LJ FB: Week 2 defensive report

Pregame "haka" to get the Vikes all whipped up

just before kickoff. (Photo Ed Piper)

Viking fans, I would love to give you a story on the performance of the LJHS defense to recognize them. A parent thanked me before the Blastoff game for a story the previous week on just that very thing. But honestly, I don't know how to get game statistics on defense to give my reporting a little "meat" instead of just anecdotes. But here goes.

Offense receives almost automatic recognition. The number of passes, completions, and so forth are the first thing that team staffs compile. The game report often carries a scoring summary, which only lists touchdowns and other scores, which by nature are usually accomplished by the offensive side.

Thus, to give "M" linebacker Anthony "Ant" Stanley or "Wolf" back Connor Walton props, it sometimes takes more digging.

What I do know from the game against Bishop's Sept. 5 is that I wrote Connor Walton's name down on my notepad a lot for stops against the Knights. Example: From my second quarter scratchings on the sidelines as play progressed, I have "Walton tackle" on a five-yard run by Bishop's A.J. Britanico in their third drive.

I have "#11 Car" for Carter Simington making a tackle in my hurried note-taking earlier on another carry by the active Britanico during Bishop's second TD drive.

Defensive captain "Ant" Stanley (43) takes part

in pregame coin toss. New LJHS principal

Chuck Podhorsky (not in view) performed the symbolic

coin toss. (Photo by Ed Piper)



The defensive line is even harder to recognize, since unless they record a sack their names aren't going to be announced. Most of what they do in the battle of the trenches goes unrecognized. Vikes are, left to right, defensive end Max Scott, left tackle Grant Miller (who got props last week), right tackle Tyler Eckermann, and defensive end Joe Vang. Am I right that Joe played both ways at Blastoff?

More jottings: "Walton tackle" on Bishop's first drive, first quarter. "Tims" for safety Da'Jour Tims' stop for a six-yard loss on Britanico on 1st-and-10 a short time later. "Isaac Gtz" for safety Isaac Gutierrez on a pass to the Knights' Mozes Mooney on 2nd-and-31. "Stanley tackle" for no gain on rush by Reggie Davis on 1st-and-10.

Another "Isaac tackle", then "Gtz stop" on Britanico pass reception.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper