LJ flag FB: Good start

By Ed Piper

At this writing (Aug. 31), after the first two weeks of their initial season, the Viking flag-footballers look fast, athletic, and versatile.

Coach Matt Butcher's first official CIF team (after coaching four years at Muirlands) continued to execute in their season opener at Point Loma, despite a shellacking that they absorbed on the scoreboard. A first-year program against a fourth-year one--there should be differences in the two systems.

But quarterback Paige Dykhuis, comfortable at her position, continued dealing. The "interchangeable parts" of Butcher's offense kept working, against a veteran opponent: Emilie Crago, safety/end, fast receiver/defensive back Eva Solsona, and others remembered their assignments, found their places, and kept going--not like a new program without a clue.

More apparent was the Vikings' seasoning and growth in week two. Against Kearny on Tues., Aug. 25, the assistant coach for the Komets, in his halftime feedback to his team, used La Jolla as an example of "this school, this team" who were good and established--only, it is La Jolla's first season competing in CIF!

Nothing shameful here, but Kearny, in its fourth year, couldn't score a touchdown in the first half. The Vikings, at home, scored a TD late in the half and went on to won, 12-8, in a thriller that shows the many good things to come.

LJ FB: Still more photos 8/28

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Jackson Hanlon (8), in his first action

coming back from injury--playing both ways--

bears the brunt of bruising Jacob Fee (19)

on this 13-yard run. Grossmont scored

on the drive, taking an early 8-7 lead.

LJ Cheer: More photos

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ FB: More photos 8/28

Photos by Ed Piper

Tight end Nico Bardaro (15) completes

a pass-and-run from QB Ty Tortorice

for 20 yards and a TD, 7-0, in the

first quarter at Grossmont.

Starting QB Ty Tortorice (hand raised) gets

sideline instructions from LJ head coach

Tyler Roach (holding play chart) with

eight minutes left in the third quarter.

Hiller wide receiver Max Bewley (3) is going

to slip a tackle and take a reception 27 yards

to the LJ 39 early in the first quarter.

Senior Nico Bardaro (15) takes a pass

from Ty Tortorice 17 yards for first

down on the Vikings' opening possession.

LJ scored a TD seven plays later.

QB Brody Bukich (clapping the count) sets the

offense midway through the third quarter,

the Vikings leading 14-8.

Tyler Holmes (16), Grossmont QB,

runs before a flag brings the play back.

The senior was just getting warmed up,

running for 137 yards and passing for

182 more.

LJ Cheer: 8/28 @ Grossmont

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ FB: Game story 8/28

LJ QB Ty Tortorice takes a keeper

on the Vikings' opening possession.

The visitors assumed a 7-0 lead after this drive.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Vikings did something right--actually, two things: The second was the kicking/punting game, which was fabulous in the persons of juniors Ryan Hassankhami and Bap Ferton. Ryan kicked a 35-yard field goal under pressure to put La Jolla temporarily ahead, 17-16, with 7:43 left in the game.

Bap, short for "Baptiste", nailed multiple long kickoffs at key times, keeping host Grossmont in tough field position.

The first thing Coach Tyler Roach's offense corrected from their opener at Patrick Henry a week ago was to start out well. Sophomore quarterback Ty Tortorice directed a successful drive beginning on the 23-yard line that efficiently included almost every weapon the Vikings had: a 15-yard pass completion to a newly-returned Jackson Hanlon; another of 17 yards to Nico Bardaro; two runs by the steady Kali Deberry; and a pair of rushes between the tackles by Joseph Crudo.

The piece de resistance was a screen left by Tortorice to Bardaro from the Grossmont 20-yard line to complete the drive for a 7-0 red-and-black lead.

Unfortunately, the Viking offense got stuck in neutral until late in the second quarter, when two-way player Crudo ran for the front left corner of the end zone from 17 yards out. Joseph was able to touch the ball just inside pay dirt, La Jolla taking a 14-8 lead on Hassankhami's PAT kick.

What the visitors didn't count on was Foothiller QB Tyler Holmes going "The Hulk", as he repeatedly passed (12 completions for 182 yards), but more impressively kept the ball and ran all over La Mesa/El Cajon for 137 yards on 18 tries. The indefatigable senior ran for TD's beginning the fourth quarter (a 16-14 lead) and a short time later (24-17)--after Ryan's field goal--to seal the game.

Senior Jackson Hanlon (8) takes a pass

reception from Tortorice 15 yards

to set up first-and-10 on the Grossmont

35-yard line in the opening quarter.

LJ FB 17, Grossmont 24 - 8/28 - LJ now 0-2

Photos by Ed Piper

Jackson Hanlon (8) angles out of the backfield

on the first play from scrimmage. His one-yard

gain began a 77-yard drive resulting in

LJ's first score, 7-0.

Receiver Emerson Rota (right) tries to juke

Hiller DB Darion Crawford (6) on an

eight-yard reception from Ty Tortorice

to begin the second quarter.

LJ cornerbacks coach Demarious Whitten (front

left) runs the defensive unit through a replay

on the sidelines after the Hillers turned

the ball over on downs near the end

of the first quarter, LJ leading, 7-0.

Hiller running back Corbin Dow (22) carries left

15 yards on Grossmont's first possession.

Vikes include A.J. Lennan (25).

Ryan Hassankhani (88) kicked

a 28-yard field goal to put

LJ ahead 17-16 with 7:43

left in the game. Here he is

practicing punting in warmups.

Place-kicker Bap Ferton (80),

a junior, had more than one

touchback (no run back).