LJ FB 25, Helix 41 - CIF D2 quarterfinals

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's 2024 football team (7-5) was dealt a season-ending defeat by host Helix in the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals Fri., Nov. 15.

Carson Diehl, the Vikings' All-CIF First Team selection last year as a sophomore, was back to his spectacular self after a season of nagging injuries that slowed him down this year. The 6'2" leaper caught upwards of 10 receptions, for substantial yardage, from La Jolla quarterback Hudson Smith.

Smith, himself, performed admirably much of the game after spending the week sick and unable to practice at full speed.

Another highlight player was Viking senior Hank Hansen, an H-back performing in his final game, before being knocked out of the game in the second half.

The Highlanders, who have a rich tradition in a surprisingly tiny facility (the home side is largely unlit and not to larger-stadium capacity; the visitors side stands are built inside the track, which means there is almost no sideline to stand on), rode relentless 5'10" running back Pablo Jackson, not big but hard-working, to 100-plus yards on the ground.

Helix, which boasts Hall of Famer Reggie Bush and NFL QB Alex Smith, combined crafty passing from their quarterback with physical play from the defense to come back time and again to score in the second half when La Jolla threatened.

A critical play with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, when Viking coach Tyler Roach's squad was threatening to score with first-and-goal on the Helix nine-yard line, resulted when the ball was fumbled and recovered by Highlander Deandre Wilson, a freshman defensive tackle, who rambled down the field.

The play was called back to the Helix 13-yard line for an illegal blindside tackle by the Highlanders, but Coach Damaja Jones' team had the ball and saw clear sailing in the final minutes.

Viking running back Aidan "Carolina" McGill, an Eastern League Second Team pick as a junior last season, provided his customary grit and hard running between the tackles, extending multiple carries for extra yardage as he evaded or dragged would-be tacklers with him.

Conditions Friday night were chilly, with temperatures in the La Mesa area dropping to 53 degrees during the second half, extremely cold for this time of year. Cheerleaders wore sweatsuits and long pants, and fans were bundled up in scarves and heavy jackets.

2024 has been a year of successes, as well as frustrations, with assorted injuries and young on-field leadership hopefully learning some key lessons to move forward.

LJ FH: More photos 11/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Lilly Ferrari takes a corner shot in the second

period. The junior has scored 11 goals

with 3 assists, for a total of 25 points,

second on the Vikings this season.

LJ FH: Photos 11/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Defender Savannah Putnam (R) of the Vikings

blasts a shot against Natalia da Silva (9)

of Scripps Ranch.

Senior defender Reese Martin (far right) puts her

stick in the way of Zoe Allen (7) of  Scripps

late in the second quarter, the Falcons

leading 1-0.

Lilly Ferrari (far left) of La Jolla, who scored

in the third quarter, guards the ball near the

Falcons' goal. In view is the Vikings' Talia Snider (4).

Fleet Ella Cathalinat (right) carries through

on a shot at midfield as the Viking battles

Ava Schramm (3) and Brooke Griffin (2).

Vikes' Leyla Yazici (R) battles for the ball,

crooking her stick the opposite way

to control the ball.

Falcon Sammy Ippolito

Freshman Sydney Hersman (6) coaxes the ball

in second quarter action against the Falcons'

Zoe Allen (hidden behind Hersman).

LJ FH: Q&A with Elizabeth Jacobs, Scripps Ranch coach

By Ed Piper

Elizabeth Jacobs is head coach of the Scripps Ranch field hockey team. The Falcons met La Jolla in the CIF Open Division semifinals at La Jolla High Tuesday night, Nov. 12. The Vikings won, 2-1.

For decades, La Jolla had to face Scripps Ranch and Canyon Hills (formerly Serra) in the hierarchy of San Diego County field hockey powers, never able to overcome the other two schools' excellence through their athletes, coaching, stick skills, and feeder programs.

Now, the tide has turned.

These comments came before the semifinals Nov. 12.

What are you looking for your girls to emphasize tonight?

Today our focus is to put a lot of high pressure, mark tight in the middle, and beat them up the sidelines.

Who's going to be a key player for you?

