LJ FB: Preview vs. Hilltop

By Ed Piper

"He was angry at practice today," reported Hilltop head coach Drew Westling of senior linebacker Gage Scruggs via an evening phone call to talk about his team. "That's a good sign."

Westling has engineered a revival of the Lancers' football program over his four years leading the program, winning a league championship last year. His agitated defensive leader is part of the 2019 plan for continued success.

"We like working with (Viking coach) Tyler (Roach)," said Westling about the upcoming Hilltop-La Jolla scrimmage Friday evening, Aug. 16, at the South Bay high school to preview the season.

"He's organized. In a scrimmage, you don't want to have to worry about things," and the two coaches' congenial relationship enables them to concentrate on the items they want to work on with their respective squads.

After all, it's not an official game, and it doesn't count toward the CIF rankings formula or league standings. You might see things you wouldn't necessarily see in a real game. In addition, you won't see the coaches employing certain other things--they tend to keep their play calls a little closer to the vest, so as not to give away any secrets to opposing coaches who might have sent someone to scout the practice game.

Westling has something Roach is striving for in his third year of running the Vikings' program--finishing atop their respective conference, which includes a tough Morse team, as well as Mira Mesa and University City. The LJHS preleague schedule features Santa Fe Christian, always strong with its draw of recruited student athletes by way of scholarship to the private faith-based school.

Of course, we're not mentioning the elephant in the room: Bishop's, LJHS's opening night foe led by Notre Dame-bound quarterback Ty Buchner, only a junior, out all of last season with an injury. The 6'2" Buchner had inquiries from interested college programs as early as eighth or ninth grade.

Look for La Jolla's core of linebackers, seniors Jack Wiese and Dirk Germon and junior Max Smith, to be a key in holding down the canvas August 23 as the rival Knights try to light up the scoreboard with their high-powered offense.

That game will be played on the Vikings' hone field, but it will be Bishop's coach Joel Allen's team's opportunity to be the home team this time around. The Knights also play their home games on the Rushville Street turf.