LJ FB 6, Rancho Bernardo 20 - Week 4

LJ receiver Carson Diehl (in dark uniform) can't

haul in this pass from QB Huddy Smith

on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line

in the third quarter. The Vikings did score

on the next play, a pass to Andre Mclees Walker,

their only TD of the game.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla was the little engine that couldn't quite make it up the hill, try as it might.

Against Rancho Bernardo (now 3-1) Fri., Sept. 8, Coach Tyler Roach's squad, missing starting quarterback Jackson Diehl due to injury, twice were in the red zone at critical times and couldn't quite punch the ball in.

In the first instance, shortly before halftime, fill-in QB Huddy Smith led the hosts to the six-yard line. After a brilliant catch by receiver Hank Hansen covering 28 yards, La Jolla ran the ball with "Carolina", steady back Aidan McGill.

But all their passes were misdirected or were stymied. A jet sweep also featuring Hansen brought the ball down to the RB seven on third down. The drive failed on a fourth-and-six pass intended for freshman Andre Mclees Walker.

The Broncos, coached by former Chargers safety Eric Weddle, then took over and carried a 20-0 lead into the half.

In the second instance, after freshman Walker took a three-yard toss from Huddy into the end zone for the Vikings' only touchdown starting the second half, La Jolla had the ball again on a possession that lasted from 4:57 in the third quarter until 10:23 in the fourth.

On a fourth-and-goal from the five-and-a-half-yard line, Carson Diehl, he of heroics the previous two weeks, couldn't quite snag a Smith pass, the 18-play drive dying there. RB took over, and never gave up the ball again.

On the latter drive, Hansen came across on another jet sweep on second-and-five for a first down back at the Bronco 42, and Carson made a trademark leaping catch of a Huddy aerial for 14 yards to the enemy 16.

Sophomore Smith's pass to Walker early in the third quarter was both players' first high school touchdown.

The absence of Jackson Diehl weighed heavily on the Vikings. From the get-go, both offense and defense seemed back on their heels, seemingly with the wind knocked out of them. Each of these two times they approached pay dirt, yet failed, their confidence was riding in the balance. They just couldn't make the grade.

La Jolla now has played six quarters, scoring only one TD, since the senior captain went down with a left ankle injury at El Capitan in the second period Sept. 1 in a devastating 27-24 loss after a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

An active crowd on the triple menu of Military Appreciation Night, Future Vikings Night, and Staff Appreciation Night all longed to cheer more touchdowns, but the Vikes (falling to 2-2, with their last pre-league game at Mission Bay Sept. 15) sorely missed their star player.