We've got (senior captain) Ava Schramm at center mid(fielder), (senior) Brooke Griffin at center defense, and then we have two sisters, (senior captain) C.J. and (sophomore) Sammy Ippolito, on the forward line who work really well together.

LJ b water polo: Vikes avenge being "dog-walked" by Bishop's

By Ed Piper

Liam Flanagan's figure of speech describing La Jolla's underdog status to Bishop's that the Vikings used as motivation in the CIF semifinals Tuesday night, Nov. 12, was a vivid and curious one:

"We just took from our past experiences from getting dog-walked by this team...", the five-goal scorer said, in the hectic start to La Jolla students' celebration of their team's 12-11 upset of the Knights, as several boys jumped into the water right next to the Viking team bench.

I wouldn't have caught it except for my recorder, which I had on and quickly dashed over to Liam with after the final horn.

He couldn't hear me, partially distracted by all the hubbub, partially from all the noise that erupted around him. So I repeated my question: "Your scorers were effective. How did you do it?"

The senior, still wearing his "6" cap, gave a very coherent answer, especially considering the circumstances.

Then Coach Tom Atwell put an arm on me to allow Liam to join the parade of team members slapping hands with the opponents at the edge of the pool. It wasn't malicious, he was just being a mother hen getting his brood of chicks back in line.

So I pursued the team down the deck, and right after Flanagan finished giving hand slaps, I darted in, recorder ready again.

"Keep on, with what you were saying," I told Liam, which was, "...and we didn't want to have that (being dog-walked) happen again. So we came all out."

Again, on task, very present-of-mind, the Viking starter said, "We got dog-walked earlier in the season, and we knew their weaknesses, and exploited them."

Bishop's beat La Jolla in a league match Oct. 9 at Coggan Pool. It was 8-5 in favor of Bishop's at halftime. For the seniors, especially, there has been a long run of difficult losses to the Knights and their coaches Doug Peabody and Ian Davidson over the years. It has been a slog. You go in thinking, what if it happens again?

Tuesday night a newbie, Dexter Black, a sophomore who hasn't lived and died a thousand deaths through those losses, continued to shine in big matches and the postseason with three goals from his spot on the right side of the cage. He is rising to the occasion.

The seniors, including Liam and his brother, Aiden, finally avenged some of those losses with the CIF semifinal win. They'll play again Saturday night, Nov. 16, in the CIF final against Cathedral Catholic.

LJ b water polo 12, Bishop's 11 - CIF Open Division semifinals

La Jolla High students, soon joined by several others,

jump in the pool after the Vikings edge rival Bishop's,

12-11, in the CIF Open Division semifinals Tues., Nov. 12

at Coggan Pool. (Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Liam Flanagan notched five goals, including a key score with 1:50 left to give the Vikings a two-goal edge, as La Jolla defeated cross-town rival Bishop's, 12-11, in the CIF Open Division semifinals Tues., Nov. 12, at Coggan Pool.

Flanagan, a surprise earlier in the season for Coach Tom Atwell as the Vikes' leading scorer, battled to take a few breaths and asked a reporter to repeat his question as the team and students in attendance erupted in celebration: "We just took from our past experiences from getting dog-walked by this team, and we didn't want to have that happen again. So we came all-out."

La Jolla trailed 3-1 late in the first quarter, 4-2 and 5-3 in the second period. But Flanagan, sophomore Dexter Blackwell, who scored three goals, Fin Alford with two, and their teammates never let the Bishop's lead go to three.

The Vikings, winners of the Division 2 Southern California Regional last year, then roared back from a 9-8 deficit beginning the final period to take the decisive victory.

Atwell's squad faces Cathedral Catholic in the Open Division championship game Sat., Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.

Aiden Flanagan (10) of La Jolla secures

a loose ball against Colton Bell (19)

of Bishop's in opening minutes

of the Open semis thriller.

LJ FH 2, Scripps Ranch 1 - CIF Open Division semifinals

Sydney Hersman (6) of La Jolla sprints

with the ball upfield into the Vikings'

attacking zone in the second quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

After going down 1-0 with 6:32 left in the first quarter to visiting Scripps Ranch, La Jolla's field hockey team doubled up in the third period to score a pair of goals, including Allison Hawthorne's go-ahead goal at the end of the quarter, to take the CIF Open Division semifinals 2-1 Tues., Nov. 12 at Gene Edwards Stadium.

