LJ FB: Q&A with Kieren Wilson, cornerbacks coach

Cornerbacks coach Kieren Wilson, in his third

year for LJHS, coaches up sophomore

Aidan Farrell during the Vikes' game

vs. Cathedral (LA) at the UCLA tourney

Sun., June 23. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Kieren Wilson begins his third year as cornerbacks coach for the La Jolla High football team. These comments came before the Vikings' first game in the 7-v-7 passing tournament at UCLA Sun., June 23.

What do you want to see from cornerbacks? What do you specifically want to see in the first game from your guys?

Looking more for our guys to focus more on having great eyes, based on the coverage scheme that we're in for a given play. So, for example, if we're in man coverage, I'm looking for our guys not to be staring back at quarterbacks.

If we're in zone coverage, I'm looking to see that our guys are recognizing the route of number two, 'cause that way, they know how they fit in within the defense, based on the route concepts we're going against.

I'd say those are the top two keys right now.

Good luck today.

I appreciate you.

LJ FB: Q&A with Nico Bardaro

Sophomore receiver Nico Bardaro (15, second from

left facing camera), with Logan Clark (19, far left)

and Emerson Rota (16, facing camera, center)

listens to Head Coach Tyler Roach before

Vikings' first game Sun., June 23 at UCLA.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Nico Bardaro is a rising sophomore on the La Jolla football team. He has shown promise in 7-on-7 workouts as a receiver. These comments came before the Vikings' participation in the UCLA 7-v-7 tournament Sun., June 23.

Have you been enjoying it so far, the SDSU tournament (June 14-15) and the workouts themselves?

Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. I think that it's really good for our development.

What do you enjoy about it?

Just the team and family aspect of it. I really feel like I'm building a strong bond with all of my teammates and coaches.

And what are you trying to work on and improve--as you start this first game of the UCLA tournament?

Definitely to improve my vision on the field. Just my football IQ as a whole. And being more concise with my route-running.

Enjoy today.

Thank you.

LJ FB: More photos of Game 2

Photos by Ed Piper

Hank Hansen (1) leaps to grab an extra point

try with LJ leading 18-14. He fell to the turf

with an incomplete. Tulare won

on the next play on a long TD completion.

Carson Diehl lands after making a leaping catch

behind his defender for a TD for a temporary

18-14 LJ lead with minutes remaining in game 2

vs. Tulare Union.

Carson Diehl (L) makes leaping catch

next to teammate Charlie Martin.

LJ FB: Game 2, UCLA 7-v-7 tourney, vs. Tulare Union

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ safety Taylor Jeffrey (12) picks attempt

by Tulare Union for extra point. Score at this

point was 14-12, Tulare leading.

Sophomore Drake Weiss (21) goes out on his

route.

Seniors Ryan Kestler (far right) and Charlie Martin

(far left) provide coverage against Tulare Union

receivers.

Senior Galo Sanchez makes a reception from

QB Hudson Smith for a first down.

Palmer Barnett (L, 14) sets up for his route

as Hank Hansen (background) and others

start the play.

Soph receiver Nico Bardaro makes his second

reception in three plays from QB Hud Smith,

on first down. The Vikings were not able

to score on this possession, trailing 14-12.

They lost, 20-18, on a last-second TD.

Carson Diehl (white jersey) is double-teamed

(note yellow glove around waist, far right)

by Tulare defenders early in game 2.

LJ FB: Quantum more photos of LJ-Cathedral (LA) game

Photos by Ed Piper

Rising junior Carson Diehl is way out ahead

of defenders on a long TD pass from Hud Smith,

LJ's only score against Cathedral (LA).

LJ FB: Even more photos vs. Cathedral (LA)

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Carson Diehl (13, red jersey) makes his third

reception from Hud Smith, for a first down,

on Vikes' initial possession vs. Cathedral (LA).

LJ was not able to score on its opening possession.

LJ FB: Still more photos of LJ-Cathedral (LA) game

Photos by Ed Piper

Another photo of soph Nico Bardaro (L, with ball)

after early reception vs. Cathedral (LA) on

LJ's first series in game 1 at UCLA tourney.

Carson Diehl touches foot

inbounds on right sideline

after catch. 

LJ FB: More photos, UCLA game 1 vs. Cathedral (LA)

Photos by Ed Piper

Logan Clark (19, far left) in motion as QB Hud

Smith waits for hike next to Aidan "Carolina"

McGill (second from right). Nico Bardaro is at

far right.

Receiver Carson Diehl (L) secures first

complete by QB Hudson Smith vs. Cathedral

in game 1 at the UCLA tourney, on the

left sideline.

Logan Clark (19), wide receiver

and holder for kicker Julian Zavala

Aidan "Carolina" McGill, Second Team

All-Eastern League running back

as a junior

From left, Renner Smith, assistant Chris Macy,

Brody St. John (facing right), and Emerson Rota

grab water after game 1 in the 89-degree heat.

Defensive backs warming up, (L-R) soph Taylor Jeffrey,

and seniors Ryan Kestler and Hank Hansen.

Senior Galo Sanchez

Senior Aidan "Carolina" McGill

    

LJ FB: Lose 2 at UCLA 7-v-7 tourney, but show strengths

Photos by Ed Piper

Nico Bardaro (red uniform) takes reception early in game

vs. Cathedral (LA) on a first-down play.

Hank Hansen is behind the sophomore.

Taylor Jeffrey (L) defends on a Cathedral

completion on Phantoms' first play in 89-degree heat

at UCLA, right in front of Pauley Pavilion.

LJ QB Hud Smith fires a pass down the

middle on his first possession vs. Cathedral.

LJ failed to score on its first possession,

dropping an 18-6 loss in game 1.

Hank Hansen (1) goes in motion as QB

Hud Smith waits for the hike.

Carson Diehl grabs Hud Smith's first completion on

second down versus Cathedral (LA) to achieve another

first down. Diehl is getting bigger, stronger (note

photo).

Andre McLees Walker

(left), Renner Smith

Sophomore cornerback Aidan Farrell

gets pointers from coach Kieren Wilson,

in his third year with LJHS.

LJ FB: Reach quarterfinals at SDSU 7-on-7

Photos by Ed Piper

QB Hud Smith (L) begins to go through his reads

as running back Aidan "Carolina" McGill

starts out. LJ beat Liberty (Peoria, AZ), 24-20,

to reach the quarterfinals Sat., June 16.

Liberty was the #2 seed in the tourney.

Brody St. John (R) defends as a play begins.

Vike receiver Logan Clark (R) goes out.

LJ lost to Pinnacle (Phoenix), 26-15,

in the quarterfinals.

Taylor Jeffrey (red uniform) of La Jolla

makes a stop.

Taylor Jeffries (17, right) moves out in coverage

with teammate Leed Smoole (rear) in tandem.

Linebacker Leed Smoole

(white cap) doggedly covers

his man in a pass to the

middle.

Eric Burrell, new safeties coach,

on sidelines

Kieren (KY-run) Wilson,

assistant coach, cornerbacks

LJ FB: 3-0 in pool play in SDSU 7-on-7 tourney

Photos by Ed Piper

Vike soph Nico Bardaro (right) takes in a reception

for an extra point to give LJ a 17-6 lead

and a win over Vista by that score in game #1.

Andre McLees Walker (partially shown far left)

breaks up a pass intended for Canyon Hills receiver

(on ground) on third down to start game #2,

causing the ball to go over to LJ. Vikes

won this game as well, 22-4.

Receiver Kai Fukuda runs after a third-down

catch from QB Hud Smith to get a first down.

This set up a Dre McLees Walker TD for

the game #2 final score.

Junior QB Hud Smith takes a snap

during the first game. He was

effective. Running back Aidan

"Carolina" McGill is next to him.

Senior Leed Smoole (far left) and safeties work out

with new assistant Eric Burrell (far right), who's

wearing LJ colors on his shoes: black laces (L shoe)

and red (R shoe). Burrell played for the NFL Saints.

Charlie Martin (22, right) covers a Westview receiver

in the third game, a 26-6 win. The junior was helping

call out plays at his position at middle linebacker.

All-county Carson Diehl (white jersey) contests

a pass vs. Westview physically. Diehl had some

spectacular TD catches and surprising defensive

stops. On one play, he nearly made an interception

against the Wolverines, coming all the way up

from the secondary to nearly snag the pass

as he read the QB's body motion and looks.

Lefty QB Emerson

Rota is a sophomore.

Wide receiver Carson Diehl (beyond Nico Bardaro, #15)

takes in a TD pass on LJ's first possession of game #2,

a 22-9 win over Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley).

Hud Smith's throw was to the far left sideline.

With safeties coach Eric Burrell, (L-R) Ryan

Kestler (3), Brody St. John (back), Taylor Jeffrey (12).

Defending is Vike Aidan Farrell (left, 17) against

Canyon Springs.

Senior Charlie Martin (L), junior Renner Smith (R).