Going down to the wire for the second weekend in a row, the La Jolla High football team had better results this time around.
The Vikings forced a fumble on their own 1-yard line as time ran out last Friday evening, scoring a 23-20 victory over visiting Valley Center.
On Valley Center’s second play from scrimmage, senior defensive end Garrett Anderson tipped a pass, and linebacker Alex Abbott intercepted the ball and returned it deep into Jaguar territory.
Senior fullback Ja’Rodd Watson drove in for the score from the 2-yard line, giving the Vikings a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Vikings moved the ball down the field on a nice drive of 73 yards on nine carries. Senior tailback Jarrell Agnew capped the drive with a 2-yard plunge (Lee Abelkop PAT) to make it 13-0.
On the very next possession, Agnew’s 40-yard scamper on a third and long set up his 7-yard touchdown run off tackle (Abelkop PAT) giving the Vikings a commanding 20-0 lead. Valley Center scored before halftime to trim the lead to 20-7 at intermission.
Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter, as the defenses tightened up to force punts.
Carrying a 23-7 lead into the final quarter following an Abelkop field goal, La Jolla watched the Jaguars chip away, pulling to 23-20.
La Jolla punter Ethan Swerdlow powered a 48-yard punt to leave Valley Center 70 yards away with less than two minutes in the game. Valley Center moved the ball over that stretch and was knocking on the door when linebacker Tony Sandoval delivered a big hit on Tyler Bernard at the 2. The ball came loose, rolling into and then out of the end zone for a touchback.
With the ball on the 20-yard line, senior quarterback Matt Mulvey took the knee to give the Vikings the victory.
Agnew led the offense with 23 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns, with Watson adding 43 yards on 11 carries.
On the defensive side, Anderson had 10 total tackles, seven of them solos, while Sandoval and junior Robbie Beathard each had six.
“Our games with Valley Center have become an interesting rivalry for us,” La Jolla High head coach Dave Ponsford noted. “It was sure nice to come out with a very close victory.”
La Jolla is in action again this Friday evening as it hosts neighboring University City High in the school’s annual Blast-Off game.
Elsewhere, La Jolla Country Day School also evened its record at 1-1 with a 21-7 win at Vincent Memorial last Friday.
LJCD’s offense was led by QB Derrick Hatfield, who was a very efficient 9-for-13 passing for 100 yards and two TDs (41 and 10 yards). Hatfield also rushed for 112 yards and a TD. Junior receiver Doug Rogers caught four passes for 36 yards and a TD.
The Torrey defense was led by linebacker Montell Allen, who totaled 11 tackles (four solos).
Linebacker Cody Maxwell had eight stops (three solos) and grabbed an interception. Defensive end John Hansbrough and linebacker Mark Hannum each made seven tackles, while Doug Rogers made four solo stops.
“The Big Blue offensive and defensive lines were downright gritty in battling Vincent Memorial fronts that greatly outsized and [out]weighed them,” LJCD head coach Jeff Hutzler said.
Hutzler credited the play of Andy Altman, Anthony Barkett, Indie Lavarias, Gabe Fox, Junior Togiaso, Alex Papageorge, Steve Fackler, Ben Kaufman and Andrew Hill.
LJCD returns to action on Saturday night when it meets The Bishop’s School at La Jolla High School in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The junior varsity contest is set for 5 p.m.