The Falcons, now coached by Elizabeth Jacobs, have long been one half of the two-headed nemesis--the other being Serra/Canyon Hills--that Coach Amanda Combs Warford's Vikings have lived under the shadow of for years.

But no more. La Jolla vanquished Canyon Hills in the quarterfinals, 1-0, then Wednesday set themselves up for the title match Sat., Nov. 16 against new number-one Bishop's at Bonita Vista High at 6 p.m.

Lilly Ferrari, the Vikings' second highest scorer behind Hawthorne, drilled the equalizer into the net in the third quarter on a penalty stroke.

LJ Fall sports: What a (half) week

By Ed Piper

La Jolla High has always strived for a high level of student-athlete performance and participation.

It really peaked this past half week, as Tom Atwell's boys water polo players took a solid 15-11 win from Torrey Pines Wed., Nov. 6, in the opening round of the Open Division playoffs.

Then, in day 2 of the three-day sweep, Amanda Warford's field hockey squad--ranked number two in the state--eked out a 1-0 cliffhanger over visiting Canyon Hills in the quarterfinals of the Open Division playoffs.

Two teams, two Open Division squads. Now, that's saying something right there.

And they both had "home" matches--granted, Coggan Pool is the setting for all CIF water polo. But. nonetheless, highly-ranked units played host to postseason games.

Finally, on Friday night, Nov. 8, a chilly one, Tyler Roach's football team got back at one of CIF's recent powers, Madison, with a fourth-quarter 27-15 comeback win in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.

Not too bad for a school, much less a highly academic school like La Jolla High.

Three games in three nights. All victories. The half week that was.

Making more history here in the golden era of LJHS sports.

I don't remember experiencing a trifecta like this during my 20 years being around Viking sports.

For one, the football team is performing at a level it never did the first 12 years I was around La Jolla High sports (due to my granddaughter's enrolling at LJHS in 2004).

For another, as I have often written lately, Combs Warford has provided the long-term development of the field hockey program that former coach/A.D. Paula Conway could only dream about in her hurried schedule of responsibilities back then as a classroom instructor, athletic director, person with a hand in the U.S. Olympic development program at the former Chula Vista Training Center, and so forth.

And lastly, Tom Atwell continues to provide elite coaching and mentorship through the La Jolla United and La Jolla High water polo and aquatics program, now into its third decade of existence.

LJ b water polo: More photos 11/6

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Dexter Black (15) passes from the "5"

position on the far right side early

in the game.

Aiden Flanagan (10) looks for

a teammate to throw the ball to

in the first quarter.

Darko Dresevich (white cap, #8) battles

Liam Flanagan (6) for ball. Far right

is Viking goalie George Gayner (partially

cut off).

LJ Cheer @ LJ-Madison FB playoff 11/8

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ FB: Photos 11/8

Photos by Ed Piper

Opening kickoff by LJ's Evan Figueiredo (56)

LJ FB 27, Madison 15 - CIF D2 First Round

Madison back Adrian Sola (10, white jersey,

middle) scores on a one-yard plunge to tie

the game 7-7 in the second quarter. One ref

ruled the play a TD, others no. The officials

had to gather to agree the TD counted.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

After trailing 15-7 to Madison, a former CIF powerhouse,  late in the third quarter, La Jolla regrouped and pulled off a stunning 27-15 win in the first round of the CIF Division 2 football playoffs Fri., Nov. 8.

In chilly 58-degree conditions, the Santa Ana winds during the week having subsided, Viking quarterback Hudson Smith dealt two big blows to the Warhawks in the fourth quarter: a 50-yard pass play to Hank Hansen, who ran it home, and a strike to a wide-open Andre McLees Walker covering 39 yards down the right side on a blown coverage.

The two sparkling plays came three minutes of elapsed time apart, and rewarded a smaller Veterans Day three-day weekend home crowd for braving the chill at Gene Edwards Stadium.

