By Ed Piper
When La Jolla won the pregame coin toss to start Friday's (March 19) game at Morse on offense, a momentum-creating five plays--all scripted beforehand--plus four other plays resulted in a scoring drive that put Coach Tyler Roach's team up, 7-0.
But more importantly, the efficient drive down the field--every single play advancing the ball--caught the Tigers' defense flat-footed, and the visitors built on that energy through the rest of the first half to take a commanding 35-6 halftime lead and essentially defeat Coach Tracy McNair's squad mentally.
The Vikings' Max Smith, a star linebacker, carried the ball for Roach's offense four times on the opening drive. His bruising rushes, accumulating 23 yards, set the tone for a night of physical play that fell in La Jolla's favor and surprised observers.
Smith's carries helped focus junior quarterback Jackson Stratton, who was inconsistent in last week's preseason scrimmage at home versus Oceanside, and opened up other parts of the Roach-called offense. Diego Solis had two receptions in the drive, including a 16-yard pass from Stratton for the touchdown.
With La Jolla's defense playing no small role in setting an attacking tone, Stratton then connected with Solis after a Morse four-and-out at midfield on the third play of the Vikings' second possession for a 62-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline. After Devin Bale's PAT, La Jolla led 14-0 with barely five minutes gone.
The Vikings' third drive of the night, which included an eight-yard completion from Stratton to receiver Max Raulston, culminated in the most spectacular play of the night, a one-handed grab by Solis inches inside the eastern end zone line of a Jackson pass that he clutched to his chest. Diego could only get his left arm up--he is a natural lefty--to try to catch the ball.
It was Diego's third TD, all within the first nine minutes (and a few seconds) of play.
Asked about the play, he said modestly, "I was just lucky."
La Jolla led, 21-6, and the battle at the line and the battle of the minds were largely determined by then.
Morse had brought in Byron Cardwell, a transfer from St. Augustine and an Oregon commit as the top running back in the state. Cardwell was effective in runs where he took the direct snap in a wildcat formation, but many of his yards were gained after the issue was already decided and he had re-entered the game late in the second quarter, the Vikings now in command at 28-6, following a respite on the sidelines.
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