Point Loma Sends Coach Reeling

Bill Christopher, Mt. Carmel High School’s football coach, has been busy studying at home this week.

“Normally, I never take game films home,” Christopher said. “But, this week, I’ve had to. There’s just so much to look at.”

Christopher has been watching Point Loma on film. And he’s been trying to figure out what the best plan of attack will be for his Sundevils, who meet Point Loma in a San Diego Section 3-A semifinal game at 7:30 tonight at Mira Mesa High.

The last time the Sundevils advanced to the semifinals was in 1982, Christopher’s last season as coach before he took four years off.

“One of the reasons I gave up coaching the first time was because I was tired of coming home and looking at game films,” he said.

But this week, he just couldn’t help himself.

“Watching the films, it seems so many teams have tried so many different things and nothing has really worked against them,” Christopher said. “It’s hard to figure them out.”

Point Loma (11-0) is led by a stout defense. The Pointers, who have shut out four teams, allowed Lincoln 21 points in their second game and since have allowed no more than 13 in any game.

Point Loma has stopped passing teams such as Crawford, Madison and Orange Glen, and it has slowed running teams such as Sweetwater, Mira Mesa and Morse.

Last week, against Orange Glen, Point Loma limited the county’s second-leading passer, Sean Gousha, to 106 yards passing in a 21-0 victory. And that was the extent of the Orange Glen attack. On the ground, the Patriots were limited to minus nine yards rushing, mainly because the Pointer defense sacked Gousha six times for 39 yards in losses.

On offense, Point Loma is led by its all-purpose running back Kelby Downey, who led the Pointers in rushing but last week burned Orange Glen with two touchdown receptions.

Mt. Carmel figures to present some problems for Point Loma. The Sundevils also have an effective defense, allowing more than 10 points in a game only four times. Mt. Carmel (9-1) won the tough Palomar League, surprising even Christopher.

“When I first saw this team work out, I thought we could be competitive,” Christopher said. “But everybody was saying what a tough league we were in. I had no idea we’d be able to make it this far.”

Mt. Carmel, as Point Loma, is balanced. Chris Beeman, the Sundevils’ quarterback, doesn’t throw much but when he does, he’s usually on target. His favorite receiver is split end Alan Cross, who caught two touchdown passes in Mt. Carmel’s 20-13 quarterfinal victory over Helix last week. Mark King, who leads the Sundevils’ running attack, rushed for 116 yards last week.