LJ FB 39, UC 21 - co-Eastern League champs

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, at times, played down to the level of its hapless opponent October 25, University City. But combining some offensive punch with an opportunistic defense, the Vikings eventually overwhelmed the Centurions, 39-21, on the hosts' Senior Night.

In running its Eastern League record to a spotless 3-0 (5-4 overall), La Jolla clinched at least a share of the conference title with one week remaining in the regular season.

If the Vikings defeat Christian (2-1, with a surprise loss to Morse) at home next Friday, they will take the Eastern League championship as their own. If they lose to the Patriots, both teams would finish with 3-1 records, thereby tying for the title.

(Morse was upset by Mira Mesa Friday night, so the Tigers drop out of a chance to share the title with two losses.)

Against UC's (0-3 league, 1-8 overall) young and inexperienced defense, the inconsistent Viking offense scored only once in the first quarter, on Jackson Stratton's 16-yard touchdown pass to Diego Solis on a post route, for a 7-0 lead.

Defensive stud Jack Wiese, having a little fun on offense, took a 61-yard romp down the right sideline for a TD early in the second quarter. But UC came back on sophomore Thomas Jones' one-yard run, making the score 13-7 in favor of the visitors.

Stratton countered with his second TD strike of 20 yards to receiver Luke Brunette. Jones rushed over again for the Centurions, closing out first half scoring at 20-14 after Viking kicker Devin Bale missed a 40-yard field goal attempt with time running out.

The third quarter portended better for La Jolla, as Stratton found Solis again on a 49-yard bomb midway through the period. After the sophomore quarterback threw an interception, Max Smith, Wiese's mate in the stellar Viking linebacker corps, ran a touchdown over from 15 yards out.

Meanwhile, the Centurions could not get untracked, and La Jolla held an insurmountable lead, 33-14, to end the third quarter. Bale, after 11 straight PAT kicks this year, had his first miss after Smith's TD.

The final period was all mop-up work, with the game decided. Brunette took his second TD pass, a 36-yarder, before Roach inserted backup QB Carlos Ramirez for the remainder of the game. Sophomore Ethan Moore victimized the senior with a pick-six of 85 yards near the conclusion, before the talented UC marching band and flag unit gave a performance on the field after the game.

"It was fun," smiled Wiese of his 61-yard trapeze act down the sideline in the second quarter. "I was near the sideline, so I had to go like this (demonstrating his steps to avoid touching the line, which he may have done).

"It was my longest run at any level," he grinned.

Commented Bale of his first missed PAT, "I didn't go at it hard. I just tried to chip it." It flew wide right, inches outside the plane of the goal post extended as it soared high in the air.


The junior landed one punt from midfield just inside the goal line, rolling to the five, in the second half.

Senior Noah Murphy recovered a fumble to set up Wiese's run when Viking defenders pulled Centurion receiver Kaleb Chang down after a catch, and Chang inadvertently flipped the ball in the air as he fell backwards. A La Jolla defender and a UC player both grabbed the ball, with Murphy securing it on the ground for LJ.

Outside linebacker Dirk Germon turned in another stellar performance for the Vikings, credited with eight tackles, five solo and three assisted, to lead his team in preliminary statistics.