Photos by Ed Piper
In the late afternoon sun at Edwards Stadium,
the Oilers' Alana Williams (29) goes against
Ella Cathalinat. Time expired shortly
afterward, and LJ's Lilly Ferrari scored
the winning goal on the continuation
(no overtime).
Sunday, August 31, 2025
LJ FH: More photos 8/26
Photos by Ed Piper
Talia Snider (left) and Reese Lejuwaan (20)
vie with Natalie Carroll (9) of Huntington
for the ball near midfield in the second quarter.
Vike Ella Cathalinat (red jersey) gets a lot of
pressure by Oilers near their goal: Alana Williams
(to right of Ella, reaching for ball), Alexandra
Perkins (15), and others late in the fourth quarter.
Forward Allison Hawthorne (red jersey, left rear)
tries to hit the ball as teammate Reese Lejuwaan (20)
goes to a knee in front of the Oilers' goal.
Also in view is Vikes' Ella Cathalinat (2).
The winning goal was scored moments later.
Sophomore Sofia Saiegh (10, red) guides
the ball near Huntington Beach's goal on a
corner shot. She is defended by Natalie Carroll (9),
who wears the protective gear for a corner shot.
LJ midfielder Talia Snider (right) and Grace
Moniak cross sticks with the ball pinned under.
LJ Cheer: More photos 8/29
Photos by Ed Piper
Vike cheerleader Emma Matheny (center, front row),
a senior, is super-expressive in La Jolla's halftime
routine. At right is Emery Hom, one of three
other senior captains.
LJ FB: Even more photos 8/29
Photos by Ed Piper
Aiden Farrell (2) leads the way as
Nico Bardaro (15, left) runs 19 yards
to set up his TD reception right at the end
of the first half.
Linebacker Charlie Martin (21, red)
won't give Patriot QB Jayden
Goldman time to throw well
as he rushes the pass attempt right
before halftime.
LJ FB: Still more photos 8/29
Photos by Ed Piper
LJ freshman QB Ty Tortorice (6) delivers a high
strike to receiver Carson Diehl (not in view)
for a 25-yard pass reception and first down.
The Vikings concluded the drive with a
field goal by Julian Zavala.
Big Nico Bardaro (15) is grabbed by a Patriot
defender as he runs with a reception
for 27 yards. Five plays later, he took
a Ty Tortorice pass 19 yards for a TD.
LJ FB: Nico breaks out
Nico Bardaro (15) celebrates his first
of two TD receptions with a teammate
in the first quarter. La Jolla led, 14-0.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
Last year was a portent of things to come.
On Friday night, August 29, against Patrick Henry, junior Nico Bardaro showed that, now as a junior, he was going to be a leader for the Vikings football team.
Bardaro played both ways, and at tight end he grabbed two passes from fill-in quarterback Ty Tortorice to score touchdowns.
In the first quarter, La Jolla leading 7-0, Nico crossed from his spot on the right side of the line to snag Tortorice's spiral on third-and-nine on Henry's 16-yard line. He ran it in, and with Julian Zavala's PAT, the home team--before a large home crowd--moved to 14-0. There was 1:52 on the clock.
Then, midway through the second period, this time on third-and-10, Tortorice--pressed into action with starting QB Huddy Smith sidelined--found the wiry, muscular junior again for a TD reception.
By this time, the Vikings led 37-7, and the romp was on.
La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach has said before that he is looking to Nico for leadership. In a passing league tournament last summer, fellow receiver and defender Carson Diehl was away due to a commitment. Roach said, "I'm looking to Nico."
There is the player who draws attention--and defenders--to him. That is Diehl, an SDSU commit as a senior. But there is another kind of athlete who is steady and plays well, and right now that is Bardaro. He is growing as a person, and maturing as a football player. His slender body is filling out somewhat as he continues in the weight room.
Stayed tuned for the next nine weeks.
Defensive end Nico Bardaro (15) tackles
QB Jayden Goldman on second-and-nine
to start the second quarter.
LJ FB: More photos 8/29
Photos by Ed Piper
Viking QB Ty Tortorice holds the ball out
for running back Aiden Farrell (2)
to take and carry four yards for
a first down four minutes into
the second period.
Injured QB Huddy Smith (1) shows running
back Aiden Farrell (2) video of a play
on the sidelines.
LJ back Aiden Farrell (2, with ball) pushes
to make more yardage. I got hit on the sidelines
by runner and tackler on this play, I think!
