LJ FB: A dryer look

By Ed Piper

Apart from all the excitement of the lightning and thunder display--which didn't come until later in the second quarter of La Jolla's Homecoming game against University City Oct. 12--the Vikings came out with a new spark of energy and efficiency at the top of the contest.

Having won the coin toss, and electing to receive, Coach Tyler Roach's offense moved efficiently down the field under quarterback Diego Solis' disciplined leadership in the game's opening drive to score its first touchdown with only 3:09 elapsed.

During the drive, the lefty Solis completed passes to back Noah Marquez on first-and-10 for a first down, to brother Gabe Solis, and then to receiver Cooper McNally on third-and-eight. This passing regimen was in line with Offensive Coordinator Collin Eardley's directive at practice Monday that the offense was going to help Diego Solis focus on his passing game.

At practice that day, Oct. 8, answering questions from a reporter, Diego agreed that his first inclination from behind center is to roll out. "It gives me more time," he said on the sidelines between drills--more time whether to look for a receiver, or to scramble and run, which he has shown himself very good at in his initial varsity season.

But Eardley, who tandems with Roach to oversee offensive strategy, wanted to see a little more reliance on and stability in the passing aspect of the offense.

After moving the ball near midfield, Diego, at the Vikings' 44-yard line, then proceeded to run on a keeper on first-and-10 for seven yards. The La Jolla offense was clicking, and UC's defense wasn't doing a lot to stop it in its tracks.

Diego went again to brother Gabe for a nifty 20-yard gain, putting the ball on the Centurion 15. Max Smith took the ball and barreled for nine yards up the middle. The defensive stopper, who has blossomed as an offensive back this season as a sophomore, then took the ball over from six yards out. The Vikings led, 7-0, after Nick Goehler's kick. Not a drop of rain, really, was to be felt so far. (My notepad that I wrote the play-by-play down on has no water damage on this page.)