LJ FB 56, Serra 26

The Vikings' Miles Matalon (15), who scored a TD
on a Trevor Scully pass in the fourth quarter,
in the captains' pre-game coin toss.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior running back Zach Garcia rushed for three touchdowns and senior quarterback Trevor Scully threw for three more as La Jolla crushed host Serra, 56-26, Fri., Oct. 20, to win its third game in a row and stand alone atop the City League standings at 3-0.

"It's going to give the Vikings a lot of confidence going into Homecoming" Oct. 27 against Kearny, said an observer.

First-year coach Tyler Roach's squad, which fell at one point to a 1-4 record, has since been revived by City League competition and has evened its overall record at 4-4 with two regular season games remaining.

Garcia, after struggling the first half of the season, scored La Jolla's first TD on a three-yard run midway through the first quarter. The 170-pound senior then heard his number called again minutes later for an 11-yard score and a 14-0 Viking lead over a struggling Serra team missing its regular quarterback.

The Vikings, largely due to Garcia's production on the ground, piled up 101 yards rushing in the opening period.

Then, in the second quarter, the scoreboard on the Tierrasanta campus before a small Homecoming and Senior Night crowd really exploded, with the two teams combining for 41 points. Building an insurmountable 42-13 halftime lead, the visitors scored in short order on Scully's 10-yard quarterback keeper before Serra finally broke into the scoring column on a keeper by fill-in quarterback Garrett Correll from a yard out.

The Vikings' Kenny Hayden, who has done this before, subbed in at quarterback for Scully on a first-and-goal from the five and ran in untouched for another TD and a 27-6 lead. Nick Goehler made all his PAT attempts to keep his league lead in that category.

Serra, just in time to make the Homecoming attendees happy, scored again on a Corell to Tysheid Dixon pass covering 19 yards on the next possession.

Fifteen seconds later, Garcia electrified the tiny La Jolla fan contingent with a 68-yard scamper from scrimmage down the right (far) sideline for his third TD.

Junior Michael Wells then took Scully's pass on a beautiful 38-yard play to build the 42-13 halftime lead.

Garcia finished the half with 127 yards rushing to go with his trio of TD's. Scully amassed 123 first-half passing yards on only four completions in his six attempts.

Roach's rushers, much to his pleasure, totaled 184 yards in the initial half.

With the final outcome not in doubt (Serra dropping to 0-3 in league), Wells had an interception in the third quarter. Freshman Max Smith had some spectacular defensive plays, including dropping a punt returner in his tracks in the third period.

Serra, after the halftime show by its marching band and presentation of its Homecoming court, scored again when workhorse back Myles Bryant plunged in from one yard out with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter. The score stood at 42-19 at that point. The Q's failed on a two-point conversion, but did succeed against La Jolla's special teams by recovering the ensuing onside kick.

Serra coach Dru Smith, in his second year at the helm, substituted in sophomore quarterback Timmy Zebroski the rest of the game.

For the Vikings, Scully fired a 13-yard pass to senior receiver Johnathan O'Neal for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Israel Sandoval made an interception on the next Serra drive, setting up Miles Matalon's 11-yard TD reception from Scully. The score, in mop-up, was 56-19 with three minutes left to play.

The hosts' other hard-working running back, senior Bryan Pratt, broke loose for the Conquistadors' highlight of the night, a 50-yard run and the final 56-26 score.

Garcia finished with 131 yards rushing. Scully passed for 184 yards.