LJ FB: Go-go

Viking captains Johnathan O'Neal (6, white jersey)
and Tucker Jacobs (hidden behind O'Neal)
shake hands after the pregame coin toss.
(Photo by Ed Piper)



By Ed Piper

From the first Viking football game of the Coach Tyler Roach era, we learned that games are going to be exciting and entertaining.

Though La Jolla lost its season opener Fri., Aug. 25, to Hilltop, 24-14, the Vikings still had a chance to win late in the fourth quarter, when Trevor Scully and gang only trailed the Lancers by a field goal, 17-14.

The miscues in the game were frustrating, but they didn't distract from the fact the contest was really enjoyable to watch, a competitive struggle out there on the Sweetwater High field (Hilltop is having renovation similar to what La Jolla went through a year ago).

What impresses me so far about Roach and his legion of coaches--there are a dozen position coaches listed on the team's website, besides Tyler, but including Defensive Coordinator Collin Eardley--is that they seem to be teaching the football players good technique. When you pay a visit to the practice field during the week--and dating back to Spring Practice last May/June--you see a lot of teaching going on. A lot of specifics on body position, movement, whatever the skill being taught is.

For example, a week ago, I dropped by and walked the field on what linebacker coach Max Medrano said was "Takeaway Tuesday". The guys rotated among several stations, in small groups taking bite-sized units of time (10 to 15 minutes) working on a skill, then moving on to the next. It looked like a good, productive session. No one in a coach's shirt was screaming, yelling his head off like he was on steroids (I've seen youth and high school football coaches at other institutions and organizations acting like they thought they were the football version of Bobby Knight or something). Just clear, emphatic--can I say caring?--adult role models (which we want them to be for our young people) imparting instruction.

Back to the opener, I felt captivated by the give-and-take as the battle progressed. Sure, I wish Buster Hoy could take back his fumble on the Viking offense's second play from scrimmage of the season. Better to have fewer interceptions by the quarterback, as well. But you could see discipline, talent, a lot of effort.

At least to me, the evening didn't have the feel like some LJHS football nights in the past, that we love our boys but frankly the most we could expect is the old college try when some past Viking football units were just plain out-matched, out-sized, and out-skilled by opponents who were disposed to clobber the humble red and black.

Instead, none of the dread was there of the bad that might happen. There is a lot of spirit on the current varsity contingent. I don't see Johnathan O'Neal, one of the team captains with fellow senior Tucker Jacobs, or Greg Nelson II, a sophomore playing his first varsity game, or anybody else walking around hanging their heads. They just show a forward-looking attitude. They're too busy getting about the task at hand, which is learning and perfecting their assignments, to worry about whether their team is good enough to compete.

As John McColl, the tight ends coach, said Sunday night: "They showed they can compete."

Up to now, the Rushville Street boys are a confident bunch, with a good, positive outlook. They dropped the game, but they are disciplined (other than a coach inexplicably touching a referee for a penalty, and the QB in frustration after another interception picking up the defender and dropping him in a personal foul--nothing Roach won't take care of in short order).

And talking about Roach, there is a new maturity visible, a broader view of things in his new capacity as head coach. Tyler wasn't the coach in charge and the face of the program when he was Offensive Coordinator under a previous regime. Now he's got the responsibility of La Jolla High football, from top to bottom, and I see a smiling approach, tangible leadership, and dependability. He as head coach is the one who models for his experienced staff how to carry themselves, how to conduct themselves with the players and with their families. It has been a good start to the program.

As in any sport, you take each game, each week, one at a time. Let's stay tuned to see where a promising program goes, entering week two of the young football season.