LJ FB: Rankings



DB Nick Hammel (underneath) makes a stop on

David Brewster of LJCD in first quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

MaxPreps ranks La Jolla High's football team near the top of the middle third of the CIF San Diego Section after a 52-42 win at Country Day in the season opener, in new postings Sept. 1

The Vikings, led by quarterback Casey Brown's 290 yards passing on 23 of 41 attempts, stand at 37th, 15 slots ahead of the Torreys, who sit at number 52, and five places behind Mission Bay, at 32nd.

Brown, who Coach Jason Carter said "made better decisions in the second half" after a slow start, connected for five touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. His mother Tiffany, on the sidelines, joked late in the topsy-turvy game, "I"ll have to take tranquilizers for the next game," as she lived and died with each Viking advance and miscue.

Senior receiver Trenton Fudge was the recipient of much of Brown's aerial largesse, counting 199 yards receiving on 10 catches. He scored one touchdown.

La Jolla has a MaxPreps rating of 9.6. For comparison, Country Day is at 1.6, Mission Bay 16.2 after an initial win. Scripps Ranch, a new addition to the Western League with Kearny moving elsewhere, has not played a game yet but has a rating of 19.3.

The Vikings suffer from a lower "strength of schedule", comparing opponents they play this year, with 1.6. Country Day, on the other hand, carries a 9.6. Mission Bay's strength of schedule is 12.2.

Way up near the top of the heap, Madison, like Mission Bay a league opponent for LJHS, is ranked number seven out of 85 schools in the section. The Warhawks' rating at present is 41.2 after an opening win, with a strength of schedule a whopping 35.2, based on tougher opponents.

Scripps Ranch's strength of schedule is an even 0. Other teams down the line have strength of schedule numbers in the negative region. For example, Santa Fe Christian, who the Vikings obliterated in the CIF playoffs last fall, carry a -0.8 strength number, alongside a rating of 2.8 in 47th ranking in the San Diego Section.

Bishop's, the next opponent for the black and red, are ranked 14th. The Knights carry an elevated 29.7 rating, returning several starters from their Division IV championship team last year, with a 0 strength of schedule.

Other upcoming opponents on the Vikings' schedule this fall include Fallbrook, which La Jolla plays in week three, ranked 48th, with a rating of 2.8 and strength of 8.6, and West Hills, which the Vikes play in week four, ranked 35th, with a 12.2 rating and 16.2 strength.

Christian High, coming on the La Jolla plate in week six, is up with the big boys at number eight in the section, on a 29.7 rating and 24.1 strength.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper