By Ed Piper
The Diehl brothers--Jackson and Carson--gave host Patrick Henry High the fits, as the Vikings built up a 35-7 lead by halftime, and 42-14 before La Jolla coach Tyler Roach pulled his starting unit in the third quarter. The Vikes, having already secured the Eastern League title last week after the first three conference games of a five-game schedule, swamped the Patriots on their Homecoming night, 45-14, Fri., Oct. 20.
The best thing the school in the San Carlos section of San Diego offered Friday night was a halftime battle between Luke Skywalker and the evil Empire. Darth Vader parachuted to midfield, after being flown from Montgomery Field not too far away. His double, a Patrick Henry student, then walked out from behind a screen on the field to fight and lose a laser duel to a well-acted Skywalker, who had already vanquished three opponents (supposedly underclassmen?). Quite entertaining.
The 2,000-or-so Henry students packing the home side of the field loved the theatrics, and crowned their Homecoming Court in the festivities.
Meanwhile, back on the football turf, over-matched Henry coach Colby Davies, with his Patriots coming in 1-2 in league, 4-4 overall, made his biggest mistake when he instructed his captains to defer to La Jolla if they won the pregame coin toss. They did, and they then handed the ball to the potent Viking offense to begin the game.
The elder Diehl, in short order, directed the offense into the end zone on the first nine plays of the contest, employing running back Aidan "Carolina" McGill and tight end Hank Hansen multiple times. Hansen, now a runner as well, carried the ball over from inside the 10-yard line at 7:09 p.m., and with Evan Martin's kick, La Jolla led, 7-0.
Hansen had a second touchdown 18 minutes later on a five-yard pass from Jackson Diehl, putting the Vikings up, 14-0. There wasn't too much doubt remaining about the outcome of this one--only how high Roach was willing to run up the score. (Someone on the sidelines said 70 points might be in play.)
Starting the second quarter, senior receiver Nick Sebro got into the action, nabbing a pass from the 20 for a long gain. "Carolina" scored the TD.
Carson Diehl, the sophomore, had a catch on the Vikings' fourth possession. He was active on defense as well. "Carolina", rumbling on the ground, scored his second TD near the end of the half, the score ascending to 28-7.
Carson grabbed yet another interception--his sixth of the season, his first year on varsity--with 1:16 left in the second quarter. He treated fans to a 33-yard runback. Jackson then found his brother for a 28-yard aerial, giving La Jolla a 35-7 lead as time ran out in the half.
After the entertaining halftime show, Carson Diehl made a spectacular leaping catch of a pass from his brother and a TD, resulting in 42-14.
Hudson "Huddy" Smith took over at QB with 2:29 left in the third stanza. He proceeded to complete all seven passes he put in the air. But Martin, the kicker, had to finish that drive with a 26-yard field goal through the center of the uprights. That was the final score, 45-14.
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