LJ FB: Nico breaks out

Nico Bardaro (15) celebrates his first

of two TD receptions with a teammate

in the first quarter. La Jolla led, 14-0.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Last year was a portent of things to come.

On Friday night, August 29, against Patrick Henry, junior Nico Bardaro showed that, now as a junior, he was going to be a leader for the Vikings football team.

Bardaro played both ways, and at tight end he grabbed two passes from fill-in quarterback Ty Tortorice to score touchdowns.

In the first quarter, La Jolla leading 7-0, Nico crossed from his spot on the right side of the line to snag Tortorice's spiral on third-and-nine on Henry's 16-yard line. He ran it in, and with Julian Zavala's PAT, the home team--before a large home crowd--moved to 14-0. There was 1:52 on the clock.

Then, midway through the second period, this time on third-and-10, Tortorice--pressed into action with starting QB Huddy Smith sidelined--found the wiry, muscular junior again for a TD reception.

By this time, the Vikings led 37-7, and the romp was on.

La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach has said before that he is looking to Nico for leadership. In a passing league tournament last summer, fellow receiver and defender Carson Diehl was away due to a commitment. Roach said, "I'm looking to Nico."

There is the player who draws attention--and defenders--to him. That is Diehl, an SDSU commit as a senior. But there is another kind of athlete who is steady and plays well, and right now that is Bardaro. He is growing as a person, and maturing as a football player. His slender body is filling out somewhat as he continues in the weight room.

Stayed tuned for the next nine weeks.

Defensive end Nico Bardaro (15) tackles

QB Jayden Goldman on second-and-nine

to start the second quarter.