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| Cornerback Calvin Hyytinen (left) works against a Montgomery opponent in the first half during a pool play game on the first day of the two-day Southwestern tournament. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
Anchored by the heart of their defense, linebackers Max Smith and Dirk Germon, La Jolla reached the finals of the Southwestern College 7-v-7 tournament with four straight wins Sat., June 29.
The title game saw the Vikings fall in the end, 31-21, to Lincoln. But the accomplishment of being among the top two among 32 schools from across the county wasn't lost on Coach Tyler Roach.
"Great day for the Vikings!" Roach exulted after the result.
In a 45-minute thriller leading up to the afternoon championship, rising senior Finn Rice caught the game-winning touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton as time expired to beat El Camino.
"We had some young guys really step up," said Roach, third-year head coach who began Spring workouts back on May 15, "and some of our veterans made clutch plays in big moments."
Seven-on-seven passing tournament triumphs don't equate to CIF championships. But for the La Jolla program, built around a core of dedicated student athletes, many of whom play both offense and defense, a place in the finals of the annual Southwestern tournament signaled good things as a result of hard work, team cohesion, and some individuals steadily increasing in skill and confidence.
In pool play on the first day of the tourney Friday, the Vikings narrowly dropped their opener to Mater Dei, 22-20, with the offense moving for a touchdown as time ran out.
Despite losses in the first two pool games--the second to Montgomery, 34-20--Roach communicated to his troops plaudits for their energy and focus.
Stratton, who has taken an increasing number of snaps at the quarterback spot over a couple of passing tourneys this summer, proved effective as he connected with multiple receivers, including senior Cooper McNally, Rice, and Smith out of the backfield, among others.
But one feels the strength the returning corps of Smith, Germon, Jack Wiese (who was absent Friday), and others provide at the middle of the Viking defense. Senior Lawrence "L.T." Shimp has shown increasing confidence taking his reps there. Corner Noah Pavlik, a junior, has displayed strength in meeting challenges to his coverage.
