Oceanside CA— Special teams play helped the defending CIF San Diego Section, Division I Champions, El Camino Wildcats get their season off to a good start with a 16-17 win over the Point Loma Pointers, Friday night.
After a missed Point Loma field goal attempt and down 3-0, mid-second quarter, Elijah Kennedy would get the Wildcats on the board with an 80-yard run down the left sideline for the score.

Point Loma would get the lead back in the third quarter when QB Trey Cobb hit JL Skinner 5 yards deep in the end zone, 10-7.
The Wildcats came right back when Senior QB Brock Manber threw a 26-yard strike to Alexander Fetko for the touchdown and 10-14 lead with 8:09 left in the game.
On Point Loma’s next possession, Trey Cobb would hit Kaden Gill in stride for the score but the point after was blocked by the Wildcats who now trailed by two with 7:09 left in the game.
The Pointers ground game would chew up yards and time until the Wildcats finally stopped the Point Loma drive at the Wildcat 26 yard line with just 33.3 seconds left in the game.
Brock Manbur would manufacture a four drive play with his ability to scramble and the strength of his arm to get the Wildcats within striking distance for a field goal try.
“I was thinking about calling another offensive play,” said ECHS Head Coach Michael Hobbs, “But our kicker, Zion Jackson just looked at me and said Coach, I’ll make this right now. He’s a junior just coming up. He’s never done a varsity kick but as he was going on the field he said, I’ve got this for you coach. He did!”
The Wildcats lost a majority of players from their championship team to graduation. “I believe I counted five players on the field tonight that have actually played a full varsity game. For our guys to come out and keep fighting and believe we were going to win, that’s the biggest thing for me,” said Coach Hobbs. “That character thing that no matter what, we’re going to keep fighting. We knew we were always in the game. They did a great job for guys that have never played a full varsity game,” added Coach Hobbs, “Good teams are always in it and they find a way to win.”
Up next for El Camino is a road game against Cathedral Catholic who lost at La Costa Canyon 7-19.
In other games:
Oceanside fell on the road to San Clemente 34-19. The Pirates will be at home next week to take on Westview.
Carlsbad- 41
Steele Canyon-13
Vista -49
Hueneme -7
Westview-31
RBV-14
Otay Ranch- 21
San Marcos-24
Paramount -26
Mission Hills-18
Del Norte-38
Fallbrook-22