LJ FB: Looking closer

Viking QB Trevor Scully warms up
in the third quarter with La Jolla
leading, 24-7.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Granted, it was a scrimmage, and there weren't any kickoffs or punt returns. But in La Jolla's home practice game against Mission Bay Aug. 18, Viking players looked motivated and ready in the first intersquad competition of the Tyler Roach era.

Starting quarterback Trevor Scully showed the experience and confidence he gained as the Buccaneers' part-time starter last year as a junior. He completed passes to receivers Sola Hope (twice), Michael Wells, and Gabe Solis (the last for a touchdown) on the Vikings' opening drive to lead 7-0.

Wells' 10-yard catch on first-and-10 on the third play of the drive was a nice leaping grab by the tall rising junior in the middle of the field.

On La Jolla's second drive, after Mission Bay was forced to punt on its first possession, Scully added another target, Johnathan O'Neal, in addition to Wells again. This drive was dominated by runs, but Scully didn't make any mistakes on handoffs as the offensive machine purred.

On the Vikings' third drive of the game, overlapping the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, Scully located O'Neal again, this time for 12 yards. The drive ended in a TD pass to Solis.

In the second quarter, Trevor threw a pass intended for Max Smylie, but Mission Bay was called for pass interference. Scully then threw a pick on the next play.

The red and black got the ball back on an interception by sophomore Greg Nelson II, taking it back 30 yards to the Viking 45. Scully was incomplete to O'Neal, then good to Solis for 16 yards, then 10 more.

Roach called a timeout with 24.2 left in the first half.

On the next play, Scully threw too low to Solis before finding him inside the right sideline. Solis, in front of the La Jolla sideline, made a fake, then leaped over a defender at the goal line to score his third TD of the night. The defender (Mission Bay didn't have uniform numbers) shoved the off-balance Solis to the ground. Roach appealed for a penalty, but to no avail.

After halftime, Scully threw another interception on the Vikings' first drive of the second half, and Roach called it a night for Trevor, who then got an ice bag for his knee from school trainer Matt Bridges. It was a good night's effort. Junior Carsten Fehlan handled the QB duties the duration.