By Ed Piper
It was good for La Jolla to get off to a fast start against Santa Fe Christian Nov. 4 in the Vikings' first-round playoff game. Someone on the sidelines remarked that the Vikes hadn't had a quick start like this in a few weeks. It was true. They had dragged their ways through difficult losses against Christian for the league title Oct. 21, 20-14, and Mira Mesa Oct. 28, 24-17, for playoff seeding.
Coach Tyler Roach's sure-fire approach on the squad's opening possession was to utilize most-valuable workhorse Justin Scully on the ground. Scully banged his way to an eight-yard gain on second down up to the La Jolla 43.
After a short Jackson Diehl completion to reliable Hank Hansen for four yards, Scully was back again for a 16-yard gain, then after an incomplete to Hansen another one for three yards.
Roach was giving Diehl reps he could complete, short-range, before venturing out for longer attempts. That came with Jackson's deal to Hansen over 34 yards for the Vikings' first touchdown.
By the time La Jolla got the ball back, Diehl was feeling good, as it showed in his long aerial over the defense to Nick Sebro and paydirt covering 45 yards.
Life was good in the neighborhood.
The breath of fresh air blew in even more, on a cold early November night at Edwards Stadium, when the hosts built their lead to 21-7 on another strike to Hansen in the last minute of the first half.
A question came up on whether the Vikings could hold their lead after Santa Fe Christian tightened things up with a TD to come within 21-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter.
Who came to the rescue but an old favorite, Ryan Weinberg, receiver deluxe, who had not scored yet this night. He was targeted three straight times on La Jolla's first possession of the fourth quarter, after a completion to Nick Sebro.
Then old-favorite Scully, always ready when the black-and-red come calling, to carry three straight times, including the three-yarder over the goal line. The Vikings led 28-14.
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