LJ b water polo 15, Ventura 5 - AFC Tourney @ Coronado, Day 1

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Trevor Kula (top) backs Kai Safran (17)

up near the side of the pool in the Vikings'

smothering defense.

Senior Liam Flanagan (6) has surprised

Coach Tom Atwell as the Vikings'

leading scorer at this point.

LJ FB: Worth another look

RB QB Gaige Weddle takes off

on a 34-yard scamper in the second

quarter, but the Viking defense

held and the Broncos were unable

to score. Halftime score was

RB 8, LJ 6.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

When La Jolla's defense held against Rancho Bernardo and freshman quarterback Gaige Weddle at the end of the first half Fri., Sept. 1, the Vikings trailing only 8-6, it was a significant moment--one in which Defensive Coordinator Brandon Harrison and his boys can be proud of.

Weddle, the son of RBHS head coach Eric Weddle, the former NFL defensive star, ran the ball three straight times, before throwing incomplete with the clock running out. On one run, Gaige broke a long one, carrying the ball from the Rancho Bernardo 41 to the La Jolla 25 for 34 yards.

One curious occurrence happened in the midst of this activity: the public address announcer warned that whoever was flashing a laser at the field (from the home side) needed to stop. Someone on the visiting side remarked, "That shouldn't be a warning. That should be a penalty."

In any case, Harrison's unit was holding up well in a long, hard-fought struggle.

By the time Weddle went over on a keeper from eight yards out on the second-to-last play from scrimmage in the third quarter, putting Rancho Bernardo up, 15-6, the Viking defensive players--led in a strong effort by safety Ryan Kestler, outside linebacker Leed Smoole (who recorded a sack on RB's regular QB, Trey Durham), and others, had put in a good night's work. But there was more to come.

Finally, with La Jolla's offense struggling with starting quarterback Hudson Smith out with an injury and not responding to the Broncos' challenge, the defense gave up a seven-yard pass as the hosts took over on a fumble at the 13 and quickly converted. The LJ line coach went berserk in remonstrating defenders for giving up the score.

It was a difficult moment to watch, as players who had poured their hearts out were scolded for letting down on a breakdown in coverage after receiver Miles De la Cruz crossed the goal line. Rancho Bernardo led, 22-6, that put the game away, and the home crowd and band went crazy in celebrating a successful night (after a couple of down years, as one chain gang member explained).

LJ's Kai Fukuda (behind) darts to the right

on the opening kickoff of the third quarter.

On coverage is Dane Rhodes (23).

LJ FB: Q&A with Coach Scott Ashby, Torrey Pines - 8/30

By Ed Piper

Scott Ashby is the head football coach at Torrey Pines High. The Falcons faced La Jolla Fri., Aug. 30, for the first time in 32 years. The Vikings won, 21-14.

This conversation took place before the Vikings' home game in week 2 of the young season.

What's your outlook for tonight?

Well, La Jolla is always a very good team. They hit, and they run, and they're disciplined, so it's going to be a good game.

Do you want to accomplish certain things tonight?

We always want to come out on top, but at the end of the day, we really want to make sure that every step we take gets better and better every week.

Matt Livingston (assistant coach) was talking about number 13 (Carson Diehl). You want to be aware of him?

Number 13 is a very good football player. Runs great routes, great hands. He's an excellent football player, and he'll be really good in college, too.

Last thing. Last week...

We played a team in New York (Freedom High from Bethlehem, Penn., at a neutral site). We lost 17-14. They're ranked number-one in their county. And their O-line averaged 285, 290 (pounds). It was a heckuva football game.

LJ FB: Q&A with Coach Rick Jackson, Madison HS - 9/6

By Ed Piper

La Jolla High played host to James Madison High in football in a non-league encounter Friday night, Sept. 6. The game was anticipated to be a major test for the Vikings, as the Warhawks have had a powerful program, including winning a state title (later revoked).

