Oceanside CA— Things got off to a rocky start for the El Camino Wildcats, Friday night, when they hosted the Point Loma Pointers but five turnovers were too much for Point Loma to overcome as the Wildcats win the season opener 21-8.
In the opening drive, the Pointers made it look easy marching down the field to the two yard line. On second and goal, the Wildcats junior strong safety, Rocky Katoanga stripped the ball from Pointer running back, Josh Ball and the Wildcats recovered the fumble at the two.
Two plays later, the Pointers would score the first points of the game when the snap sailed over the head of El Camino Quarterback, Jayden Casey. He recovered the ball but was tackled in the end zone for a safety.
After receiving the kick, the Pointers again marched down to the El Camino two yard line but after a holding penalty negated a Pointer touchdown, the Wildcats defense tightened and the drive was stopped at the two.
The Wildcats took over on downs and proceeded to go 98 yards on 10 plays capped by a 12 yard run up the middle by standout junior, Chris Brown.
Another turnover by the Pointers led to a second Chris Brown touchdown. On forth and eight at the Point Loma 32 yard line, Brown took the pitch from Jayden Casey and sprinted the distance giving the Wildcats a 14-2 lead with 8:28 left in the first half. Chris Brown helped the Wildcat cause on defense as well with a drive killing interception late in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Marcus Parsons ended another Point Loma drive when he intercepted an option pass from running back, Josh Ball in the end zone.
Jayden Casey hit a wide open Manuell Kariuki for 21 yards and a touchdown with 7:34 left in the game. Point Loma scored late in the fourth for the final score of 21-8.
El Camino goes on the road next week to take on Ranch Bernardo. The Broncos defeated Eastlake, on the road, 38-0.
Side Note: The El Camino players spent several weeks sprucing up the grounds around the stadium including lighting the palm trees behind the north end zone. It is quite an improvement.
In other scores:
Oceanside’s Max Shuffer threw for five touchdowns and the Pirates scored 23 points in the final quarter to defeat the Tritons in a thriller at San Clemente. The Pirates face Morse in the Oceanside home opener, September 2, 8:00pm
- Carlsbad blanked Del Norte, on the road, 28-0
- La Costa Canyon defeated La Serna 30-21
- Mission Hills beat Crenshaw, in Los Angeles, 21-20
- Fallbrook fell at home to Westview 14-0
- Paloma Valley ruined the RBV home opener 55-3
- Army Navy fell to Brentwood, on the road 41-0