U.S. citizens have elected 11 Presidents since 1946, but Point Loma hasn’t gotten with the program.
The Pointers have had three head coaches in the 69 seasons since World War II.
Count ‘em.
Don Giddings replaced Bill Maxwell in 1946 and guided fortunes on Chatsworth Blvd., through 1954, succeeded by Bennie Edens, who didn’t hang up his whistle until after the 1997 campaign.
Mike Hastings, who grew up on Point Loma and whose father taught and coached there and whose older brothers played for Edens, is a University alum and played on teams coached by Ron Hamamoto.
After playing defensive tackle at Cal Poly of San Luis Obispo, where his roommate was Pointers grad Steven Cota, who starred on Edens’ 13-0 team of 1987, Hastings began working his way home.
After coaching at Morro Bay, Hastings joined his father, Bill Hastings, as an assistant under Edens in 1993.
Now in his 17th season as head coach, Mike Hastings had made his mark.
The Pointers defeated La Jolla, 35-31, in the battle for The Shoe this week and are 7-1, their best record at this juncture since 2006 and headed for the postseason.
Hastings’ clubs have made 13 consecutive playoff appearances, and the victory was his 120th. That tied Hastings for 28th all-time in San Diego County with Gene Alim and John McFadden, who also earned 120 victories. Christian’s Mike Oliver won his 121st this week.
VIKINGS SCARE
Jaylen Griffin gained 260 yards on eight carries and blew out touchdown runs of 78, 80, and 31 yards as Point Loma rushed for 332 in a 35-10 first half.
La Jolla’s second half surge had the Pointers perspiring.
“We persevered,” Hastings told Jim Lindgren of UT-San Diego. “We really had to suck it up at the end.”
HAMAMOTO CLOSING IN
Hastings’s high school coach, Ron Hamamoto, now in his third season at Monte Vista after winning at University, Rancho Bernardo, and Lincoln, has guided the Monarchs to a 4-3 record and the 45-10 win over Santana this week was the 199th victory of Hamamoto’s career.
Hamamoto’s 200th will place the Long Beach Poly graduate with seven others who have crossed that threshold: Herb Meyer (339), John Carroll (241), Bennie Edens (239), John Shacklett (229), Gill Warren (217), Ed Burke (215), and Jim Arnaiz (213).
SHOES, CUPS, BEARS
Point Loma’s victory was for the Shoe Trophy that has been in play most years since 1948.
Mt. Carmel and Poway reinstated the Kiwanis Cup challenge, which started in 1975 but was on hiatus since 2012. The Sundevils won, 24-14, and for the first time since 2006.
Carlsbad took an 11-10 series lead over La Costa Canyon with a 27-26, overtime vistory and possession of the Rotary Cup.
San Pasqual knocked off undefeated Orange Glen, 21-6, in the battle of Bear Valley Parkway and for the hand-carved wooden “Bear” trophy.
Both schools are located on Bear Valley Parkway in Escondido, four miles apart.
CARDS DEALING
It was Homecoming Week throughout the San Diego Section and Hoover had one of the nicest presentations.
The Cardinals began with NFL-style player introductions, followed with the national anthem sung by the school choir, and a blazing opening quarter.
Serra’s ponderous Conquistadors could not keep up with the Jerry Ralph’s small, cat-quick Redbirds, who bolted to a 27-0, first-quarter lead and a romped, 50-0.
The tone was set when Hoover’s George Jones bolted 44 yards for a touchdown on the Cardinals’ first play from scrimmage.
