By JESSE HALEY Special to the Daily Press
With one game left in league play, Santa Monica High School’s Vikings are 3-1 with a shot at the playoffs.
In non-league play, during September and early October, the Vikings worked to establish a consistent offensive attack. Their defense gave up key runs while young cornerbacks got a crash course in pass coverage.
Samohi went 3-2 in non-league, with losses to La Costa Canyon and Claremont, and victories over Venice and Palisades, and a blow-out win over Morningside in which the Vikings scored a season high of 45 points.
Morningside, however, did little to prepare Samohi for their league opener against Redondo Union High, a big, hard rushing, option offense whose quarterback keeper plays threw off the Viking defense.
Redondo’s defensive line stopped tailback Adrian Gonzales, Samohi’s leading rusher and the anchor of their offense. It forced Ricky Johnson to pass the ball more than usual.
Coach Lacey said of the game, “We tried to do too many things.”
Mainly, they failed to run the ball and tried to force pass plays, he said.
Although wide-receivers Paul Helmy and Tyler Brunk have made big catches this season, and newcomer Kai Oredugba has shown marked improvement, the Vikings can’t rely primarily on their passing to win games.
Lacey and his team recovered easily from the loss, taking their mistakes to heart.
In their next outing, Samohi struggled to establish the run in the first half, gaining a measly five yards on the ground against Peninsula High School. However, the resilient Vikings rallied in the second half, coming back from a 14 point deficit to win 27-20. Johnson went 12-17 for 201 yards in the air, and Brunk caught two touchdown passes, proving the Vikings had no plans of lying down.
From there, Samohi dispensed with Hawthorne 28-6, and last week West Torrance 34-13.
“We got (the chance) to refine what we do and do it well,” said Lacey.
The Vikings have consistently improved their preparation for each game. Lacey spent the last week, before playing West, practicing wet-ball drills.
Friday night’s game saw weather conditions vary from a light drizzle to moderate showers, as slippery muddy conditions tested the feet and hand of both teams.
The sloppy, slippery conditions didn’t hamper the Vikings who scored 34 points and blocked two punts.
Johnson threw only one pass, which fell incomplete, slipping off his fingers wildly toward the sideline, far short of the intended receiver.
Lacey saw the poor field conditions as an advantage his team could exploit.
“If you pop, you’re going to have some big things happen,” he said.
“If you pop, you’re going to have some big things happen.” — — NORM LACEY Vikings coach
Oredugba was responsible for both blocked punts, each of which led to Viking touchdowns. Oredugba also had one interception.
“He’s a great athlete,” Lacey said. “He knows how to use his athleticism... (and is becoming) more comfortable in football mode. He’ll make a fine player.”
Gonzales had three touchdowns, and Johnson went 65 yards on the ground in two plays for his only touchdown in the Vikings’ thirds straight league win.
“Three and one is huge,” Lacey said of the victory.
This Friday, North Torrance will host the Vikings for the fifth and final game of Ocean league play. A victory puts Samohi in playoff contention, where they would likely face Redondo for a second time.
After losing so many outstanding players from last season’s CIF championship team, seven of whom went onto college sports, it would be a testament to the determination of this young team and the Samohi football program at large.
Samohi plays North Torrance High Friday at 7 p.m. at North Torrance.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 13, 2002. Read the original PDF.