LJ FB 7, Del Norte 15

Linebacker Dirk Germon, who played
a monster game on defense
against the Nighthawks.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"I have enjoyed watching your progression the first three games, as you keep improving," a reporter remarked to La Jolla quarterback Jackson Stratton before the Vikings' home game against Del Norte Fri., Sept. 13.

"It wouldn't be hard for me to progress," quipped the sophomore QB, referring to his season-starter against Bishop's that was marred by five interceptions.

In week three, the right-hander didn't throw an interception and kept mistakes to a minimum, helping lead Coach Tyler Roach's team to a sparkling 28-14 win over a strong Santa Fe Christian program.

A week later, against the visiting Nighthawks, Stratton fell back into his earlier habits and threw three interceptions, plus committed a fumble in the first half. La Jolla put itself in a 15-0 hole by halftime.

Despite notable defensive performances by linebackers Dirk Germon and Max Smith, the Vikings could not come back, and dropped a 15-7 decision to a prepared Del Norte squad.

La Jolla is now 2-2 in the preleague season. Del Norte rises to 2-2.

Germon, a junior, was all over the place and was credited with eight tackles in preliminary statistics. With the clock running down in the fourth quarter and the Vikings trailing 15-7 after Stratton's late touchdown pass to Diego Solis, Smith and Germon delivered key stops against Del Norte's offense.
The Nighthawks were forced to punt.

With 1:36 remaining, La Jolla took over on its own 39. Stratton led the Vikings further down the field. On a long bomb from the Del Norte 41 as the clock ran out, Solis snagged the pass in the end zone and briefly appeared to have possession for what could have been a tying TD. But as Diego hit the turf, the ball squirted away and the game ended.

The result was a major disappointment for Viking fans. They had watched their football team move from the Little Train That Maybe Could, holding the powerful Bishop's offense to two touchdowns in a close 18-9 loss in the opener, to becoming a Force That Could in successive wins over Mission Bay, 34-13, and Santa Fe Christian.

Smith broke a 28-yard run down the left sideline on a second-and-10 to set up Stratton's TD pass to Solis, which came at the 4:07 mark in the final period to bring La Jolla within eight points.

Max, a 5'10", 200-pounder who has said he relishes the contact football and rugby afford, delivered punishing blow after blow in co-leading the determined Viking defense with Germon against Del Norte quarterback Jack Borer and the Nighthawk offense.

You would think with the errors that the visitors would have been able to capitalize more and build a lead bigger than 15-0. The Vikings were fortunate in that respect, with credit to its defense as well, that they were still in the game at the end after the debacle of the first half.

Coach Leigh Cole's Nighthawk offense came out at the outset and shocked the hosts on its initial possession, putting together a disciplined script of plays to score a touchdown after safety Jake Hadzicki's interception. Junior running back Sam Isaacson, who gained over 100 yards on the night, ran the ball in from seven yards for the 6-0 early lead.

Del Norte added another TD on Borer's pass to tight end Michael Ashton early in the second quarter for a 12-0 advantage. Anthony Meader then blasted a field goal from 42 yards out with 15 seconds on the clock just before halftime. The striving Nighthawks led, 15-0.