By Ed Piper
It was a bridge too far. The previous week, La Jolla traveled the 88 miles to Westminster High in Orange County and landed an authoritative win over host Marina, 27-14, in the State Regional Final.
But this trip to the cold, windy environs of Escalon, north of Modesto, 448 miles on a long bus ride, was less hospitable. Before a packed crowd of home rooters in the rural town, the Cougars stuck it to the wonder boys of La Jolla, 52-21, Sat., Dec. 14.
Before Coach Tyler Roach's Vikings seemingly knew what had hit them, La Jolla trailed 17-0 midway through the second quarter. They would never recover, the closest a 17-7 deficit on Makai Smith's 13-yard reception from Jackson Stratton, before Escalon began to pile up points behind big backs Kaden Christensen and Luke Anderson.
Anderson, a 210-pound fullback, went over 100 yards rushing on an 11-yard run stopped by Viking Danny Molestina late in the second quarter. On the next play, Christensen, topping 1,600 yards for the season, went over from 27 yards out for a 23-7 lead with 1:31 left in the half. The Cougars never looked back.
The Vikings have no shame over making the long trip and succumbing to a team that was superior on this night. Max Smith, Jack Wiese, and their teammates take home a "State Finalist" banner they can hang in the Big Gym for time immemorial, a rare prize that few schools can exhibit.
But a fumble after a reception on the next possession gave the ball back to Escalon, which promptly put the ball back into the hands of Christensen for a 13-yard TD with 23 seconds left and a big psychological hole of 31-7 at halftime.
La Jolla regrouped at halftime, showing more resistance early in the second half. After getting first downs on Stratton passes to Diego Solis, then Makai Smith, a sack forced the Vikings to punt. Twelve plays later, fullback Anderson rushed for a 24-yard TD score, and the lead was insurmountable at 37-7. The guests could never get untracked.
A drive culminating in a nine-yard TD pass to Luke Brunette made the score 38-13. The drive showed some discipline, and helped save some face. But it was too little, too late.
A nice touch to finish the season for La Jolla (10-5) was Wiese's one-yard touchdown run to close out scoring in the last two minutes. The senior, who was playing his last high school game, got a score in the state title game to keep a memory of.
First-half stats showed Makai Smith with three receptions for 66 yards; Wiese with two receptions for 21 yards; Max Smith with two catches for 17 yards; and Devin Bale one catch.
On the other side for Escalon, Christensen had 13 carries for 136 yards; Anderson eight carries for 107 yards; and Colton Panero five carries. Panero joined Christensen and Anderson midway through the fourth quarter with 100 yards rushing for the game.
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