LJ Cheer: Photos 8/21

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ FB: Photos from opening night 8/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Freshman Zakai Jackson (6) returns a kickoff

to the left as Isaiah Maestes (7) of the Patriots

covers.

Junior running back Kali Deberry (left) nearly

breaks a tackle as he carries after the half.

Henry's Kymani Joeseph (1) pulls in

a 29-yard bomb from QB Madin Gardini

to set up the Patriots' 28-10 lead

beginning the third quarter. He is defended

by Emerson Rota (2) of LJHS.

QB Madin Gardini gave

the Viking defense fits

all night, passing and

running.

LJ FB 30, Patrick Henry 35 - Opening game 8/21

By Ed Piper

Early in the second half, with host Patrick Henry leading 28-10, Viking sophomore quarterback Ty Tortorice led a drive that included four runs by back Kali Deberry, a pair of completions to freshman Zakai Jackson, yet another rush by Joseph Crudo, the workhorse of the night, and a keeper by Tortorice himself.

Tall and swift Nico Bardaro, in the wildcat, took the ball in in a goal-line stand, to bring La Jolla to within 28-16. The clock read 3:19, and there was plenty of time for Coach Tyler Roach's black-and-red to engineer a comeback.

But host Henry immediately responded--before a loud full house, after a halftime featuring the Patriot marching band--to the threat as senior QB Madin Bardini, growing in confidence, found receiver Cole Farace in the far left side of the end zone with a 38-yard strike. After the kick by automatic Cameron Kop, the unwelcoming hosts led 35-16, and the rest of the way would be a hard slog for La Jolla and Roach. They fell, 35-30, August 21.

LJ flag FB: More photos 8/18

Photos by Ed Piper

Viking defenders scramble to stop Pointers'

Abby Laroux (21) on a long run after

a reception.

LJ #12 carries the ball, eluding Eva Cruz (0)

of Point Loma. But the play was called back

for illegal contact.

LJ flag FB vs. Point Loma 8/18 - 1st LJ game in CIF ever

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ #7 (left) makes stop on Jordan Ruthven (5)

on punt return.

LJ #3 takes off on another great run from

the backfield toward the left sideline.

LJ defense is alert on passing down.

Goal line stand by LJ.

Vikings' QB

The Vikings' first play from scrimmage ever.

Captains meet at the middle of the field

for the coin toss. PLHS deferred (took the

ball first in the second half).

LJ g golf: Practice @ Mission Bay 8/17

Photos by Ed Piper

Returning sophomore

Tiffanie Brownson

Returning senior Milena Malik

Sophomore captain Liesl Kijora

LJ FB: A young, hungry team previews in scrimmage

New quarterback Brody Bukich (in red jersey)

is about to receive a snap as he leads the Vikings

in their first action against an opposing team

Saturday, August 15.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The 2026 Vikings, sporting a new Defensive Coordinator (Stephen Dixon) and two basically untried quarterbacks, brought good energy and capitalized on a touchdown aerial on their opening drive (junior transfer QB Brody Bukich to Nico Bardaro) and new running back Kali Deberry's 8-yard scoring run early in the second half in their annual Kickoff Classic scrimmage at University City High Saturday evening, August 15.

Returning sophomore Ty Tortorice shared playing time equally with Bukich, from Mount Carmel. All-purpose Joseph Crudo, who also started at linebacker, touched the ball six times on the beginning possession--Tyler Roach-coached offenses love to open with the ball. The 5'10" running back rushed five times and caught a screen pass, before Bukich located the 6'4" Bardaro at the back of the end zone from four yards out and Nico made sure it counted by walking the tightrope to stay inside scoring territory.

Senior Evan Martinson, the vocal captain in contrast to the quiet let-my-play-be-my-example Bardaro, led the young unit in stretching on the newly-maintained field adjacent to UC's gridiron to get the energy up before the contest.

La Jolla is looking ahead to its Friday, August 21 opener at Patrick Henry. It would seem the defense under Dixon's fiery direction and Deberry and Bardaro will feature for the coastal school this season, just as it did in an intrasquad game a week ago (August 8). Roach ran the offensive unit through a two-minute drill to practice some urgency late in the second half, when a running clock was agreed to at halftime by both coaches in the 10-minute quarter format.

The black-and-red, playing with their quarterbacks in red to keep them safe from an over-zealous tackler in the exhibition (the rest of the team wore black jerseys over white pants), weren't likely to show anything special on this night. Opposing teams often put an assistant in the stands to gain any advance knowledge. In CIF, the two paired teams each week exchange video in a friendly gesture to familiarize each other with their opponent.

Roach especially wants to be ready, after Henry in the opener and Grossmont August 28 (both on the road), for big Point Loma in the home and Eastern League opener in week three. The defending league champs are coached by former LJHS Defensive Coordinator Ryan Price.

Running back Joseph Crudo (10)

tries to elude the grasp of defender

Cash Kalauli-Martin (55) on the

opening possession between La Jolla

and Mission Bay at University City.