Pointers’ Victory In Hand

The bounces were going one way Friday night at Sweetwater High. Twice fumbles bounced into the hands of a Pointer and were returned for touchdowns as No. 5 Point Loma eased by Sweetwater, 29-7.

Trailing 7-0 early in the third quarter, Sweetwater (2-1) was trying to unleash its offense--without success. On a second and 11 at his 41, quarterback Dennis Gregorio took an option to the left side, but Point Loma linebacker Rashad Lewis anticipated the play.

Sweetwater had used the option repeatedly, and this time Lewis stepped up and forced Gregorio to make a hasty pitch.

The ball never got to running back Josh Driggs. After taking a couple bounces, the ball was picked up by Point Loma sophomore Travis White.

“Rashad made the dude bobble it,” White said. “It bounced right to me and I just ran.”

White ran 37 yards for the touchdown to increase the Pointers’ lead, 14-0.

Early in the final quarter, Pointer Shaunta Baker dropped a punt on his 33. He was able to pick it back up, though, and when he did he saw a wide-open path to the end zone.

“Sometimes when you drop the ball it works better because everyone goes for the ball,” Baker said. “I did that a lot last year and I got a lot of good run backs that way. But this time I didn’t mean to drop it.

“After I picked it up, though, I saw the whole right sideline open, so I headed that way, and once everybody over-pursued me I cut back in.”

Sixty-seven yards later the Pointers (3-0) were up, 21-0.

By that time Baker had seen enough of what many expected to be a formidable Sweetwater team.

“This team gets too much credit,” Baker said of his opponent. “Everybody said they’re better than they really are. It’s really not a very good team.”

On Baker’s 67-yard return, Sweetwater tight end Robert McMartin was hurt and left in an ambulance. It was announced that McMartin was OK and the medical attention was precautionary. Play was halted for 25 minutes.

Point Loma’s other two touchdowns were scored the way they’re supposed to be--on offense. Rantie Harper, who carried 23 times for 125 yards, capped an 11-play, 66-yard drive with a four-yard jaunt midway through the second quarter to make t 7-0, and Mike Logan (five carries, 63 yards) made it 29-7 late in the final quarter on a one-yard plunge.

As luck would have it, the snap on the conversion try after that final touchdown was bad, but holder Alex Zsidisin picked it up, rolled out and completed a pass to Harper.