These comments were made prior to the game, with Warhawk head coach Rick Jackson. Surprisingly, LJHS manhandled their Clairemont neighbor 23-3.

What's your outlook for tonight?

My outlook for tonight is that we have two good football teams that are playing each other, and it should be a good, competitive game.

So far this season you have played Foothill (Santa Ana) (losing 28-20), and then you played Steele Canyon (winning 35-21), both at home. How was the start for you?

It was okay. Foothill is pretty physical up front, so it kind of gets us ready for what we're going to see in league.

LJ FB: Offense a finely-tuned piece

LJ QB Hudson Smith (far right) makes a last pass

attempt to the right side early in the third quarter.

He did not return after that point.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

For the first three games of the 2024 campaign, La Jolla's offense has been a finely-set piece of jewelry, with junior quarterback Hudson Smith as a centerpiece.

With Smith, in his first experience starting at the varsity level, initiating Coach Tyler Roach's up-tempo, spread offense, he can pass or hand off to running back Aidan "Carolina" McGill.

If Huddy passes, he has many potential targets:

--Carson Diehl, a high-flying two-way player who also gathers interceptions as a hobby from his safety spot on defense;

--Hank Hansen, an all-purpose Swiss army knife who also runs jet sweeps and unadorned carries from his position in the backfield;

--McGill, who gained over 1,000 yards as a junior all-league back last season;

--Kai Fukuda, with hands as soft as a baby's skin, cradling those tender passes that Smith directs his way;

--Andre "Dre" McLees Walker, who is part of a "phenom soph" pair, returning from a promising freshman year;

--Nico Bardaro, the other half of the sophomore deuce. He plays both ways, offense and defense, as does McLees Walker.

We've even seen sophomore Aiden Farrell as a receiver. Roach loves to create all these options, as this year the opportunity to add to his interchangeable high-speed offensive machine has presented itself, and receivers galore have sprinkled the first three victories.

But when Smith is removed from the intricately-set piece of jewelry art, the distributor is gone, and the Vikings, understandably, don't have another player prepared and with the varied talents of a Hudson.

That happened Friday night, Sept. 13, at Rancho Bernardo High, when Smith got up slowly from at least two hits he absorbed. Finally, after the first drive opening the second half, with La Jolla trailing only 8-6, Huddy was ruled out. He didn't come back.

And the Vikes were in a pickle.

Hansen, a sturdy, athletic senior, entered the QB position at 7:57 on the clock in the third quarter. He carried the ball, and later he handed off to "'Lina" (McGill's nickname, for "South Carolina", where he is from) and Bardaro--Bardaro's first time rushing this season.

Progress was slow to nil against a bruising Bronco defense, pumped up for Patriot Day in front of a giant band, half-time dance squad, and many cheerleaders, coached by a big-name individual in Eric Weddle, the former NFL defender. The visitors went three-and-out two possessions in a row to end the third quarter.

Meanwhile, to their credit, Rancho Bernardo was getting ever closer, and finally pushed a score through with Gaige Weddle rushing for a TD from the QB spot. The Broncos now led, 15-6, and La Jolla looked mired in quicksand, unable to advance the ball.

With the 22-12 defeat, La Jolla is heading into a week of practice with the Eastern League opener Fri., Sept. 20 versus Mission Bay at home. Smith's status for that game is in question.

LJ FB: Game story 9/13

Vike back Aidan McGill vaults

over Rancho Bernardo defenders

on La Jolla's first drive.

By Ed Piper

The combatants in the battle of the unbeatens (both 3-0) at Rancho Bernardo Fri., Sept. 13, were struggling, and the struggling was good.

La Jolla struck first, scoring on quarterback Hudson Smith's strike to sophomore Nico Bardaro from nine yards out later in the first quarter. The kick was botched.

