LJ FB 31 Pt. Loma 35

Vikings' Joe Vang moves toward a giant hole opened

by his offensive line in first half against Point Loma

Oct. 17. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Reid Martin said it was great being back to running the ball after missing La Jolla's first six games of the season. "But I got to start running," he said during the game at Pt. Loma Oct. 17, referring to months of rust and inactivity since being injured during the summer.

Martin was able to run for his first touchdown of the season on a one-yard plunge in the third quarter, bringing La Jolla back to being down 35-24.

The Vikings fell into a 35-10 hole in the first half against the Pointers, and couldn't quite make it all the way back, as they scored 21 unanswered points, then sputtered on their last drive to drop a 35-31 decision.

It was the annual battle for "The Shoe", football cleats spray-painted and made up into a trophy years ago to represent the contest between surfer schools. The home public address announcer encouraged everyone in the huge Point Loma Homecoming crowd to touch the shoe as it was passed through the stands prior to the game. The latest result was the Pointers' 11th straight success in retaining "el zapato".

Wide receiver Brandon Bonham (7) snags

one of his 12 receptions on the night during

the first half against the Pointers.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Quarterback Collin Rugg and receiver Brandon Bonham, especially, presented a valid threat to Point Loma's defense early on. From the opening kick, which La Jolla received, the pell-mell, highly-skilled passing attack put severe pressure on the hosts. The Vikings' first drive ended in a Trenton Fudge field goal, but not without effective elements during the drive.

Unfortunately, Jaylen Griffen slashed the Viking defense for 243 yards rushing in the first half, including a 78-yard run followed by an 80-yard one. The junior needed only six carries to literally run away from the Vikes on offense.

LJHS Coach Jason Carter had his charges drinking the Kool-Aid again at halftime, as they brought new urgency back out onto their side of the field in the third quarter and pommeled the Pointers for three touchdowns. La Jolla successfully executed an onside kick to open the second half. For a while, the Point Loma thousands had their breath taken away enough for them to hold back from singing "I believe that we will win."

La Jolla falls to 0-1 in the Western League, 3-4 overall.

The Viking cheerleaders kept a stiff upper lip as, from the beginning of the game, the large Point Loma student body made lots of noise during La Jolla's cheers to drown them out. The visiting fans have to sit on the same side of the field as the home crowd. There are no stands on the visitors side, as there were years ago.

Finally, early in the third quarter, when the Point Loma students again intentionally raised a ruckus when the La Jolla cheerleaders started a cheer, the home P.A. announcer said: "We don't boo the opponent's cheerleaders." This was the first announcement of its type during the game, after a full half of basically unsportsman-like behavior.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper