Point Loma running back Morris Mathews fights for extra yards against a Scripps Ranch defender

POINT LOMA – A week after losing their first game of the season, Point Loma ended the unbeaten run for visiting Scripps Ranch on Friday afternoon. The Pointers took an early lead and held on to knock off the Falcons 21-14 at Bennie Edens Stadium.

“We just wanted to get them back from last year,” Point Loma defensive lineman Christian Heyward. “We knew they were coming hard and we just wanted to make sure they didn’t get us again.”

Point Loma (3-1) went on a 60-yard drive late in the first quarter for the first score of the game, a 6-yard Jaivon Griffin rushing touchdown. After an interception gave the Pointers the ball at the Scripps Ranch 26-yard line, Point Loma scored early in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead that would stand until halftime.

“We knew this was going to be a hard-hitting game,” Point Loma coach Mike Hastings said. “They came to play and so did we.”

After the break, Scripps Ranch (2-1) came out fast behind quarterback Jake Fish to get back in the game. On the first possession of the second half, Falcons running back Austin Dennis scored on a 44-yard scamper to make it 14-7. The Falcons tied the game late in the third on a Dennis 3-yard run.

“They went into halftime and they saw something in our defense,” Heyward said. “But we came out and responded and did what we had to do to win the game.”

With Point Loma’s offense stuttering without injured starting quarterback Sean McKaveney, their defense intercepted a pass with 10:50 left to swing momentum. After the Thomas Bell pick, Point Loma drove and took back the lead with a Griffin 17-yard scoring run.

“I’m just really proud of our kids that we finished this game very strong,” Hastings said.

After Scripps Ranch punted on the next drive, Point Loma had possession and the lead with 5:00 left. The Pointers cemented the win by keeping it on the ground with their misdirection rushing attack to run all but the game’s final second off the clock.

“We wanted to do what Point Loma does so well – control the clock and play ball control,” Hastings said. “Today we did that and we were able to get the win.”

Hastings said the Point Loma victory was dedicated to his father Bill, who recently found out he has cancer. With the win, the Pointers bounced back from a 20-point loss at El Capitan on Sept. 17.

“It’s a big win after the loss we had last week,” Heyward said.

Scripps Ranch fell for the first time this season. The Falcons’ first three games have been decided by a total of 13 points.