Then, the host Broncos--featuring a full band of a hundred musicians, plus dancers and cheerleaders on a packed home side of the stands, all decked out in Bronco blue--struck early in the second quarter on QB Trey Durham's bolt to Miles De La Cruz for 15 yards and pay dirt, going ahead on Gaige Weddle's reception for a two-point conversion and an 8-6 lead.

Weddle, only a freshman, is the son of RBHS head coach Eric Weddle, the NFL great in his third season as coach (second has head coach). But he doesn't play like a freshman, entering later as a running/passing quarterback.

The battle of the titans remained at 8-6 into the third quarter. After the Vikings' first drive of the second half, Smith went out with injury and wasn't going to return.

By then, Coach Tyler Roach's squad was in a predicament, because they were struggling to move the ball--despite fill-in QB Hank Hansen's heroic efforts at a position he is not ordinarily accustomed to filling full-time.

With the game in the balance, the Broncos finally scored on the younger Weddle's keeper at the end of the third stanza, posting a 15-6 lead.

At that point, from La Jolla's side, things looked pretty dismal. Receiver/safety Carson Diehl had been out since the first half, as well.

Then Durham shoveled a pass to De La Cruz again late in the final quarter for a 22-6 advantage, and the battle of the unbeatens was basically decided.

The Vikings added a late TD courtesy of lefty QB Emerson Rota's pass play to Aiden Farrell, who scampered up the right side 58 yards for a touchdown with a mere 22.9 seconds left in the game.

LJ Cheer @ LJ FB 9/13

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ cheerleaders stunt at the goal line

after Aiden Farrell caught an Emerson Rota

pass and took it 58 yards for a TD

with 22.9 seconds left in the game.

LJ FB 12, Rancho Bernardo 22

Photos by Ed Piper

Sophomore Nico Bardaro (15, far left) carries

a reception from QB Hudson Smith over from

nine yards out for the Vikings' first TD

and a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

RB running back Miles De la Cruz (20) batters

his way to short yardage as La Jolla defenders

crash in. Leed Smoole is front right (6).

LJ back Aidan McGill carries the ball for five

yards on his first carry of the night. "Carolina"

rushed 15 times for 78 yards.

Vike QB Hudson Smith

fires a pass to receiver Kai

Fukuda (not in photo)

for four yards on La Jolla's

first drive of the night.

A prop plane performed a flyover

during the Patriot Day observance

before the game at Rancho Bernardo High.

LJ g golf d. Scripps Ranch 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Bella Itkin launches her

first shot of the day in the league

opener against Scripps Ranch

Thurs., Sept. 12 at Torrey Pines.

Arie Williams (foreground)

and teammate Ivana Feinberg

inspect a rotisserie chicken

Arielle put in her golf bag

for the match against Scripps.

Bella Itkin takes a pose on the

driving range at Torrey Pines

before a match against Scripps

Ranch.

Maddie Quach lines up her first tee

shot on the North course

Thurs., Sept. 12.

Super-tall Milena Malk, a sophomore,

gets ready to tee off in the second

group with Scripps Ranch.

A military helicopter flies over Torrey Pines

Golf Course in the middle of the match.

Senior Ivana Feinberg takes her turn

to let it rip from the first tee. This is

her first time playing for the LJ

golf team.

Arie Williams places her tee before

her first shot on the Torrey Pines course.

LJ FB: Looking ahead to RB in week 4

By Ed Piper

Looking ahead to their week 4 game Fri., Sept. 13, at Rancho Bernardo, the Vike football team (3-0) is still led in scoring by all-purpose athlete Hank Hansen, a senior who has lived for this moment. "HHH", as he calls himself, missed La Jolla's week 3 game yet has 24 points on four touchdowns.

Another phenom, sophomore Andre McLees Walker, owns 18 points on three receiving touchdowns--two in the Vikings' 23-3 win over Madison at home Sept. 6. The stats from the Warhawk win haven't been posted to MaxPreps yet, so Dre's stats may go even higher.

