The La Jolla Vikings open CIF football playoffs in Gene Edwards Stadium tomorrow, Nov. 20 against Palo Verde Valley High School from Blythe. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in the Division IV first-round match, with the winner traveling to Valley Center for a Nov. 27 quarterfinal game. Vikes head coach Rey Hernandez will send his squad against the Yellowjackets after finishing the regular season with a 4-6 record, 2-3 in Western League. The ‘Jackets finished 5-5 overall, including 3-2 in the Imperial Valley League. Quarterback Robert Shupe, a junior, leads the visitors with an impressive 259 passing yards per game. In La Jolla’s final regular season game, the Vikings threw a mighty scare into host Point Loma, holding a 15-14 lead entering the final quarter before the Pointers scored a late touchdown to edge the Vikes in a 22-15 tussle at Bennie Edens Field. The victory leaves the Pointers holding “The Shoe” trophy for yet another year. After the Pointers had taken a 7-0 first-quarter lead, the Vikes struck back when, on a fourth-down play needing two yards, they instead surprised the Point Loma defense with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Zac Zlatic to Andy Jones. The extra-point kick was blocked, leaving the Vikes close at 7-6. Following another Point Loma score, La Jolla’s Braden Fudge lined up for a 54-yard field goal attempt with time about to expire before halftime. While his attempt failed, the Pointers were flagged by officials for roughing the kicker. This time, from 49 yards, Fudge was accurate, and the teams left the field with the Pointers holding a slim 14-9 lead. A Pointer fumble, recovered by an alert Viking, led to another La Jolla touchdown and the lead that stood until the final quarter. This time it was Tyler Bassler snagging a 17-yard throw from Zlatic. The Viking drive was aided by an unsportmanlike conduct penalty on the hosts. A two-point conversion attempt by the Vikes was unsuccessful, but the visitors assumed that 15-14 lead with just more than nine minutes remaining in the third period. The Viking defense, which matched up very well against the Pointer offense, made one error in the fourth quarter. Pointer sophomore Morris Mathews broke through the La Jolla secondary and outran Vikes defenders on a 53-yard scoring dash. When a two-point conversion run by the Pointers was successful by inches, they led 22-15 with just over five minutes left to play. During those frantic final minutes, the Pointers missed a 37-yard field goal that would have given them a 10-point lead and the Vikings also had a final chance. Tensions ran high on both sidelines and among spectators. On La Jolla’s last drive, the Pointers jumped offsides on three consecutive plays, giving the Vikes new life and 15 free yards. After driving to the Pointers’ 8-yard line, the Vikings fumbled but recovered. With a first-and-goal, the visitors sensed a potential tying or winning score. But it was not to be. On third down from the five, Zlatic’s pass was broken up in the end zone and the fourth-down play, a halfback option pass, was intercepted by the hosts in the endzone for a touchback with 1:20 on the scoreboard clock. Zlatic completed 12 of 21 throws for 153 yards and the two scores. Bassler snared five balls for 65 yards, while Fudge caught three for 19 yards. On the ground, Garrett Christensen led his team with 12 carries for 60 yards, the longest for 18 yards. Bassler added 18 yards on three carries.