LJ football: Further thoughts on the 2024 schedule

By Ed Piper

A glance at the partial Fall 2024 schedule for La Jolla High, besides the Torrey Pines matchup Aug. 30 (see earlier blog post), reveals a date with new Eastern League member Mission Bay.

That contest will take place at Gene Edwards Stadium on the LJHS campus Fri., Oct. 18, in the heat of the conference battle. Last year's non-league meeting, played at Mission Bay, featured senior quarterback Jackson Diehl's return from injury suffered in the El Capitan game two weeks prior.

Diehl, a sight for sore eyes that enlivened the Viking offense, as well as the defense--everyone perked up with their team leader back on the field--helped lead La Jolla to a narrow victory, 14-7.

La Jolla held on when the Bucs, moving downfield behind 6'6" QB Charlie Hutchison, were stopped just short of the goal line in the last minute. Safety Ryan Kestler grabbed the ball carrier, and lineman Shawn Moseley quickly reacted to help the smaller but gutsy Kestler hold the Mission Bay player just shy of the end zone marker.

It was thrilling, scary, nail-biting--all of the above.

Now, the 2024 edition of Coach Tyler Roach's squad, positing to-be junior quarterback Hudson "Huddy" Smith in Diehl's old spot, will get to face Mission Bay in a contest that counts for the Eastern League. It should be another good challenge.

By the way, Mission Bay, with six or seven members of the varsity basketball team populating its football roster, rolled to a highly successful season themselves, reaching the second round of the CIF Division 3 playoffs. Hutchison, who could throw well, was a revelation in his first venture into football.

All the while, Buc basketball coach Maurice Cherry was sweating every week of the fall, terrified one of his starters would get injured in the fall sport before even stepping on the basketball court in the winter sports season.

La Jolla spring football is scheduled May 13-30 in a preview of what next fall will look like. Sprinter Leed Smoole told a reporter at a recent track meet that "no more football" or rugby was in his plans. There are plenty of other up-and-coming hopefuls, as well as returners, from last year's spectacular squad, one of the best in Roach's seven seasons as head coach.

An area coach, asked if his school was scheduled to play La Jolla, said, "We aren't even close to that level," or words to that effect, showing the respect the Viking program has begun to build.