers answered when Canon Ogden took a handoff from Newbegin and sprinted 14 yards up the middle to give the Pointers their only score of the night with 1:54 left in the first half. Ogden also had a 37-yard run on a reverse play.

A field goal attempt by the Pointers that would have given them a tie failed when it appeared the snap and hold were not accurate.

An online service showed the Pointers out-gaining the Broncos 251-117 yards. The Pointer total included 176 yards passing and 75 yards rushing. A key stat: The Pointers were only 2-11 in third down conversions meaning their drives were repeatedly stopped.

Head coach Joel Allen summed it up best.

“Football is a team sport with three phases–offense, defense, and special team,” he said. “We won defense and lost the other two. As a coaching staff, we’re always second-guessing ourselves and trying to find ways to get better. Seven points in a game like that is unacceptable. This hurts. It’s a game where you can identify some legitimate issues and it’s got to change.”

Senior Ryan Burdine at 5 feet 7 inches tall and 145 pounds is far from the biggest player on the field but he has earned the respect of his peers to become a team captain while playing offense and defense. In this game, he deflected several pass attempts, had an interception (as did Matthew Cleator) and carried the ball on offense.

“I’m just frustrated,” Burdine said as his teammates headed to the team bus. “All we can do is look at the film and get better. We’ll be back Monday working harder than ever. I know that for sure.”

On one play, Burdine was hit hard, knocking him out of bounds and leveling the down marker. His groans were audible but teammates picked him up and he trotted back onto the field.

“I would die for my brothers and I know they would do the same for me,” Burdine said. “(Pain is) a minor inconvenience but I can go back on that field. My first thought is ‘We need to win this game’ and I can get back in there.”

That’s the Pointer spirit.

The Pointers tonight travel to University City on Sept. 8 in an attempt to revenge their two losses to the Centurions last year that cost them both a league and CIF title. The Centurions are currently 0-3 but have scored 103 points in those defeats.

Next week the Pointers face Div. I Mater Dei Catholic in Chula Vista. The Crusaders are currently 0-2 but have played county powers Cathedral Catholic and Carlsbad and will play top-ranked Lincoln before the Pointers.

EXTRA POINTS

The Pointer JV is 1-2, defeating Otay Ranch (17-14) and losing to Madison (34-8) and Rancho Bernardo (14-9).

The Freshman Pointers are 2-1 with wins over Otay Ranch (36-0) and Rancho Bernardo (19-13) and a loss to Madison (20-0).

The Pointer girls flag football team is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Clairemont (24-6) and Hoover (28-7). Their first away games take them to Mira Mesa on Sept. 5 and Escondido on Sept. 12.