Last Thursday night’s showdown between Point Loma and La Jolla was not a run-of-the-mill high school football game. The two crosstown foes share a long and storied rivalry that stretches 70-plus years in what is known to many as “The Battle for The Shoe.” In last year’s meeting, the Pointers won ownership of The Shoe with a 49-0 shutout of the Vikings.

La Jolla would flip the script in the 73rd installment of this rivalry, as the Vikings beat the Pointers 48-29.

“This is a game that means a ton to both schools and proud alumni. The game last year went about as bad as a game could have gone, which left a sour taste in mine and all of our mouths, so we came out there with a hunger and locked mindset,” said La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach. “We knew it was going to be a physical four-quarter game. I’m proud of how our guys played.”

Despite the 20-point margin, the victory was a game that tested the Viking’s resolve more than any game this season. After scoring on their opening drive of the game, La Jolla’s offense, which had been red hot, would go dormant for nearly two quarters.

Point Loma had a 21-7 lead into the late stages of the third quarter. But the Vikings’ defense forced four forced fumbles and six turnovers total over the final 16 minutes of play. Two courtesy of Sawyer Moseley and Wyatt Boczanowski and one from Carson Diehl.

According to Roach, extra emphasis was put on going for the ball this week as they knew they were facing a run-heavy lead offense led by Pointers QB Brady Allen.

“Point Loma is ground and pound heavy, and they run a lot of misdirection stuff and want to play a ball control offense. So we knew we would have to take the ball away and get the offense on the field with a short field a few times,” Roach said. “The defense was flying around in the second half and didn’t tire out. You can see most of them were guys doing a great job at punching and putting hats on the ball.”

And while the Vikings’ defense would create chaos, the La Jolla offense would heat up and cash in with points. In the second half, QB Jackson Diehl and his WR core of Carson Diehl, Kai Fukuda, and Nick Sebro would tally 41 points.

The receivers started winning one-on-one opportunities as each WR would collect one TD pass. Fukuda with a 75-yard reception, Sebro a 30-yarder, but the most dominant showing would be from Carson Diehl.

The speedy and lengthy sophomore would tally four receiving touchdowns and 121 yards receiving. While mainly used on the outside this season, Diehl moved into the slot following a first-quarter injury to fellow WR Hank Hansen.

There, he executed the offensive game plan perfectly. “Carson’s a guy who can do anything; he knows the offense well. We bumped him inside where we had focused our game plan around, and he had a huge day,” said Roach, “It’s a testament to him and shows when you know what you’re doing, you can play fast and execute.”

With the win and reclaiming of The Shoe, La Jolla is at 5-2 overall and 2-0 in league play. Next week, they host Morse on Senior Night and an opportunity to wrap up the Eastern League title.

“Morse is an athletic bunch who likes to play fast and come at you. We have a ton of respect for coach McNair for how he builds and runs his program over there,” said Roach. “This game for us will be for the league title if we can get a win. There will be a lot on the line with it being Senior Night, so it should be fun, and we’re looking forward to the matchup.”

La Jolla and Morse will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, at La Jolla High School.

PHOTO BY DAVID FRERKER