Point Loma Defense Brings Down the Gavel on RBV

It is judge and it is jury, and the defense of Point Loma’s football team is deciding who wins its cases.

The last time the Pointers and Rancho Buena Vista met, they combined to score 92 points in a 56-36 RBV victory in 1989’s 3-A section semifinals.

This year the Pointers (3-0), ranked eighth in The Times’ poll, had not allowed a point all season, having already beaten El Camino, 19-0, and Lincoln, 17-0. But third-ranked Rancho Buena Vista (1-2) wasn’t El Camino or Lincoln, and something had to give.

It certainly wasn’t Point Loma’s defense that budged. Point Loma ground out a 14-7 victory over RBV at Vista Saturday night in front of 2,500.

“We feel our defense can play with anybody,” said Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens, “but we felt this was our first big test.”

Give the Pointers an A-plus.

RBV had the ball on the Pointer six-yard line with 1:02 left in the game and did not score because Eric Stein tackled Tyrone Cormier for a four-yard loss. Two plays later, Stein and James Witkowski sacked quarterback Hank Perry on the final play of the game.

And the Longhorns might have scored had safety A.J. Turner not stopped Markeith Ross on a 36-yard screen pass that put the ball at the seven in the first place.

And when the Pointers needed a little luck, they got it. RBV’s Edric Hall dropped a pass in the back of the end zone with seven seconds to go which would have pulled the Longhorns to within 14-13.

And those plays didn’t even feature two of the players Edens praised for their defensive effort-brothers LaRoi and Darcel Glover, who kept RBV runners from getting outside most of the night.

Point Loma had taken the lead on the preceding drive. After Federico Gonzalez blocked David Leese’s 27-yard field goal attempt, a five-play, 83-yard drive was capped by Marlon Manassa’s 65 yard run with 3:55 left.

“I noticed in the first half they were over-pursuing, and I was just waiting for the right time to take advantage of it,” Manassa said.

Manassa angled right, saw there was nothing there and bolted for the left sideline-and the goal line. He made it. Bobby Oliveira added the PAT and the game’s outcome rested with the defense.

“We had to play sound defense all the way, that was the key for us,” Edens said.

Manassa carried 12 times for 125 yards for a Pointer offense that gained 217 yards.

Point Loma scored first when Shaunta Baker snared Tobin Gault’s pass high out of the air for a seven-yard touchdown reception.

The 79-yard scoring drive was set up after the defense held RBV on a fourth and one at the Pointer 35.

RBV scored on the opening drive of the second half. Ross had runs of 14, 10 and 32 yards before finally scoring from the one.

Ross rushed 21 times for 139 yards. RBV finished with 260 yards of offense, only 68 of them in the first half.