LJ FB: Mater Dei next

Teammates Finn Rice (left) and Phillip Pacleb
celebrate on the field right after
La Jolla's 20-19 win over Christian
Nov. 1 for sole possession
of the Eastern League title.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Even a basketball coach at Bishop's School asked, "Is La Jolla's football team good this year?"

The word has gotten around, and there's no secret the Viking defense under Defensive Coordinator Charles Bussey is largely the reason.

"Sure," said Head Coach Tyler Roach three days after La Jolla's win over Christian High to end the regular season and take sole possession of the Eastern League championship--the Vikings' first in 24 years.

His affirmative response was in reply to mention of linebacker/running back Max Smith's name as  league MVP.

Roach did say, "It's going to be hard, with so many good players," to decide league awards after the playoffs are said and done.

"(Fellow linebackers) Jack Wiese, Dirk Germon," he added as likely all-leaguers when postseason laurels are distributed.

"Plus being league champions" is going to give La Jolla's players a hand up in who gets named to the all-league slates, Roach noted. Winners usually get certain privileges in who and how many team members ascend the award boards.

But none of the recognition will taken by the individuals as a puffing up of their pride. This is a team sport, and La Jolla's leaders show a strong team ethic. They won't be going around touting their abilities. The focus, especially, right now is preparation for the next step.

The Vikings' Division 3 playoff game Friday night, Nov. 15, comes against a strong Mater Dei Catholic team that relied on its running game to win the Crusaders' first-round game over visiting Imperial.

We know what that means: Smith, Wiese, Germon et all will meet force with force. It will be a hard-fought game.

Several members of the La Jolla team made the trek together to view the playoff game involving their next opponent, the day after an evidently-fun team-building workout and bonfire at La Jolla Shores Nov. 7.

In a video, players were seen doing up-downs at the beach during the afternoon, right where the water meets the sand. Probably a lot of eating went on, to keep the players' weight up.

Mater Dei, a private parochial school that offers scholarships, traditionally features some big boys, just as it did in its former incarnation off Interstate 5 as Marian Catholic High School.

You would think Viking "utilityman" Diego Solis would be in the conversation among coaches about postseason awards, as well.

Kicker/punter Devin Bale has got to be right there, too.