La Jolla High opens season with rivalry win over Bishop’s; Country Day romps

Last year’s “Battle for Pearl Street” was a one-sided affair, with La Jolla High School walloping The Bishop’s  School 41-19.

Flash forward a year and the 2024 edition of the in-town rivalry had a similar result.

La Jolla came away with a 38-21 win at home Aug. 23 in the season opener for both teams as the Vikings seek a return trip to the CIF San Diego Section finals. Last season they lost the Division II championship game to Del Norte.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Division III champion La Jolla Country Day School Torreys got off to a fast start in 2024, routing Chula Vista at home 35-6.

Football is back as La Jolla teams try for repeat of last season’s success

La Jolla coach Tyler Roach was pleased with how the season opener went for his team.

“Anytime you can beat a rival, a crosstown one at that, it’s great, especially the first game of the season, to get this thing started off on the right track,” he said.

The offenses commanded the game early, with both conducting two-play scoring drives in their opening possessions.

The Bishop’s Knights, last year’s Coastal League champions, scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cash Herrera to Ryan Landa. But that was soon answered by a 39-yard TD pass from La Jolla QB Hudson Smith to Hank Hansen.

Herrera, who missed last year’s game against La Jolla due to an injury, made his presence felt early and often. The junior was on point in the first half, connecting on three touchdown passes.

Fortunately for La Jolla, first-year starter Smith threw for three first-half TDs himself.

Smith and wide receiver Andre McLees Walker connected for a pair of first-half touchdowns that helped put La Jolla up 24-21 at halftime.

“What I saw from Hudson did not surprise me one bit,” Roach said. “He has been waiting for this moment for a long time. He waited in the wings last season [behind now-graduated Jackson Diehl] and was locked in tonight.”

“For Andre, he is a super-talented kid,” Roach added. “One of our starting wideouts had been sick all week and I didn’t know until 4 o’clock that he wasn’t going to play. So around 4:30, I told Andre [who also plays cornerback on defense] he would have to rock in both ways, and he stepped up big time.”

Though the offenses dominated the first half, ultimately the La Jolla defense — more specifically the secondary — turned the tide.

On the Knights’ second possession of the second half, safety Ryan Kestler jumped in front of a Herrera pass for an interception, setting up an eventual 1-yard scoring run by Smith.

One possession later, safety Carson Diehl, who led the La Jolla defense in interceptions last season, picked off another Herrera pass.

The Vikings forced four turnovers in all and shut out the Knights in the second half.

La Jolla Country Day 35, Chula Vista 6

The Torreys held Chula Vista senior quarterback Izaac Baca to 10 pass completions in 27 attempts for 83 yards and an interception and limited the Spartans to 52 yards rushing.

Upcoming games

La Jolla: Friday, Aug. 30, home vs. Torrey Pines, 7 p.m.

La Jolla Country Day: Friday, Aug. 30, at Crawford, 7 p.m.

Bishop’s: Saturday, Aug. 31, at Christian, 7 p.m.

This article will be updated with more details and photos. ♦