El Camino to Meet Point Loma

El Camino High School, the defending San Diego Section 2-A champion, puts its 13-game winning streak on the line tonight when the Wildcats and Point Loma open the season against one another for the third year in a row.

The Wildcats and Pointers, who meet at 7:30 at Oceanside High, have played some close games in recent years. In 1982, the two tied, 6-6, in the Section finals. In the 1983 season opener, Point Loma won, 21-19, before El Camino rebounded to take a 21-14 decision last season.

Neither El Camino Coach Herb Meyer nor Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens is placing a heavy emphasis on winning tonight’s game.

“A nonleague game is just that--a nonleague game,” Meyer said. “I like to win every game, but winning nonleague games doesn’t get you in the playoffs. Our ultimate objective is to be as good as we possibly can when we get to the league.”

Said Edens, whose Point Loma team went 7-4 last season: “It’s a nonleague game. It has very little bearing on anything, except our egos.”

This fall, both teams are replacing Times’ All-County running backs. Joe Emerick is taking over for Darron Norris at El Camino, and John Stanley is replacing Darrin Brightmon at Point Loma.

Rex Edwards returns for a second year as the Pointers’ starting quarterback, though he is still recovering from a broken ankle suffered during baseball season. Shane Hawkins replaces Ernest Spears at quarterback for El Camino.