LJ FB vs. Bishop's - Game story

Senior receiver Ian Browne (3) takes a one-yard

pass from Bishop's QB Cash Herrera (not in view)

in for a TD to lead La Jolla 21-14 with 4:29

left in the second quarter Fri., Aug. 23.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla and Bishop's engaged in a highly entertaining season opener Fri., Aug. 23, until the host Vikings broke the game open in the third quarter and went on to a convincing 38-21 victory at Edwards Stadium.

Amid all the excitement of the new school year and the rivalry between Pearl St. schools, the Knights' Cash Herrera shocked the home crowd with a lightning pass to freshman receiver Graham Hill from 12 yards out for a 7-0 lead--on the second play from scrimmage before the respective student sections had even settled into their seats.

The two offenses, led by talented junior quarterbacks showing their stuff, engaged in a mistake-filled, brutal back-and-forth in the early going as Viking QB Hudson Smith, the new heir-apparent, found all-purpose senior Hank Hansen for a 39-yarder for the equalizer.

Then hard-working mini-back Ruben Gutierrez took a screen pass for a 14-7 Bishop's lead. And La Jolla sophomore Dre Walker caught the first of his two TD passes for 26 yards and a 14-14 knotted score--all in the opening quarter.

LJ junior QB Hudson Smith fires a TD pass

to receiver Dre Walker (not in view) for the

first of two Walker TD's. This one came late

in the first quarter, traveled 26 yards, and

tied the score at 14-14. Huddy passed

all his tests in his first start as regular QB.

Fans were pretty delirious by then, amazed by all the offensive fireworks--including La Jolla's scare from Herrera's game-opening salvo--as Viking students dressed in all-black, their rivals in white. Good vs. evil?

The second quarter featured some of the same gridiron heroes, Dre Walker for a short scoring pass from Huddy after Bishop's senior Ian Browne took the same from the 6'3" Herrera, growing beginning his second year as starting QB for Knight coach Shane Walton, earlier in the period.

A 32-yard field goal by Evan Figueiredo of La Jolla, a tool Coach Tyler Roach didn't have last year, just before the half portended good things for the black-and-red.

The game turned on a pick by safety Ryan Kestler as Bishop's threatened early in the third quarter. That set up further runs by powerhouse back Aidan "Carolina" McGill, including a 27-yard carry on second-and-10 from the Bishop's 34.

Hansen, lining up at quarterback, of all things, plunged over from the two and the hosts had the biggest lead of the game so far, 31-21.

In the final quarter, "'Lina", as McGill is known by his teammates for his South Carolina roots, ran in from nine yards, and La Jolla led, 38-21, with over 10 minutes left in the game.

LJ running back Aidan "'Lina" McGill (8)

carries for one of two gains late in the

first quarter. The Vikings scored two plays

later to knot the score at 14-14.