By Ed Piper
Carson Diehl, a 6-foot, 165-pounder for La Jolla's football team, was a spectacular playmaker against El Capitan in week 3 of the season, played at the East County school Fri., Sept. 1.
His brother, starting quarterback Jackson Diehl, played well while he was in the game during the first half, completing seven of nine passes and running like a deer on multiple keepers before going out with an injury shortly before halftime.
But it was Carson, despite the eventual 27-24 loss to the Vaqueros, who had his most spectacular game so far. On one of his two interceptions, the lithe, athletic sophomore leaped high in open field to snag a pass by El Capitan QB Brandt Barker in midair.
On third-and-12 from the La Jolla 47-yard line, with 4:23 left in the third quarter, the younger Diehl grabbed the errant aerial, then crumpled to the ground when hit by a defender right after he made the interception.
The Vikings still led tenuously, 24-14, their concerns increased with their starting quarterback out. La Jolla had led early in the game, 21-0, then 24-7 on an Evan Martin field goal with 1:16 left in the first half.
After Carson's interception, the Vikings were unable to move the ball, punting the ball away.
Earlier in the third period, Diehl had made another interception against Barker, who throws well but whose rhythm had been upset by La Jolla Defensive Coordinator Ryan Price's defense, as well as the burst of momentum the Vikings showed on offense by scoring three quick TD's in the first quarter. That momentum took El Capitan's breath away as a team, momentarily--it was so quick, and the Vaqueros didn't appear ready for the mini-onslaught.
On this pick, Carson caught it on a second-and-10 by El Cap, on their own 35, running it to the La Jolla 44-yard line.
This earlier turnover resulted in disaster, as young quarterback Huddy Smith, inserted for Jackson Diehl, flipped the ball in the air as a Vaquero defender isolated him out of the pocket near the left/La Jolla sideline and applied pressure. The ball went squirting out, the defender grabbed it, and ran it several yards before big Jett Thomas, thankfully, tackled him.
Adding to the misfortune, a penalty was assessed against La Jolla on the play, and El Capitan took over on their own 44. But they couldn't score.
On the offensive side, Carson Diehl was, likewise, outstanding. He didn't score a touchdown, but he caught several passes.
In fact, Jackson's first pass from scrimmage after the opening kickoff--and military flyover on Military Appreciation Night--was to his brother. Carson slipped a tackle on the La Jolla 44 and extended the play for a big gain. That shocked Coach Ron Burner's Vaqueros.
The Vikings soon scored, in the first 1:50 of the game, after completions to Nick Sebro and Kai Fukuda. 7-0, Vikings.
Carson's first of his three interceptions on the night came in El Capitan's first possession, as the Vaqueros moved down to the La Jolla 24 only to meet doom to their drive at the hands of Diehl.
It was classic Diehl neighborhood ball when taking over on their second possession, Jackson followed his own completion to Carson--a gainer for first down--with a keeper of 55 yards down the left sideline. 13-0, Vikings. 5:28 left in the first quarter.
Hudson "Huddy" Smith made Carson his favorite receiver near the end of the game, by then La Jolla having given up the score that put them down for the first time, 27-24, with 2:29 left.
Smith connected with the younger Diehl for four completions in the team's final possession.
On the night, Carson copped eight receptions for 124 yards, a spectacular two-way performance combined with his three interceptions.
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