Point Loma outlasts Otay Ranch

by Kevin J. Farmer

CHULA VISTA – “A win is a win is a win,” said Point Loma coach Ryan Price.

In other words, it wasn’t pretty but Price will take the 14-7 victory Friday night in a non-league contest at Otay Ranch High School.

“I told them it wasn’t up to standard,” said Price, “We didn’t execute offensively at all the way we expect. Hats off to a well-coached Otay Ranch team, they gave us all we could handle.”

It was a night both offenses sputtered.

Especially on its first two drives of the game when the Pointers (2-0) picked up just one yard in two straight three-and-outs.

But Price has a unique weapon: he has two quarterbacks able to pick each other up.

Enter senior quarterback Henry Heuser, for starter Ryan Watson, who threw for over 200 yards a week earlier.

With Heuser at the helm, the Pointers took possession at their own 48 late in the opening quarter to start drive No. 3.

He immediately went to the air successfully, combining with some running room for senior Branden Lane to ignite the offense. Twelve plays later they had a first and goal at the Mustang 3-yard-line.

Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain. On fourth down from the 1, the Pointers went back in shotgun, but Heuser couldn’t handle the low snap, turning it over on downs at the 15 with 5:45 left in the half.

The Point Loma defense forced a punt three plays later and again the Pointers had the ball at the Otay 45.

Heuser (11-for-17, 104 yards passing) went to work. Mixing in the pass and run game, Point Loma was again first-and-goal at the 8 inside two minutes. The Mustangs again stymied the first two plays but on third down Heuser delayed and took it up the middle from the 5 with :56 left in the half.

“That got us going,” said Heuser of the change. “Honestly having two quarterbacks makes it hard for the other teams to prepare for us as a team. For us at quarterback, we love the competition between us. We make each other better.

“To be honest with you, it’s challenging,” said Price of the battle between Hauser and Watson. “They both handle it extremely well.”

The Pointers dominated the third quarter, increasing their lead to 14-0 when Heuser went in from the 2 with 2:01 left in the quarter to cap a 71-yard, 12-play drive.

Hampered by the arm/wrist injury to starting quarterback A.J. Lopez on the last drive of the first half, the Mustangs (1-1) were able to finally move the ball, but with no haste. Keeping it on the ground they had the ball for all but 12 seconds of the final eight minutes.

They were able to get on the board as Jaidon Castillo (20 carries 61 yards, TD) scored from a yard out with just 12 seconds left to play.

The attempted on-side kick failed.

“We need the offense to bring up the energy; I didn’t feel it out there tonight,” said Heuser.