LJ FB: Midseason awards

Linebackers Jack Wiese (12) and Dirk Germon (23)
before the Vikings' game at Scripps Ranch Sept. 20.
Diego Solis is at left.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

With five games (and a 2-3 record) under their belts, and a bye week coming up for La Jolla's football team, it's time for unofficial awards at the midseason point.

"LOCKDOWN DEFENDER" Award

The linebacker trio of Max Smith, Jack Wiese, and Dirk Germon are worth the price of admission to Vikings games alone. The core of the red-and-black defense, the inner heart--though the season has been all a team effort--pumps within these guys, who go about their business without fanfare and without asking for recognition.

The strength on the defensive side of the ball radiates out from these three to their hard-working teammates.

In my 16 years of covering Viking sports, there has never been a power threesome like this on the LJHS football team. There were individuals and maybe pairs of strong players, but not a veritable wolfpack hunting down opponents like this one--until now.

During the Vikings' 14-7 loss at Scripps Ranch (now 5-0) last night, Fri., Sept. 20, Smith upended a kick returner with such force that the poor guy flipped in midair as Max smacked him in a clean but punishing hit for a stop.

Max Smith, before another
power-packed performance.
This was at Scripps Ranch.

Wiese is workman-like, as well, continuing the productive ways of his junior season, when he first emerged as a potent force for Coach Tyler Roach's rebuilding program. Now LJHS shows up to any game as a viable threat to equal or defeat its opponent, which it could not claim to do previously, prior to the development of the defense.

Germon has only been stopped by sickness, not opponents. The one game he missed of La Jolla's first five came because he was sidelined and couldn't make the game. In the other four games, he has amassed tackle totals of 5, 9. 14. and 4 (the last incomplete, unofficial) versus Bishop's, Santa Fe Christian, Del Norte, and most recently, Scripps Ranch.

Plus, of course, Smith does ridiculous things on the other side of the ball, too. Last night he returned a pick-six off Falcon quarterback Luke Durkin 75 yards for the Vikings' only score. He raced around the entire SRHS offense, eluding would-be tacklers, to parallel the left sideline right in front of the La Jolla bench all the way to the Falcons' end zone.

The only player to my knowledge (which is limited) during my decade-and-a-half of covering LJHS who could even rival these three was Josh Kilmer, a linebacker for the Vikings in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Kilmer had total tackles of 42, 125, and 98 in his sophomore, junior, and senior years, respectively, playing for mediocre Viking football teams.

Jack Wiese (12) leaps in putting pressure
on Del Norte quarterback Jack Borer.
(Photo by Julian Tucker)

Kilmer, who went on to play football at Mesa College, was recognized as the all-time career record holder for the school in tackles during his senior season.

Prior to my years reporting on La Jolla, I am aware that there were outstanding football teams from the school. But I do not know the history, nor have I accessed records from those earlier years.