LJ b water polo: Photos 11/6

Photos by Ed Piper

Dexter Black fully extends as he shoots from

the "4" position in the first quarter,

one of his five goals.

Junior Nate Thomson (3) of La Jolla

defends on Lukas Andranian (2)

of Torrey Pines.

LJ coach Tom Atwell (pointing, far left)

gives instructions to his players

in the pool before the fourth quarter.

The black-and-red crew

Liam Flanagan (6) moves the ball in the

La Jolla offense.

Tor Martin (11) gets physical with Torreys'

Lukas Andranian (2) (note right arm against him

on far right).

LJ FH: Photos 11/7

Photos by Ed Piper

The Vikes' Lilly Ferrari  (right) goes against

Emily Millegan (18) of Canyon Hills.

In view is the Rattlers' Becca Griffen (12).

Ella Cathalinat (left) of La Jolla does her

stick work versus Canyon Hills' Sami Lee

early in the first quarter.

Talia Snider (4) of La Jolla

attacks the Canyon Hills goal

with teammate Lilly Ferrari

(rear left) ready to help.

Senior Reese Martin turns her stick over

to direct the ball as La Jolla seeks to run out

the clock in the fourth quarter. Behind her

(on far left) is the Rattlers' Teah Savignano.

The Vikings' Savannah Putnam (front) begins

to fall as she trips over Eva Allen (on ground)

of the Rattlers in a collision.

Ethan Warford, the son of LJ's head coach,

plays field hockey with his dad Tucker

during the halftime break.

LJ FH 1, Canyon Hills 0 - CIF Open Division quarterfinals

The Vikings' Leyla Yazici (left, 16) contests

Reese Roldan (27) of Canyon Hills 

in the Rattlers' half of the field.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Vikings slayed the dragon. At least one of them.

La Jolla, which had lived under the shadow of, not only Serra/Canyon Hills, but also Scripps Ranch--who both enjoyed decades-long dominance under long-time coaches who finally retired--beat the Rattlers 1-0 in an exciting Open Division quarterfinal match Thursday evening, Nov. 7.

The Vikes' Ella Cathalinat scored with 4:16 left in the first quarter, and Coach Amanda Combs Warford's defense made the lone goal stand up through the remaining three quarters.

Captain Pixie DeLeon, late in the second half, told her teammates that their side looked "dominant".

But the ball did spend considerable time in Canyon Hills' attacking half of the field. They just couldn't score against a stout backline of defense.

Freshman Adalee Branstetter started and played the entire game, with senior Kinsley Stephens out apparently on concussion protocol. Quite a playoff debut--blanking the former CIF power for a shutout.

Coach Kat Kievens stated before the match that one of her goals was "to score early". The Vikings frustrated that effort by keeping it from happening.

One Canyon Hills shot in the second half went off the left post, glancing away out of bounds. That was the only shot on goal that was close.

Goalie Adalee Branstetter's

brother showed up in

Viking horns.

LJ b water polo 15, Torrey Pines 11 - CIF Open Quarterfinals

Vikings' Liam Flanagan (6) arches his heavily-

muscled back as he takes aim from the point

against Darko Dresevic (8) of Torrey Pines.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Sophomore Dexter Black scored five goals and La Jolla held off Torrey Pines for the second time this season, this one counting for a CIF Open Division quarterfinal win Wednesday night, Nov. 6, at Coggan Pool.

"They were in a drop. We were able to take advantage of it," said the tall lefty, who scored to give the Vikings a five-goal lead in the third quarter at 11-6.

The hosts then expanded the advantage to six with 12 seconds left in the period, basically icing the match.

La Jolla advances to a semifinal game Tues., Nov. 12.

Liam Flanagan, one of the Vikings' leading scorers this season, netted three key goals, putting La Jolla on the scoreboard a minute into the game, then following with one each in the next two quarters.

Fin Alford had two goals in the second period, Quinn Daniels three in the second half.

The Falcons narrowed the lead to 13-10 with 4:21 left in the fourth quarter, which Viking coach Tom Atwell took a timeout shortly after.

But then Daniels scored two in a row, and senior captain Jackson Brown was substituted in at goal in a nice gesture at the two-minute mark with the final count, 15-11, already established.