SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : A LOOK AT THE 3-A FINALISTS : Point Loma Likes Turning Its Backs to the Opposition

Point Loma High School’s four defensive backs sat in a coach’s office this week, watching game films and going over plans for Saturday night’s San Diego Section 3-A championship game against Morse.

They sat in almost the same formation in which they line up on the field each game.

On the far right was the right cornerback and team leader in interceptions, Trinell Thornes. Just to the left and behind him sat Marcel Brown, the junior strong safety who is respected enough by his teammates that he already has been elected next season’s team captain.

On the left side of the room was the left side of the secondary. Robert Brown, not related to Marcel, sat behind Francisco Bogarin. Brown is left cornerback, and Bogarin usually lines up behind him at free safety. But this was one of the very few times this season that any of these guys has been out of position.

Just ask Mt. Carmel quarterback Chris Beeman, who completed 3 of 16 passes for 14 yards when Point Loma beat Mt. Carmel, 13-7, in the 3-A semifinals last Saturday night.

Or ask Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens, whose aggressive, pass-rush defense is predicated on the assumption that the Pointer defensive backs can cover anyone in the county, man-on-man.

The foursome has played together for the past two seasons but really hit its stride this year.

Mt. Carmel wasn’t the only team to have trouble passing against the Pointers. Hoover (30 yards passing) and Mira Mesa (17 yards) were both shackled during the regular season, and Orange Glen’s Sean Gousha--the county’s No. 2-ranked passer--had only 106 yards passing in Point Loma’s 21-0 first-round playoff victory two weeks ago.

Edens credits his defensive backfield coach, Dave Schuler, who, in turn, says the players deserve all the credit.

“They’re great as a unit,” Shuler said, “but the really good thing is that they all have different individual strengths.”

So, let’s meet them.

The punter:

That’s Bogarin, who along with calling most of the defensive signals, is also the Point Loma punter.

“He’s the most talkative guy back there,” Schuler said. “He’s always making sure everybody is in the right spot.”

His punting often has put opponents deep in their own territory. Combined with kicker T.J. Linardi, Bogarin gives Point Loma one of the best kicking games in the county.

The big hitter:

Marcel Brown, the strong safety, had only one interception this season, but that’s because he spends most of his time helping to stop the run.

“He’s really a linebacker in a safety’s position,” Edens said. “He can really hit people.”

The cover man:

Not many people were able to catch passes against Robert Brown, who has started at left cornerback since he was a sophomore.

“We looked at the films of the Orange Glen game, and they threw 30 passes,” Schuler recalled. “Only two were in Robert’s direction. Receivers just can’t get open against him.”

Brown had only three interceptions, but that’s because opposing offenses tried mostly to attack . . .

The quiet one:

“I don’t think Trinell Thornes has said more than four words in a row more than twice all year,” Schuler said.

That’s probably because he’s been too busy trying to stop some of the county’s top receivers. And he has stopped most of them, grabbing a team-high six interceptions.