LJ FB: Week 2 photos 8/29
Photos by Ed Piper
LJ cornerback Drake Weise (21) in pursuit.
Viking running back Aiden Farrell (2) carries
for three yards on the first play of a
five-play drive leading to Nico Bardaro's
first TD reception of two. His tackler
is Henry's Brandon Fong (50).
LJ tackle Anthony Lopez (54) rushes Patrick
Henry quarterback Jayden Goldman (6)
in the second quarter. The pass resulted
in a pick-six by Carson Diehl (not in view)
and a 30-0 lead.
Cornerback coach Damarious "Whitt" Whitten
(right, with braids) pleads his point with Drake
Weise (21) during a switchover to a kickoff
late in the first half.
Senior Carson Diehl (13) gets the star treatment
after his second pick-six in the first half
and third TD of five, spotlighted on the
sideline camera covering the game.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
LJ xc @ Ravens Invitational, Canyon Crest Academy 8/30
Photos by Ed Piper
La Jolla junior Bill Chebelyon (R), right after
his junior boys race.
Bill (R), with his father
Eddy.
The Vikings' sophomore boys (red jerseys),
right out of the chute at 10:05 a.m.
La Jolla's soph boys start out on
the 3.2-mile course around
CCA's fields, tennis courts,
and finally the track.
A biker paces the boys further into the course.
More of the LJ boys team follows.
Friday, August 29, 2025
LJ FB 52, Patrick Henry 14 - Diehl scores 5 TD's
Senior Carson Diehl (13) leaps to catch
a Ty Tortorice pass for a 25-yard reception
in the second quarter. Diehl scored
five TD's in the Vikings' 52-14 win
over Patrick Henry.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
Senior Carson Diehl, who committed to SDSU before the season, dazzled a large home-opening crowd as he scored five touchdowns of several varieties, including a run from the "wildcat" and two pick-sixes on interceptions, leading La Jolla to a 52-14 win over Patrick Henry Fri., Aug. 29.
With starting quarterback Huddy Smith on crutches after the Vikings were humbled in the season opener at Torrey Pines a week ago, Diehl exploded in a defensive and offensive display that more than made up for a junior year in which he was nagged by injuries much of the season.
The 6'2" athlete, who has a 33-inch vertical leap and ran relays with teammate Charlie Martin for the Viking track team last spring to increase his speed, started the game taking snaps in place of Smith, who suffered a "dead leg" injury in the loss to the Falcons last week.
After Carson ran a keeper from one foot out with 7:20 left in the game for his fifth TD, officials went to a running clock for the remainder of the game. On the previous play, the three-year varsity player took the snap directly from center on the Henry nine-yard line to inside the one.
Vike head coach Tyler Roach and new Defensive Coordinator Randy Cowell were obviously pleased with all skill groups' performances, following a tough opening game against a much larger program. Before the game, Roach said, "Our defense is going to have a pick-six tonight. You can quote me on that."
When linebacker Taylor Jeffrey tipped a Jayden Goldman pass and Diehl at safety ran it to the house with 6:20 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 La Jolla lead, Roach turned to the reporter, and said, "See, we got the pick-six I promised."
An abundance of riches followed. The floodgates began to open against a struggling Patrick Henry team. The hosts led 14-0 at the end of the quarter. They were leading 31-0 with 4:46 left in the first half. The Patriots finally scored on a 59-yard pass play late in the second quarter. The lead was 38-7 going into halftime.
Diehl (13) runs a keeper to the left on the Vikings'
first possession of the second quarter. He gained
three yards, the first play of seven before
kicker Julian Zavala drained a 30-yard
field goal for a 17-0 lead.
Diehl's performance on the Edwards Stadium field was one of the best since Dillon Baxter of Mission Bay torched the Vikings in 2009, passing and running for six touchdowns in an awesome display of offensive power. Baxter went on to USC.
LJ SCORING
1Q
Diehl interception return; Zavala kick
Bardaro pass from Tortorice 6 yards; Zavala kick
2Q
Zavala field goal 30 yards
Diehl punt return 47 yards; Zavala kick
Diehl interception return; Zavala kick
Bardaro pass from Tortorice 10 yards; Zavala kick
3Q
Diehl pass from Tortorice 10 yards; Zavala kick
4Q
Diehl run 1 yard; Zavala kick
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Ed Piper studied journalism at Chico State. His career highlights include covering the Pan Am Games in Mexico City, and "scooping" the big rival newspaper that a pro soccer franchise was coming to Santa Barbara. He does not have a pet dog.