By Ed Piper
Besides Viking running back Aidan McGill's normal no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners game, La Jolla's 44-15 win at Francis Parker Oct. 18 put a spotlight on another Aidan/Aiden--this one, Aiden Farrell--as the freshman starred in all aspects of Coach Tyler Roach's offense, including running, receiving, and returning kicks.
He had a sparkling game, building on his performance the previous week at Mira Mesa.
The present-and-future chef isn't physically imposing, but his wily speed yields him openings that don't have to stay open for long, as we are beginning to see. His sideline routes against Parker offered additional mileage as his statistics stacked up against the Lancers.
One of his highlights was an interception of lefty Daniel Gilmor's pass midway through the second quarter, the Vikings leading 17-0. It came on Francis Parker's second play of their third possession of the game.
The black-and-red offense took over, and five plays later scored on Kai Fukuda's second reception of the quick drive from quarterback Hudson Smith for an authoritative 24-0 lead.
Just for fun, Aiden had a good return for several yards of a Parker kickoff in the fourth quarter, with a running clock, as things had already gotten way out of hand under La Jolla's physical superiority.
He took the kick after Parker scored with 9:19 left in the game, and ran the ball back along the left sideline. The ball was spotted on the La Jolla 45-yard line. A punt ended that short drive.
Earlier, in third quarter before the running clock was instituted, the Vikings already leading 37-8, Farrell bagged a Smith pass and ran it 22 yards for a TD. La Jolla 44, Parker 8.
Late in the second quarter, a kick went off a teammate on La Jolla as the receiving team. Aiden quickly picked it up and ran a few yards. That saved the moment, but four plays later the Lancers' Zane Tamatoa Reed, a senior, picked off a pass, turning it over to the hosts. Even with the hoopla of Homecoming, Parker couldn't score on the drive that ensued.
Aiden had the Vikings' first reception on Huddy's first pass attempt to open the game, running from their own 24 to the Parker 20-yard line for 56 yards.
The freshman also had a catch when the Vikings got down to the 12-yard line, taking it on the left and carrying it for seven yards.
On the next play, he rushed for four yards to the Parker one, setting up McGill's six-yard TD plunge after a flag moved the ball back to the six.
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