HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Point Loma Survives Against Poway With Late Defense

When Point Loma High opened defense of its San Diego Section 3-A football championship Friday night, the operative word was defense.

The Pointers limited Poway and its shifty option offense to one second-half touchdown and held on for a 22-20 victory in the opening round of the 1988 San Diego Section playoffs at Mt. Carmel High School.

With Point Loma trailing, 14-7, in the third quarter, quarterback Lee Wiebleski--subbing for regular Danny White, who was out with a bruised shoulder--passed 28 yards to Brett Callan and then carried the ball in after a fake kick for two points and a 15-14 lead.

Marcel Brown then returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown to give Point Loma a cushion.

“I’m breathing very, very short tonight,” Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens said. “I thought our defense did a great job. That wishbone is another world. I hope we never face it again.”

The Pointers held Poway running back Jose Castro, who came into the game with 814 yards and 12 touchdowns, to 52 yards.

And with the score 22-20, 6:30 remaining, and Poway on the Point Loma 44, Brown delivered a crushing blow to quarterback Mike Beam, sending the Poway quarterback to the sideline for a play. When he came back in, Poway fumbled to give Point Loma the ball and command.

Had a couple of breaks gone its way, Poway might be playing at Granite Hills next Saturday rather than Point Loma.

--Time running out, first quarter, Poway leading, 7-0. Wiebleski brings his team up to the line at his own 37. The clock hits 0:00, but the referees don’t notice. A two-count later, the ball is snapped, and Wiebleski shovels a pass at Ron Lawson, who goes 63 yards for a touchdown.

--Third quarter, 5:15 left, Point Loma leading, 15-14. Brown grabs a punt and gallops 67 yards. But an official throws a flag, thinking Brown called for a fair catch. The other officials wave the play off.

“We just didn’t get any breaks,” Poway Coach Brad Elrod said with a shrug. “We’re disappointed. We felt we played a good football game against a good football team.”

Poway put together a brilliant opening drive to set the tone for the first half. The Titans took the ball at their own 32, and Beam went to his left for 14 yards, behind a textbook block by fullback James Gilbert, on the first play. On third and 9 from the Poway 47, Jose Castro broke through the line on a draw play for 33 yards.

From the Point Loma 19, Beam lofted a pass toward the end zone and receiver Doug Schwenke. Point Loma’s Ron Evans was positioned well, but the pass was short, allowing Schwenke to come back and make the catch for a touchdown.

After Point Loma tied the game at 7-7 with its time-warp touchdown, Beam and Schwenke hooked up for another touchdown pass, this time for 11 yards, with 7:14 remaining in the first half.

Mark Faust scored Poway’s fourth quarter touchdown on a 1-yard run.