Hoover’s ‘Psycho’ Shocks La Jolla

Shortly before every Hoover High School football game, defensive tackle Tommy Villegas paces the aisles of the locker room. That is the time when Villegas makes the transformation from his usually reserved personality to The Psycho.

“They call me The Psycho,” said Villegas, who has his nickname scribbled on the back of his neck roll. “I guess it’s because I don’t think about nothing else but getting to the quarterback and running backs.”

And get the backs he did--nine tackles and two quarterback sacks--Friday afternoon, as Hoover defeated previously unbeaten La Jolla, 28-3, in a nonleague game at Hoover.

Both teams are 4-1.

“(Villegas) made some big plays for us,” Hoover Coach John Johnson said. “Playing defensive tackle at his size, he’s a survivor. He plays like he’s 200 pounds.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound Villegas had help from Tony Austin, another defensive tackle, who had seven tackles and two sacks. La Jolla quarterbacks Doug Powell and John Tribolet, who alternate each series, had to feel as if they were trying to pass in a crowded elevator.

Powell was 3 of 6 for 24 yards passing. Tribolet was 1 of 6 for 3 yards and 2 interceptions.

La Jolla was ranked fourth in defense in the county before Friday’s game, but injuries and illness sidelined defensive linemen Ian Howell and Jon Beck and defensive backs Eric Prior and Brad Mathews.

La Jolla’s defense kept the game close until Hoover increased a 7-3 lead to 21-3 in the third period. Hoover’s first-half touchdown came on a 72-yard pass play from quarterback Michael Walker to John Roots.

The first of the two third-period Hoover touchdowns came on a 5-yard scoring run by Walker which ended a 70-yard drive. A little more than a minute later, Hoover linebacker Chris Johnson intercepted Tribolet on the La Jolla 32-yard line and ran to the 15. On the next play, running back Leon Golston took a pitch from Walker and ran 15 yards untouched around end for the touchdown.

“Those two quick scores in the third quarter seemed to turn the tide,” Johnson said.

Hoover wrapped up the scoring when Golston ran 79 yards for a touchdown with 2:30 to play.