Point Loma High opts to cancel rest of varsity football season
The Pointers have fewer than two dozen players, with highly ranked opponents ahead.
With fewer than two dozen players and the remainder of a brutal Western League schedule ahead, Point Loma High School has canceled the rest of its varsity football season.
“Obviously, we wanted to continue,” said Pointers football coach Joel Allen, who is in his first season after longtime coach Mike Hastings retired.
“If we could have played a schedule of like opponents — teams with smaller squads — we could have continued. But we just don’t have the numbers this season to move forward.”
There are a lot of unknowns about the new high school football season, but one thing is certain: The Point Loma Pointers will be led by a new coach, Joel Allen.
The Pointers opened Western League play last week with a 64-0 loss to No. 3-ranked Lincoln.
“But with Madison, Cathedral Catholic [No. 1] and St. Augustine [No. 2] on the schedule, it was an uphill battle to continue,” Allen said.
Over the past four seasons, playing at full strength, Point Loma is 5-11 against Lincoln, St. Augustine, Cathedral Catholic and Madison.
“So many of the kids at Point Loma play multiple sports,” Allen said. “In September, we had 86 players. That was down to 38 when we started practice a few weeks ago. Now we’re down to 21, 22, 23.
“With so many sports this spring, we’ve had a lot of guys opt out of a short football season to play a full baseball or lacrosse season.
“And some of the seniors just couldn’t rev it up after the football season was pushed back.”
Allen said the Pointers will continue with their junior varsity and freshman programs and will resume varsity play next season.
“As a staff, we asked, ‘If we had sons on the varsity, what would we do?’” Allen said. “It was a difficult decision, but we just couldn’t go forward.
“I feel bad for our six remaining seniors, but we had to do what was best for the collective group. This is the low point, but we’ll be back.”
Madison, which was scheduled to host Point Loma on Friday, March 26, has secured a game with Patrick Henry. St. Augustine filled its void with an April 9 game at Oceanside.
Cathedral Catholic was still looking to fill its April 2 date.
