LJ FB: Notes

QB Casey Brown (rear) launches

a pass behind Joseph Duran's (10)

protection. (Photo Ed Piper)

Things noted during the Vikings' 41-19 win over ninth-ranked Christian High:

--Coaches had quarterback Casey Brown rarely hold onto the ball to run and scramble. In the first five games of the season, he often cut loose and ran the ball. Against the Patriots, he either passed or handed the ball off: passed to favorite targets Jonathan Levenson and Trenton Fudge; handed off to running backs Alex Dockery and Joseph Duran. Lineman/linebacker Daniel McColl even got a chance to run the ball early in the game.

By the way, Dockery, Duran, and Levenson played both ways--offense and defense.

--The offense, which has been no-huddle for two and a half seasons, went back to using a huddle. Brown ran over to the sideline to get plays from Offensive Coordinator Tyler Roach.

All of this seems to be part of tweaking things to improve. Part of it is to allow Brown, who is athletic and a capable passer and runner, to settle down and focus on the things he does best. He has been prone to be a worrier in earlier games.

In Saturday's upset of the top-ten team, Brown misfired on passes several times, and fumbled a clean snap near the end of the game. But he also moved the offense well and connected with Levenson and Fudge on productive pass plays.

Part of the Vikings' game plan seemed to be to start out of the gate early. In the first offensive series, on La Jolla's first play on first down, Brown gave the ball to Duran, who attempted a pass to Fudge, which fell incomplete. On second down, Levenson ran right for a 17-yard gainer.

On the ensuing first-and-ten from La Jolla's own 37, Brown fired to "Levy", who tipped the ball, unable to grab it the first time cleanly, then caught the ball and ran down the right sideline for a 30-yard gain.

In all these, Christian's defense looked caught off-guard; a step slow. La Jolla definitely established some momentum from the beginning.

The Patriots kept safety Nick Sexton shadowing Fudge throughout the game. They had watched film and seen the threat he can be--as he showed last week against Coronado with three TD receptions. Trenton hadn't been fully healthy since having his shoulder AC joint hurt when he was tackled on a reception in the season opener way back on August 28.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper