What were the signs of La Jolla turning a corner and maturing in a new way as the Vikings faced defending football Division III state champion Madison Friday night (Nov. 1)?
--The Vike defense held All-CIF quarterback Kareem Coles and company to 14 points in the first half.
--The red-and-black offense dropped two reception bombs on the Warhawks to come back to within 17-14 midway through the third quarter.
--Juniors Da'Jour Tims, Grant Miller, and Connor Walton and sophomore Jonathan Levenson, among others, took further steps of growth and hung in there against the sixth-ranked team in CIF.
Answer: All of these. Despite the Vikings' 38-14 loss at the "Mad House", coaches and players displayed smiles and talked about a furtherance of the building that La Jolla has been doing this season--building a new culture in the program, and building toward something bigger and better.
Coach Jason Carter talked about the "baby steps" that his Vikings made against a third-straight tough opponent. "I wanted to see if they would compete against Madison," commented Carter after the contest. His players did.
"I think we learned about our heart and our ability to come back in games," said Carlton O'Neal.Following a first half in which Madison's talented offense marched the ball down the field and posted a quick 7-0 lead in less than three minutes after winning the pre-game coin toss, then saw La Jolla struggle to get anything going, the Vikings came out in the second half with new energy.
After a catalyzing Eric Tims kick return all the way to the Madison 28-yard line, quarterback Collin Rugg mixed it up with carries by workhorse back Reid Martin and deft passes directed Nic Skala's and Carlton O'Neal's ways. Bingo. First score of the night for the visitors, 17-6, on a pass to the senior Skala, with 10:21 on the clock in the third quarter.
Coach Rick Jackson's Warhawks punted on their next possession. A sack by committee of Coles, the lefty quarterback, was a key stop. Then, in short order from the Madison 41, Martin rushed, O'Neal caught, and Da'Jour Tims fired a 30-yard flea flicker to receiver Brandon Bonham for a touchdown that surprised the Madison defense. Score now: 17-14, after Trenton Fudge's point-after conversion. The home crowd grew silent.
That was the closest La Jolla got. Its defense continued pounding, though, against larger opponents. At one point in the second half, Kareem Coles was knocked out of a couple of series on offense due to hits he took.
"I think we learned about our heart and our ability to come back in games," said O'Neal at the conclusion. "They're the state champs, with only one loss, and we competed really well," said all-purpose back Martin. Several players are juniors, including these two, with another year to look forward to.
Copyright 2013 Ed Piper
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