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| Members of the Viking offense view video right after the fact on the sidelines against Christian. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
On the Christian High sideline November 1, a Patriot player was overheard during the first half, saying, "If we lose this game..."
Christian, which had vanquished La Jolla the past three years, usually by large margins, entered the game with doubts, and voiced them during the contest for the league championship. If Christian (2-1 in the Eastern League going in) won at La Jolla (3-0), it would share the title.
Meanwhile, in the other camp, the Max Smith-Jack Wiese ethic ruled. Smith, who has starred for the Vikings since he started as an inauspicious long-snapper his freshman year two seasons ago, is confident in his abilities and reflects that assurance in what he vocalizes.
Wiese, on the other hand, maintains silence for the most part, not even responding to a reporter's text during the week leading up to the finale.
Both approaches work, as La Jolla's first league title in 24 years attests.
There is a different mentality, a different approach. Credit third-year Head Coach Tyler Roach and his staff, as well. Defensive Coordinator Charles Bussey deserves more credit, and by name, for the mastery his unit has displayed this season.
As a reporter repeatedly told anyone who would listen during the on-field celebration after the Vikings' last-second 20-19 win over the Patriots, "I've covered La Jolla football through 15 mostly bad seasons. This 16th one is unbelievable. This is La Jolla football?"
There was incredulous tone in the sportswriter's voice. He wasn't the only one. Students attending the game who poured out onto the field seemed to be in utter delirium, but in utter shock as well.
Now, with a week off, the Vikings can take that Smith-Wiese mentality into the second round of the Division 3 playoffs November 15.
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