POINT LOMA : One Loss Is Pointed Reminder

Feed a goal, starve an ego.

Were it not for The Loss and a coaching staff in search of excellence, the Point Loma football team might have broken an arm patting itself on the back.

But every time the Pointers read or hear someone extol the virtues of their defense and praise the progress of their offense, they have the stunning 20-0 loss to El Camino to keep egos in check.

“After the loss,” said defensive standout Pico Gonzalez, “we decided we had to focus on a game at a time. There was too much CIF and not enough getting ready for the game.”

As a consequence, the Pointers are bound for the San Diego Section 3-A championship game.

Senior cornerback Micheal Driver, concurring with Gonzalez, said the El Camino game served as a wake-up call.

“When you’re ranked No. 1 in the section and in the state, you get on your high chair,” he said. “With so many returners, especially on defense, I guess we thought we were a hot team. Then we came out and didn’t even score.”

Three months and 12 consecutive victories later, they have forgiven--but not forgotten--the false start. When intensity drifts during practice, Point Loma (12-1) uses it as a motivator.

“We’ll say, ‘Remember El Camino,’ ” Driver said. “Do what you have to do.”

For the Pointers to win Saturday night against Vista at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, they must continue what has brought them success thus far.

As Coach Bennie Edens attests, the offense is humming along nicely, but everyone agrees that the key to victory is the defense.

Linebacker Coach David Aros said a combination of factors make Point Loma’s defense--it has allowed 88 points and 1,456 yards this season (6.8 points and 112 yards per game)--noteworthy. Hitting people is just the start.

“I think there are three key elements to this defense,” Aros said. “First, they’re very physical, they like to hit people. Second, they’re extremely quick. People see our size and underestimate what kind of speed we have. And third, they’re especially intelligent, they know how to adapt. It makes a good combination.”

Driver, who returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the quarterfinal against Helix, said one of several candidates are apt to knock an opponent around. If someone misses the ball carrier, reinforcements probably won’t.

“The defense has seven or eight hitters who like to punish runners and receivers,” Driver said. “If the linemen don’t get you, the linebackers are back there. And there’s always the deep safety.”

The Chula Vista Spartans were on the receiving end of Point Loma’s trial by defense last week in the semifinals.

“We got our butts kicked,” Coach George Ohnesorgen said. “They have two basic defenses, which a lot of people run, but they do a real good job with the basics.

“What takes its toll is their quickness. They’re so quick off the ball, they put a lot of pressure on you. We tried to slow them down, but they’re so physical.”

A core of five defensive coaches said the Pointers have enough smarts to make appropriate position changes without being reminded.

“They gave us the responsibility at the beginning of the year,” Gonzalez said. “They’ll let us do certain things. Sometimes they say go where you want. They let us go freely.”

This isn’t easy, when the thrust of the game can change in a heartbeat.

“Every day we make changes on alignments,” Aros said. “Heck, we’ll even make changes in the middle of a game.”

Doing the punishing is a cast that includes linemen La’Roi Glover, John Arredondo, Tyrone White and David Cunningham, linebackers Leighton Balalio, Gonzalez and Rashad Lewis, cornerbacks Driver, Jacques Ballard and Shaun Grove and safety Dale Genschaw.

Glover, a 6-foot-3, 276-pound mass of menace, anchors not only the line, but the entire defense. Glover is one of the culprits whose speed defies his size.

“His first step is incredibly quick,” line coach John Elliott said.

And that’s only the beginning of Glover’s talents. Elliott said Glover is unusually strong in his hands and wrists.

“If he can get his hands on an offensive lineman,” Elliott said, “he’ll throw him around like a rag doll.”

Not only that, but Glover has an uncanny instinct for the game and he makes everyone else look good.

“Our linebackers are so good because they don’t have to deal with uncovered linemen. They’re never blocked,” Elliott said. “He makes everyone’s assignment easier.”

Glover has put up some amazing numbers this season: 69 tackles--28 behind the line of scrimmage--21 assists and 16 1/2 sacks. He has recovered six fumbles, caused another five, blocked three passes and had a safety.

But Elliott wasn’t impressed with Glover’s performance in the Morse game, in which he had four tackles. That was until he watched game films.

“He was triple teamed the whole game,” Elliott said. “Their center, right and left guards all went after La’Roi.”

Said Gonzalez: “He gets frustrated if he gets moved back three or four yards, but he’s almost always double teamed.”

Not only does Glover’s presence direct the flow of Point Loma’s schemes, but he’s developed some motivational savvy.

“If someone makes a mental mistake, I may yell at them, but then it’s over,” Glover said. “But if a player gets beat physically, the guy’s just faster or bigger then him, then I’ll just tell him, ‘Next time.’ ”