Vikings knock off defending champs
- Updated: April 16, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
LA JOLLA 28, HELIX 21
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA JOLLA – The No. 6-ranked La Jolla Vikings defeated the Helix Highlanders, 28-21, on Friday night to finish the season 5-0.
As in the reigning Open Division champion Helix Highlanders.
Christian Washington scored on a screen pass to give Helix a 7-0 lead with 4:42 left in the first quarter.
La Jolla tied the game with 46 seconds left in the first half on an interception return for a touchdown by Diego Solis.
La Jolla took the lead, 14-7, on a 71-yard touchdown by a cutting Solis after getting a short pitch pass in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter.
Helix powered down the field with Washington and Alejandro Van Holten bashing for yards.
Van Holten carried into the end zone around the left side from the 3 as Helix tied the game at 14-all with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
3Q, 6:44| Van Holten with the 3-yard run to tie the game 14-14. @SDPrepInsider pic.twitter.com/d9NddeDq8v
— Jonathan Rifkind (@JonathanRifkind) April 17, 2021
Jackson Stratton found Devin Bale for a 15-yard score as La Jolla took a 20-14 lead with just over a minute to play in the third quarter.
La Jolla took a two-score lead with a short touchdown run from Stratton, then added a two-point conversion.
Washington had a 20-yard touchdown on a reception on a swing pass from quarterback Ryland Jessee for the final margin.
4Q, 2:34 | Washington with the 20-yard receiving TD to bring the Highlanders within a TD. They trail 28-21. @SDPrepInsider pic.twitter.com/V2kxPLvIJ8
— Jonathan Rifkind (@JonathanRifkind) April 17, 2021
Helix’s Hunter Wiggins had an interception of a deep pass inside the Highlander 5 in the second quarter.
Blaze Zito had a third-quarter sack for Helix (2-4), which finishes with a sub-par record for the first time since 2005 (2-7-1).
The Vikings terminated three Helix drives inside the 10 in the contest, including once with 9:35 to go in the game.
