LJ FB: Morse 39, LJ 21 - 9/16

Viking QB Jackson Diehl (9) targets a streaking receiver

downfield, but the pass sailed out of bounds with

7:55 left in the game as La Jolla's chances

of coming back from a 26-21 deficit began

to dwindle. (Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Morse out-toughed La Jolla in a battle of 3-1 teams going in that seemed more like street ball as the night wore on, Fri., Sept. 15, at Morse High.

Johnny Mosti, a 5'10" senior quarterback, carried out the Tigers' game plan as he elevated with effective passes to receiver Jeremiah Barton and others, as well as handing off to some grinding running backs in the Morse tradition, including Damarion Wright, a 205-pounder.

Mosti did his own damage on the ground with scampers from the line of scrimmage against a Viking defense that struggled but could not hold in the end. The passing game was a new wrinkle Morse hasn't featured in recent years.

The Vikings (3-2), still in the game trailing 26-21 after Justin Scully's one-yard run into the end zone with 43.9 seconds on the clock near the end of the third quarter, could not muster a comeback and the energy they have shown in the last three weeks with wins over Scripps Ranch, El Capitan, and Del Norte.

The hosts bumped the advantage up to 32-21 on three consecutive runs by Wright with 4:02 remaining in the game, the last a 28-yard TD.

Then, Vike QB Jackson Diehl attempted eight straight passes, two complete to sophomore Hank Hansen for 13 yards on fourth-and-10 and Scully for five yards on third-and-10, before La Jolla turned the ball over on downs, and effectively the ball game.

The Viking defense did deny Morse a touchdown in the last minute of the first half. The clock appeared to be sluggish in ticking off seconds, as Mosti led the Tigers starting on their own 19-yard line down field. He had four completions on the unsuccessful drive, which just barely ran short as officials signaled no first down with 13.7 seconds left, allowing time to run out. Mosti actually completed a pass into the end zone, but it was annulled on a belated call.

The score at the time had La Jolla leading, 14-6.

Morse cheer team on final TD with seconds left,

39-21.