Patriots can’t stop Vikings’ onslaught
- Updated: September 27, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
LA JOLLA 35, CHRISTIAN 7
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA JOLLA – The La Jolla Vikings did more than knock off the visiting Christian Patriots on Friday night.
The Vikings pretty much put the Patriots in their place in a 35-7 non-league Homecoming victory at Gene Edwards Stadium.
Christian (4-2) nearly matched La Jolla in the yardage department but the turnover-prone Patriots were squashed by the Vikes, particularly in the second half.
La Jolla (3-3) also excelled on defense and special teams, returning an interception and a kickoff for touchdowns.
The Patriots’ Keyvion Jones rushed for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead with 7:38 left in the first quarter.
However, La Jolla returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards and the game was tied at 7-all.
The Vikings added a pair of second-quarter rushing touchdowns to lead 21-7 at halftime.
The interception return by La Jolla – on a terrific play when Spence Carswell picked off a screen pass and returned it 40 yards – extended the lead to the 28-7.
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Christian High junior quarterback Jake Davila had 294 yards of total offense.
Senior J.C. Gustin led the Patriot receiving corps with six receptions for 77 yards.
Junior Brady Dierkop had a sack for CHS, while senior teammate Blake Hertz grabbed an interception, but the Pats lost in the turnover department, giving the ball away five times.
The rushing totals for the teams were nearly identical, as well, with the Vikings amassing 139 yards to the Patriots’ 137.
We completely beat ourselves,” Christian High head coach Dan Mitchell said. “We were physically beat in all aspects of the game. Hats off to La Jolla. They have a great staff and their kids play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
The Vikings had their four-touchdown advantage by the middle of the third quarter when Kevin Steele connected with Mason Powers for a 47-yard touchdown pass down the left side.
“This was a much-needed awakening for our team,” Mitchell said. “We need to be better in the details, and this has been our story this whole year. We’ve gotten exposed both times by two great programs in La Jolla and SFC. We’ve got a long way to go in a short amount of time. It doesn’t get easier these next few weeks.”
The Patriots will take their bye week before heading into the four weeks of Eastern League play where computer projections have them finishing third in the five-team circuit, although Christian will get highly-rated league favorite Scripps Ranch at home.
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