Prep FB: Alumni

By Ed Piper

While La Jolla High's football team was warming up before the Vikings' game at Morse High in week seven of the season last fall, the Tiger faithful were rolling in on a warm evening, bringing their energy and anticipation for the Homecoming Game.

I asked some members of the Morse community for suggestions on who to talk to about traditions and the history of the school, because I am not a San Diego native and I am enjoying learning bit-by-bit about the rich heritage of San Diego high school sports beyond Bill Walton, Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen, and the like.

Sitting as family and friends in a central location in the home stands were friendly and welcoming Darryl Yarbrough, the Tigers' ASB president in 1977, and his effusive older sister, Diane Yarbrough, who graduated in the class of 1970.

Meanwhile, Diane's nephew, DaRhon Yarbrough, a sophomore tight end/defensive end wearing jersey number 12, was going through pregame drills with his teammates down on the turf.

Another family connection down on the field was another nephew, Marcus Yarbrough, coaching the linebackers for the Tigers. Marcus didn't come out of Morse, but he did play his high school ball at Eastlake, then went on to San Diego State.

Sitting alongside the Yarbrough siblings was Darryl's friend and former teammate Ron Payne, wearing a green Morse hat and jersey.

The three, before introductions had hardly been completely, quickly mentioned the memory of another former Tiger football player, Barry Alexander, a running back wearing number 80 back in the day.

"He just passed away this year," Darryl informed me. "We came to all the games (together). He'd be sitting right here."

Darryl, for himself, was truly a Big Man on Campus (BMOC) in his days as a Morse student. Besides serving as ASB president, he played offensive guard and defensive tackle on the varsity for three years, and he became as a team captain.

"In 1976, my senior year, we didn't give up a point the first six games," he told me as his sister and friend listened, chiming in with information. "We went 11-0 for the season and won the Eastern League title. We lost in the CIF semifinals.

Darryl filled out as a six-footer to 230 pounds, for that time (and even now) pretty good size on the line and as an edge rusher.

Ron Payne, a shorter guy at 5'4", said, "I picked up guys weighing 200 pounds and slammed them down" during his career at Morse. He played at a mere 140 pounds. He promised to provide a photo of himself during his playing days.

Regarding their teammate Alexander, who passed away in 2018, Darryl said, "He was a phenom."


During the game, Morse, destined to win the CIF Division 3 title, beat the Vikings 54-25, which undoubtedly delighted  the Yarbroughs and Payne. Tigers head coach Tracy McNair told me before the game, "We're going to run 40 times, and throw 10 times." He stayed pretty much to that, employing a bruising ground attack that employed several running backs.