The Vikings overcame a persistent run-based attack by host Madison to land a 48-35 victory Thursday night, Oct. 30, and end their regular season with a win in their final Eastern League game.
Coach Tyler Roach came up with a new wrinkle in his offensive attack (see accompanying story), as La Jolla executed a flea flicker to perfection against the surprised Warhawks to take an early 13-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the play, quarterback Emerson Rota passed to Harper Lane on the right sideline, Lane then sending a spiral 42 yards to a waiting Logan Clark in the end zone with six minutes left in the period. Clark, almost as if to bless the play, knelt to the turf as he caught Lane's pass. The flea flicker followed an earlier six-yard completion to receiver Carson Diehl for the opening score of the game.
Interestingly, both Rota and Lane are lefthanded passers, and there was an artistic flavor to the play, designed in practice leading up to the game.
Madison, on its own Senior Night--with many football players, cheerleaders, and members of the music program introduced before the game and during halftime--responded at the beginning of the second quarter with a score of its own. The Warhawks, long under the tutelage of Rick Jackson, were playing their first game against La Jolla under first-year coach Kenny Nears.
Running back Marques Salmond took the snap for a 25-yard TD romp. Earlier in the drive, before the quarter turned, Salmond--"The Big Tank"--rambled up the left side from scrimmage for a 75-yard gainer. He looked big, physical, unstoppable as he wound his way forward, seemingly unimpeded.
Running back Aiden Farrell continued his high-yardage ways for the Vikings, piling up 233 yards on the ground for the game. He had a spectacular run for 45 yards on first-and-10 on La Jolla's first drive, darting to the left for long yardage, then zigzagging across the field to the right to put the ball on the Madison five-yard line. Rota delivered his six-yard pass to Diehl for the TD and 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Farrell rushed 53 yards on first-and-10 before Diehl took another scoring pass from Rota 15 yards for a 20-7 lead.
Carson Diehl's talents as a receiver were on full display as San Diego State's receivers coach watched from the north end of the field. Diehl committed to SDSU before the season. In the first half, besides his first two TD's, the 6'3" senior took a third reception into the end zone with a minute left.
Diehl had a pick-six of 40 yards called back midway through the initial period after a flag against La Jolla for an illegal block.
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