From the days of La Jolla High football five years ago, to now.
Being able to call up Helix High, one of the top programs in the county, and ask for a matchup to be played three days later.
A league championship, followed by a CIF championship, followed by the Southern California Championship--who knew there was such a thing as the Southern California Championship?
Until going through some of the Vikings' sports history in general a couple of years ago, the school being in existence since 1922, I didn't know that LJHS had ever had a winning football program.
But there it was in 1981-1985, with "Hud"--Dick Huddleston--as a coach: five straight league titles, plus a CIF title one of those years. And it wasn't a multi-division CIF. It was THE CIF.
My years covering Viking sports, which began in 2004 when my granddaughter Alexis became a student at the seaside campus, had included some pretty lean years in the pigskin aspect.
Now, evident to all, is the job Head Coach Tyler Roach has done in rebuilding the program and instilling some pride and excellence. An apparent thing the last two seasons, sandwiched around the COVID mess, is the expectation the players have going into each game that they are going to win.
Never existed in the earlier of my 18 years covering sports on campus.
It starts, as opposing coaches have observed, with linebacker/running back Max Smith, and emanates from there.
Coach Robbie Owens, the current holder of the Helix football mantle, said before the two teams' game Fri., April 16, in response to a reporter's comment about Smith, "They have talented players in many positions." He wasn't going to allow as how one player made the difference on La Jolla's team.
"They're loaded," said Owens, in his fourth year at the football power. "Not having a CIF championship (this year with COVID restricting everyone to 5 or 6 games)... Even our guys got excited about playing (La Jolla).
"It's a different program to play. That's the thing."
In other words, the final of La Jolla's five games this Spring would be the Vikings' mini-"Super Bowl", in place of any shot in playoffs wiped out by the pandemic situation. It was a miracle, in fact, that any season at all got played, the way things were looking two months ago. People on and off campus, in sports programs and in general, were losing hope there would be any official games played this school year.
Then, the actual game Friday was another matter. Hope beyond hope, Roach and the Vikings stuck it to the Scotties, who were talking on their side of the field before the game at Edwards Stadium, "We still have the crown" (from two years ago). "They don't even belong on the same field." Bold words of a program, struggling through what ended up a 2-4 season and feeling some loss of recognition in this strange season.
It should be recognized that Helix was playing better teams than the Vikings. The Eastern League (first four games) is not top drawer. Helix lost to St. Augustine (not an official game) and Mater Dei to start the mini-season.
A key denial was La Jolla's defense forcing the Helix offense to turn the ball over on downs with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter.
The game was very much in play at that point. On a drive that began after Devin Bale's kickoff to 190-pound back Christian Washington with 1:05 on the clock near the end of the third period, the Viking "D" gave up only one first down and caused Owens to go for a fourth-and-six. The Highlanders didn't make it.
Washington and smaller back Alejandro Van Holten (165 pounds) ended up being Helix's sole offensive weapons as the game developed. Bless his heart, but freshman quarterback Ryland Jessee, a big boy at 6'3", 195 pounds--he's going to fill out even more--wasn't a factor in the intensity of the game.
Something the Vikings did, which good teams do, is expose the other team's limitations.
Those other talented players for La Jolla this year, at the risk of not naming everyone who is deserving--no, on second thought, no one is going to be happy with any list I make, so I won't do that.
Diego Solis, the receiver/safety, and quarterback Jackson Stratton are often featured in the exploits of the offense. I'll leave it at that.
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