LJ FB: Notes and random thoughts

By Ed Piper

Charlie Martin, the senior who only played middle linebacker for the Vikings last year, piled up 85 yards on eight carries for two touchdowns against La Jolla Country Day Sept. 5.

La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach has been pushing to have Martin, one of four team captains, on the field and in that role more.

Roach has to slip him in alongside sophomore Aiden Farrell, whose 226 yards around, through, and over the Torreys--on the Torreys' home field--constituted his breakout game as a Viking, a career now in only its second year.

Charlie also offers the Vikings' offense another option besides fellow senior and fellow captain Carson Diehl, who in the two-game absence of starting quarterback Hudson Smith has twice taken over games in his role taking the snap directly in the "wildcat" formation, and running interceptions back for TD's (against Patrick Henry Aug. 29) and grabbing TD passes (against both Henry and LJCD).

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Freshman quarterback Ty Tortorice has filled in more than adequately for the injured Smith, whose leg swelled and became unwalkable the day after the Torrey Pines game in week one.

Number six recorded stats of seven for 12 in passing against the Torreys for 80 yards. His QB rating for the game was 106.3.

In his opening week filling in for Huddy, Ty threw eight for 12 for 123 yards and three touchdowns against Patrick Henry. His rating was 139.9. In both games Roach has defined the limits and opportunities for Tortorice to enter the game and either hand off primarily to Farrell or pass the ball. Meanwhile, Diehl will line up behind center in other series to do his magic.

The strategy with Tortorice, who just began high school classes in August and did not work out with the varsity in preseason drills, has worked extremely well as the Vikings' need arose following Huddy's "dead leg".

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On defense, in the Vikings' (2-1) first three games, drop end (opposite the defensive end) Nico Bardaro has assisted or soloed in 29 tackles, leading the team. Martin, the son of freshman assistant Ben Martin, is second with 25.

Diehl, at safety, and Taylor Jeffery rank third with 19 total tackles each.