Point Loma Gets Its Kicks With Last-Second Win Over Lincoln

After Point Loma High School’s wild 24-21 nonleague victory over Lincoln Saturday at Point Loma, it’s easy to understand why they call this game foot ball.

Lincoln overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit, tying the game with three minutes to play when Ronnie Jones blocked a punt at the Point Loma 27, Lincoln’s Trenell Norris kicked it into the Point Loma end zone, and Jones fell on it for a touchdown.

Then, with just more than a minute remaining, Point Loma’s Anthony Shelton sacked Lincoln quarterback Freddie Stokes, forcing a fumble. Shelton reached down to pick up the ball but, he too, kicked it. Then, he kicked it again. By the time Lincoln’s Lamance Burks fell on the ball at his own 10-yard line, Lincoln had lost 52 yards.

Shelton’s kicking forced Lincoln to punt and set up the final kick of the day. With one second remaining, T.J. Linardi kicked a 41-yard field goal to give eighth-ranked Point Loma (2-0) the victory.

Lincoln, which has won two straight San Diego Section 2-A championships, fell to 1-1. But not without a fight.

In the first half, Point Loma’s defense smothered Stokes and intercepted two passes. The turnovers led to a pair of touchdowns, one on a one-yard run by quarterback Mike Bennett and another on a five-yard pass play from Bennett to Joe Besand.

Late in the second quarter, Stokes couldn’t handle a poor snap on a punt and was tackled at his own 10. Three plays later, it was 21-0 after Bennett ran it in from the two.

Lincoln closed to 21-7 late in the third quarter on a two-yard run by Darren Wagner. Wagner had scored five touchdowns in Lincoln’s 82-0 season-opening win last week at San Francisco Wilson, but he found the going much more difficult Saturday, gaining only 20 yards in 9 carries.

The Hornets, who scored more points that any team in section history last season, still looked beaten with eight minutes left, trailing 21-7. But Stokes led an 80-yard drive, one that was kept alive by two fourth-down completions, to pull Lincoln within 21-13.

Point Loma was unable to move on its next possession and Francisco Bogarin was sent in to punt. But Jones blocked it. Then, Norris tried to pick it up and kicked it.

“Somehow, I just missed it,” said Norris, smiling.

Jones then shoved it forward a few more yards and fell on it in the end zone. Still, Lincoln was two points away from a tie. Stokes pitched to Wagner, who scored the two-point conversion, but Lincoln was called for holding and sent back to the 17.

Stokes threw incomplete on his next try, but this time Point Loma was guilty of pass interference. That moved the ball to the seven-yard line. On its third try, Lincoln tied the score as Wagner took a pitchout, ran right and dived over two defenders into the end zone.

Lincoln regained possession at the Point Loma 40 with a minute left, gained two yards in two plays, before Stokes was sacked by Shelton and fumbled. Fifty-two yards later, Lincoln was on its own 10. Then, thirty seconds later, Linardi came on to make his winning kick.

In other nonleague games Saturday:

La Jolla 21, Christian 8--Quarterback John Tribolet was 5 of 15 for 125 yards, including two touchdowns, to lead host La Jolla (1-1).

Tribolet hit Sean Edwards on a 14-yard scoring strike in the first quarter. Less than a minute later, Brad Raulston caught a Tribolet pass and outran the Christian secondary for a 70-yard touchdown play.

Christian quarterback David Jeremiah threw six interceptions, three to La Jolla safety Willie Barnett. Cornerback Jerry Walker returned one of the interceptions 40 yards in the third quarter for La Jolla’s final touchdown. Jeremiah hit Alan Colton on a 6-yarder in the fourth quarter for Christian’s only touchdown. Christian is 0-2.

Coronado 13, Upper Lake 12--Mike Shore ran for a 45 yards late in the fourth quarter, scoring Coronado’s only touchdown to lift the host Islanders past Upper Lake of Northern California. Upper Lake was the only team to beat Coronado last year during its San Diego Section 1-A title run.

Upper Lake could have made it two straight victories against Coronado, but missed both of its conversion attempts. Rich Bledsoe and Mike Watson kicked field goals of 43 and 19 yards, respectively, to lead Coronado (2-0). The Islanders extended their winning streak to 11 games.

El Cajon Valley 30, Ramona 15--Quarterback Jimmy Dutra threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead host El Cajon Valley (2-0). On El Cajon Valley’s first offensive play, Dutra hit Brian Negrete on a 67-yard touchdown pass. Dutra also had touchdown passes of 69 yards to Don Johnson and 23 yards to Don’s twin brother Ron Johnson. Ramona is 0-2.

St. Augustine 34, Marian 0--Quarterback Tony Stanich had touchdown runs of one and three yards and defensive end John Muller returned an interception seven yards for a touchdown to pace St. Augustine (2-0) at San Diego High School. Running back David Spahn (8 carries for 79 yards) scored on a 26-yard run and Robert Piconi scored the final touchdown on a 15-yard run. Marian is 1-1.

Poway 42, Rancho Buena Vista 17--On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Mike Beam hit Sean Eagle on a 83-yard touchdown pass play to pace Poway (2-0) at Vista High School. Beam completed five of five passes for 166 yards in the first half. In the second quarter, Beam teamed with tight end Brad Herzog on a 23-yard scoring strike. Rancho Buena Vista is 0-2.