Roundup: Football star Brady Allen steps up, leads Point Loma to first boys lacrosse title

Brady Allen suffered heartache his junior year at Point Loma High School, losing section championship games in football and lacrosse. Now a senior, he would not be denied a third time.

Working for a last shot, Allen stalled with the ball for about 30 seconds. Then he muscled his way through three defenders, fired in the winning goal from point-blank range with 7.3 seconds to play, giving the Pointers an 8-7 win over Del Norte to take the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 boys lacrosse title.

It’s Point Loma’s first lacrosse championship.

“It’s a team sport, a team effort,” Point Loma coach Deron Ambler said amidst the awards ceremony at San Dieguito Academy. “But we had to put the ball in Brady’s hands.”

Allen, who will play football at NAIA Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., was a second-team All-CIF defensive back last season. A two-way starter, he also played quarterback, wide receiver and safety. He said his football background helped.

“I’m definitely used to getting knocked around,” he said.

The game was tied four times before Allen’s heroics. He said that while he was stalling for the final shot, “I went to a little corner (of the field), said a quick little prayer for five seconds and went to the cage.

“I don’t know how it went in. I think God was on my side there. I couldn’t see an open piece of the goal anywhere.”

Del Norte took a 7-6 lead with 3:06 to play on Elliot Anderson’s third goal. Point Loma’s Bryce Graulich tied it with 1:41 to play.

That set the stage for Allen, who scored a team-high three goals. Brothers Jake and Bryce Graulich scored twice.

Ambler predicted the victory. Surrounded by his players after the game, Point Loma’s coach pulled a piece of paper from his cowboy hat that read, “Congrats On Becoming PLHS Legends By Winning the Championship Vs. Del Norte. You’re Legendary. Respect!!! So Pretty!”

Then he dropped to the ground and did the splits, twice.

It proved to be a long day for Allen and many of his teammates who needed to hustle home, shower and head to prom.

“This is probably one of the biggest days of my life,” Allen said. “I know I’m going to be tired at prom. My girlfriend’s probably going to be very mad at me.”

West Hills wins Division 3 title

For 23 minutes, West Hills was like The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight. The Wolfpack peppered 23 shots at San Diego’s goal. Only three found the net.

“Pregame jitters. It’s a real thing,” said junior attack Ethan Barriga.

Then West Hills starting putting the ball between the pipes, scoring five goals in a span of 2:59 (on only six shots) as the Wolfpack romped to a 17-7 win and the program’s first section championship.

After one quarter the game was tied 1-1. With one minute to play in the second quarter, West Hills’ lead was only 3-2. Then came the offensive barrage.

Nathan Flowers scored from point-blank range with 53.6 seconds on the first-half clock. With 27.7 seconds to play, Barriga rifled in a shot from 10 yards out. Thirty-eight seconds into the third quarter, Arthur Redelings made it a 6-2 game.

“It’s all about momentum,” said senior attack Noah DeLong. “Once we know they’re vulnerable and we have a little bit of confidence, we capitalize on that.”

In all, West Hills scored seven straight goals to turn a 3-2 lead into a 10-2 rout.

DeLong (a team-leading 68 points coming into the game) and Barriga (56) have been West Hills’ offensive catalysts all season, and the pair delivered again. Barriga scored six goals and DeLong four.

The win was redemptive for West Hills (15-6), a third-year program. The Wolfpack were routed 14-4 by Army-Navy in last year’s Div. 2 title game.

“That was just horrible thing to end on,” said DeLong. “Me, being a senior, I wanted to get this last win to make up for what happened last year.”

Erik Wegener and Atticus Redman scored two goals each for San Diego (14-7), which was playing in its first title game.

Coronado ends drought, beats Parker for D1 crown

At practice this week, Coronado coach Alex Cade wore a T-shirt from one of his three Islanders section championship teams.

“Fellas,” Cade told his players, “this is the last one I have. My wife made me throw out all the other ones. I need another one guys or I’m not going to have a memory of this.”

Turns out he’ll be adding to his wardrobe. Coronado ended an 11-year section championship drought, defeating Francis Parker 12-6 to win the Division 1 title.

Coronado led just 6-4 after three quarters. But the Islanders removed all drama by scoring six straight goals.

“We just decided to put the pedal to the medal,” said Landon Sutherland. Sutherland, Braydon Avallone and Jared Capin each scored three goals for Coronado.

Kobi Oldenburg led Parker with two goals.

Since their 2012 Div. 2 title, the Islanders advanced to three finals, losing all three by a combined four goals.

“Winning championships is not easy,” said Cade. “We don’t take any of them for granted. This feels great.”