LJ FB 7, Point Loma 37 - Week 6 9/26

Viking junior Carson Diehl, in the

wildcat formation, looks downfield

before taking off on 2nd-and-8

for a big gain starting the fourth quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, coming off its bye week, ran into the buzz saw of Point Loma at its best, as the Pointers scored 37 unanswered points and kept "The Golden Shoe", the emblem of the rivalry, after a 37-7 victory Friday night, Sept. 26.

The game was the Eastern League opener for both teams.

Point Loma's Romeo (ro-MAY-o) Carter, who could be the identical twin of the Vikings' Carson Diehl player-wise--a 6'3" safety who also plays wide receiver--put on a show lasting from the end of the first quarter through the third quarter, catching three touchdown passes, then crafting back-to-back pick-sixes before Pointer coach Ryan Price called off his troops.

The Point Loma star's two interceptions and TD run-backs came within 16 seconds of each other, as the bottom fell out for the Vikings on foreign territory.

Carter, a Boise State commit, had another pick-six called back immediately after the other two on a flag against the Pointers for an illegal block in the back.

Meanwhile, the Vikings' up-tempo, spread offense never caught momentum after a Huddy Smith-to-Nico Bardaro TD pass early in the game. Running back Aiden Farrell ground out yards, and Diehl had brief moments when he was able to break loose. Point Loma's defense put up a stout bulwark under Price's tutelage. (He served as the Vikings' Defensive Coordinator two years ago.)

The game was marred beginning at  the 3:31 mark in the second quarter, when the Point Loma student body began loudly chanting "F--- La Jolla", over and over, with the score tied 7-7. This continued for 15 minutes or more, until the end of the first half.

Vice Principal Cindy Ueckert, La Jolla High's administrator at the game, said she, at first, couldn't believe what the students were chanting. Then she said she went over to the home side of the field, and talked to the PLHS principal. He apparently talked to students, and got the chant to stop.

However, after he talked to the students, in the third quarter they took up the chant, "F (without saying the expletive) La Jolla" for a short time. The whole episode was a sad commentary on the state of sportsmanship in high school sports.

At no point did game officials indicate any action would be taken. La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach, exasperated with his team by that point, trailing 14-7, yelled at his players on the sideline during the second quarter, "Do you hear what they're saying? They're saying that to you."

CIF has a motto promoting sportsmanship. This reporter, in 22 years of being around high school sports, has never heard such a chant during a game before. It was shocking.

SCORING

1Q

LJ - Nico Bardaro 13-yard pass from Hudson Smith; Julian Zavala kick

PL - Romeo Carter 15-yard pass from Henry Heuser; Ryan Cleator kick

2Q

PL - Carter pass from Ryder Watson; Cleator kick

PL - Cleator FG

3Q

PL - Carter pass from Watson; Cleator kick

PL - Carter interception, run back; Cleator kick

PL - Carter interception, run back; Cleator kick