Point Loma High football looks to keeps rolling after 41-7 playoff win

To borrow from an old football line, all Point Loma High School senior receiver Romeo Carter has done this season is catch touchdowns — 19 of them in fact, including six in one game, tying a CIF San Diego Section record.

On Nov. 7 in the opening round of the section Division I playoffs against Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista, he added a new twist: catching one from the opposing quarterback while playing defensive back.

“His main attribute is his ball skills — being able to attack the ball and win those 50-50 balls and hard catches,” said fellow Pointers senior receiver Wade Mettler. “Playing both sides of the ball is tough, but he has no shortage of strength.”

In the first quarter of the fifth-seeded Pointers’ 41-7 home victory over No. 12 Mater Dei — which extended Point Loma’s undefeated record to 11-0 — Carter hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Henry Heuser and returned an interception for a score. It was one of three pick-sixes for the Pointers as they snapped the Crusaders’ six-game winning streak.

“Romeo gives us a huge advantage because a lot of teams double[-cover] him, sometimes triple him,” Point Loma head coach Ryan Price said. “He takes a lot of attention, and our other core receivers have stepped up and made big plays when we’ve needed them to, taking advantage of that.”

The win propelled the Pointers — one of only three teams in the San Diego Section to enter the postseason unbeaten — into the Division I quarterfinals, where they will visit No. 4 San Marcos (6-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14. San Marcos had a bye in the first round.

“The closer you get to being undefeated, the more the pressure ramps up,” Price said. “Expectations only grow. It’s hard to keep the kids focused and motivated every week, but our guys never let off the gas.”

Junior kicker and defensive back Ryan Cleator said “It’s a big deal for our team to go undefeated” in the regular season, but he added that “playoffs is what’s most important, and I believe this team has the capability of making a good run in the playoffs.”

Last season, Price’s first with the team, the Pointers went 6-6 overall. This year, they won the Eastern League title with first-year offensive coordinator Gavin Pruett, a former Sacred Heart University quarterback with collegiate coaching experience who maximized Point Loma’s unique dual-quarterback offense.

“I have to give credit to our new offensive coordinator for building such a great scheme,” said Heuser, a senior who plays a more traditional pocket role. “He’s a huge reason we went 10-0.”

Complementing Heuser is junior quarterback Ryder Watson, who has excelled at using his legs to pick up yardage.

“We brought in a great OC with Division I quarterback coaching experience, and he quickly recognized that both of these guys could help us be successful,” Price said. “Using their skill sets in different ways allows us to run multiple parts of our offense effectively. A testament to them — we told them we don’t have a starter, just two guys who can get it done. They embraced that, competed hard and never ran from the competition.

“Ryder is more of a traditional dual threat, very effective with his legs, while Henry excels from the pocket and sees the field well. Their individual skills complement each other and put us in the best position possible.”

Heuser and Watson combined to throw for 33 touchdowns and rush for six more this season.

“It’s always a blessing for an offense to have two great quarterbacks — one that can run the ball and another that can pass the ball,” Heuser said. “This puts a big strain on every team we play.”

Watson agreed, saying “Sharing the offense with Henry is great. If one of us struggles or goes down, the other knows the offense and can get the job done.”

Price also pointed to the team’s offensive depth, including receivers Mettler and sophomore Tanner Spradling, along with tight ends Graham Murdock, Ryan Patterson and Leo Sahd.

“I think all of our tight ends this year have stepped up,” said Sahd, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Pointers’ Oct. 10 “statement” victory over section power Cathedral Catholic. “We’ve done a great job overall with blocking, catching and route running. But what I’m really proud of is how selfless these guys are — everyone does their job, whether or not they ever get the ball.”

The Pointers have excelled in all three phases, returning 10 defensive starters while allowing the second-fewest points in the county. Point Loma has won seven games by 22 points or more this season, and the defense has held opponents to less than 10 points eight times.

“A lot of people talk about our offense with the two quarterbacks and Romeo, but our defense has been huge this year,” Price said. “All of our returning players and seniors have stepped up, making a big difference for us.”

In addition, “our special teams are great,” said senior punter and cornerback Ben Kamen, who leads the section in punt yardage. “We’re sound, fast and physical, and we continue to get better each and every game.”

“We’re striving for the ultimate goal and want to finish the job, but that doesn’t take away from everything we’ve accomplished this year,” Price said. “This season is a huge testament to our program’s growth and the hard work of our kids and coaches. Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, we’ll still have a lot to be proud of this season.”