LJ FB: Carsten; the running game

Viking QB Carsten Fehlan goes through his reads
as he looks for a receiver in La Jolla's 40-7
win over Country Day Aug. 24.
(Photo by Joseph Smith)
 

By Ed Piper

La Jolla High coach Tyler Roach talked about the improved play of quarterback Carsten Fehlan. "I thought he played well," said the second-year head coach following the Vikings' 40-7 win over Country Day August 24. "Showed much more confidence and poise. (I) look forward to seeing that again from him this week" against Santa Fe Christian Fri., Aug. 31, at home.

One of the aids La Jolla provided their quarterback to connect with his receivers for his first three touchdown passes of the young season, for a total of 133 yards, was the rushing of backs Max Smith and Noah Marquez. Smith scored one TD, on 69 yards, as he began to feel his oats more. Marquez totaled 49 yards.

"(It) also helps that we established a bit of a run game to open some things up for (Fehlan) in the air," said the coach, himself also the offensive play caller for the Vikings (1-1).

Of Smith, Roach said, "Max ran really hard. The first guy never brought him down. Noah had some good touches (16). So good to get him going a bit."

The QB found receiver Evan Brown for a 10-yard TD pass in the first quarter. Then, later in the first half, after some bumpy drives against a determined but mediocre (at best) defense, Fehlan again zoned in on the striding 6'2" Brown as he moved ahead in space in the center of the field for a 35-yard scoring pass play. That put the hosts in the lead 13-0, and they were hardly threatened from there.

Of course, hindsight is 20-20; at the time, it looked like the Vikings were in for a struggle in their home opener before a good-sized Future Vikes Night crowd.

After Phillip Gooding led the Torreys (0-2) to a TD to tighten the game at 13-7, Smith barreled up the middle for a score and 20-7 lead. LJCDS would never score again, and the outcome became academic in the second half as La Jolla's performance put enough pressure on the visitors to visibly diminish their resistance as the game moved to a close.

Nick Goehler added a 25-yard field goal to finish the second quarter, as time ran out. The Vikings led, 23-7.

In the third quarter, Fehlan airmailed a pass to junior Finn Rice, a deserving hard-worker, who completed the 54-yard play by taking it to the house. 30-7.

Diego Solis' pick six off Gooding later in the third sealed the deal, 37-7. Goehler, showing his usual powerful leg, canned a 20-yard field goal that would have gone through the uprights at a much greater distance. Final score: Black and red 40, blue and silver a paltry 7.

Summarized Roach of the second-week performance, quite an improvement from the 40-14 opening week loss at Central, "We did a much better job in comparison to week 1. Still have some things to clean up a bit, but moving in the right direction."