On the other side, at Rancho Bernardo, Coach Eric Weddle, of Charger fame, has his son Gaige playing quarterback as a freshman part-time. Weddle's starter, junior Trey Durham, has completed 24 of 40 passes for 429 yards and five TD's, as the Broncos have gone 3-0 with wins over Poway (13-10), San Pasqual (41-7), and Point Loma (37-17).

The win over Point Loma is a point of comparison for the Vikings, since they will newly face former Defensive Coordinator Ryan Price in an Eastern League match-up this season. While La Jolla has looked impressive, with back-to-back wins over local powers Torrey Pines and Madison, the Pointers are up-and-down, getting walloped in their opener by Del Norte, 20-7, then succumbing to Rancho Bernardo.

LJ softball: Emmy and college team to play at UCSD in Feb.

By Ed Piper

Emmy Cardenas, one of the best Vikings to ever star on the LJHS softball diamond, will return to San Diego with her college team, Winthrop University, for a tournament next February 7-8-9.

Cardenas, a two-way player for the Eagles, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, was named the MVP of the Senior All-Star Game in June 2023 played on the Tritons' home field at UCSD. She hit a double that bounced off the left-centerfield fence and drove in the go-ahead run. Then in the final inning, she pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the save.

For the Vikings during her prep days, Emmy blasted a record number of home runs while batting in the third slot, and meanwhile hurled several no-hitters from the pitching circle.

The right-hander, who also bats from the right side, wears number six and stands 5'8".

LJ g VB vs. Scripps Ranch

Photos by Ed Piper

Junior Emma Garrett defends on the back line.

Sophomore Brooke Mannheimer (9) applies the block.

Jordi Steele serves.

Katie Murray bumps a pass.

Scripps tries a successful quick toss at the net

instead of a set to a hitter.

LJ coach Kelly Drobeck talks to her team

during a timeout in game one.

JV player Jori Carswell (far right) with her mom

Lainie and her big brother, Spence, Class of 2022.

JV player Norah Zadeyan (center) with her dad,

Ankist.

LJ b beach VB: CIF sanction just around the corner?

By Ed Piper

An assistant coach for St. Augustine said Tues., Sept. 10, that the word was "possibly [CIF sanction] is coming next year" to make boys beach volleyball an official school sport.

That's more than Dave Jones, associate coach at La Jolla, said a few weeks ago, when he discussed the status of the male counterpart to girls beach volleyball, which sailed through to official CIF status a year or more ago.

On that occasion, Jones, a long-time classroom teacher on campus and coach in the gym and on the beach, said, "In the past, it was encouraged to go ahead and start (boys beach) teams" in one of the 10 state sections, not having to coordinate it with other sections or with the state office.

Now, he said, the word is "you have to work state-wide to establish teams in each section", and move more in lock-step in coordinating it.

We'll see. Kelly Drobeck, the LJHS girls coach, successfully militated for girls beach volleyball to become an official sport (versus "club") along with other coaches. The Vikings won the first two San Diego Section titles in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, they fell in the playoffs.

A major reason for the impetus in girls/womens beach volleyball was NCAA recognition of the sport, and subsequent offering of scholarships. That really pushed things forward, and established a need for athletes to fill teams.

And behind that was a push to bring equity on the women's side alongside tackle football on the men's side. Football is an enormous sport, with up to 53 student-athletes carried on the team. Title IX, instituted in 1972-73, requires that scholarships and facilities be equal in colleges. Fifty-three athletes is a lot of students to equal on the female side. Beach volleyball is one of the sports. Flag football, supported by the NFL, is newly coming into its own as another sport to involve girls/women.

Interestingly, women's and men's flag football will be included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

LJ b beach VB 1, Saints 4 - 9/10

Photos by Ed Piper

Myles Plaskonos leaps,

Zephyr Smith below.

"C" match: Ben Salmon (L) and

Sonny Wiczynksi