Trailing 3-2 in the fourth quarter, La Jolla High School faced a crucial third-and-goal situation at its opponent’s 1-yard line. Viking senior quarterback Bobby Schuman took the snap and pushed through the line into the end zone for what proved to be the game-winning score. “Guys made plays when we needed them and that was the difference,” said LJHS head coach Rey Hernandez after his team’s 10-3 victory over Serra High School on Nov. 4 at Gene Edwards Stadium. The Vikings (2-7, 1-3) hadn’t won a game since the second week of the season. Besides their pride, they were also playing for former offensive line coach Luis Moya, who passed away one year ago. “It’s a big win for us. We know he’s watching us and we did it for him,” said senior defensive back Chris LaChance. After controlling the ball most of the first half, La Jolla still found itself down 3-0 when an LJHS drive stalled inside the Conquistadors’ 1-yard line just before halftime. It seemed the Vikings just wouldn’t get the break they needed once again. But a heavy downpour, erupting just after the halftime homecoming ceremonies had concluded, was a sign of things to come. LJHS defensive back junior William Geary finally got his team on the scoreboard when he charged through Serra’s line during a punt attempt and blocked the kick through the back of the end zone, giving the Vikings a safety and a two-point score. “I told my outside linebacker to go outside and I used my speed and it worked out in the timing of the punt block,” Geary said On Serra’s next possession, Geary made another huge play by sacking the quarterback for a 15-yard loss that ended SHS’ best drive of the second half. “I knew they were going to come back to the pass so I stayed in my zone and used my strength to throw him down,” Geary said. On its next offensive possession, La Jolla mounted an impressive drive that included several nice runs from junior tailback Kenneth Martey. But it was Schuman who made the biggest play when he took a snap, snuck around the right side and used his quickness for a 35-yard scamper all the way down to Serra’s 3-yard line. “He’s a good athlete. I think he’s the fastest player on our team,” Hernandez said. “It was an emotional game for them. A lot of good things happened tonight and the stars kind of aligned for us.” After Schuman punched in the game-winning touchdown with 7:50 left to play, Martey added the two-point conversion by blasting through the left side of the end zone. The Conquistadors tried one last desperate drive but were thwarted when LaChance picked off an errant throw to seal the outcome. “I knew the down and distance and I knew they had to make a big play so I dropped back and it came to me,” LaChance said. News and Notes: The Vikings dominated the ground game piling up 294 rushing yards to Serra’s 75. Martey led the way with 110 yards, while fellow junior Mark Pollan ran for 58 and senior running back Dillon Cromwell added 81, including several big first-down carries. LaChance made a team-leading eight tackles. Homecoming King and Queen were announced in front of the eager crowd at halftime. LJHS closed out its season with a home game against Mission Bay on Nov. 10.