San Diego High School Football : Point Loma Gains Revenge Against El Camino, 14-6

The fireworks came a little too late for El Camino High School Saturday night as Point Loma scored 14 points in the second half and held on for a 14-6 victory over the Wildcats in the season opener for both teams.

For Point Loma, the victory avenged an embarrassing 36-0 loss to El Camino in last season’s first game.

“We were coming in here to get a little revenge--a pay back--on these guys,” said Point Loma tailback Johnny Stanley, who led all rushers with 79 yards and 1 touchdown in 17 carries.

Last year, El Camino shut down Point Loma and Stanley, the county’s top returning running back.

“They held me to only 20 yards last year,” Stanley said. “It was just a matter of more experience on my part this year.”

For El Camino, the loss put a damper on the school’s 10-year anniversary festivities.

After a scoreless first half, Point Loma opened the third quarter with a 68-yard scoring drive capped by Stanley’s 18-yard touchdown run.

Point Loma added another score in the fourth quarter when running back Kelby Downey scored from three yards out for a 14-0 lead with 8:16 left.

El Camino, whose previous closest drive took it to the Point Loma 20, finally scored on sophomore Marcus Coffer’s one-yard run with 1:19 to go.

“We just got a drive started up at the right time,” Point Loma Coach Bennie Eden said. “It was just a matter of who got the drive started first.”

In other games Saturday:

Hoover 23, Mission Bay 7--Defense was the key as Hoover had three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and put eight points on the scoreboard. Linebacker Joe Odom put Hoover ahead with a fumble recovery in the end zone. Hoover’s biggest offensive play came later in the first quarter when quarterback Mike Walker connected with John Root for a 79-yard touchdown. The Hoover defense was credited with a safety late in the game when Mission Bay snapped the ball out of the end zone.

Morse 3, Mission Viejo 0--German Puentes kicked a 36-yard field goal with 7:15 remaining in the game to give Morse (2-0) the victory at Balboa Stadium. Morse effectively shut down Mission Viejo’s passing offense with three sacks and one interception.

Marian 14, Mountain Empire 3--Gordon Boordson, a wide receiver pressed into service at quarterback, helped engineer two Marian touchdowns. In the first quarter, Boordson pitched out to running back Pat Mendez, who ran 30 yards for the score. Marian scored again in the fourth quarter when Boordson hit tight end Brannan Hays with a pass over the middle.

Briefly--Grossmont 10, Christian 6

Late Friday Results--Castle Park 36, St. Augustine 6; Eisenhower 21, Escondido 0.