New quarterback Brody Bukich (in red jersey)
is about to receive a snap as he leads the Vikings
in their first action against an opposing team
Saturday, August 15.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
The 2026 Vikings, sporting a new Defensive Coordinator (Stephen Dixon) and two basically untried quarterbacks, brought good energy and capitalized on a touchdown aerial on their opening drive (junior transfer QB Brody Bukich to Nico Bardaro) and new running back Kali Deberry's 8-yard scoring run early in the second half in their annual Kickoff Classic scrimmage at University City High Saturday evening, August 15.
Returning sophomore Ty Tortorice shared playing time equally with Bukich, from Mount Carmel. All-purpose Joseph Crudo, who also started at linebacker, touched the ball six times on the beginning possession--Tyler Roach-coached offenses love to open with the ball. The 5'10" running back rushed five times and caught a screen pass, before Bukich located the 6'4" Bardaro at the back of the end zone from four yards out and Nico made sure it counted by walking the tightrope to stay inside scoring territory.
Senior Evan Martinson, the vocal captain in contrast to the quiet let-my-play-be-my-example Bardaro, led the young unit in stretching on the newly-maintained field adjacent to UC's gridiron to get the energy up before the contest.
La Jolla is looking ahead to its Friday, August 21 opener at Patrick Henry. It would seem the defense under Dixon's fiery direction and Deberry and Bardaro will feature for the coastal school this season, just as it did in an intrasquad game a week ago (August 8). Roach ran the offensive unit through a two-minute drill to practice some urgency late in the second half, when a running clock was agreed to at halftime by both coaches in the 10-minute quarter format.
The black-and-red, playing with their quarterbacks in red to keep them safe from an over-zealous tackler in the exhibition (the rest of the team wore black jerseys over white pants), weren't likely to show anything special on this night. Opposing teams often put an assistant in the stands to gain any advance knowledge. In CIF, the two paired teams each week exchange video in a friendly gesture to familiarize each other with their opponent.
Roach especially wants to be ready, after Henry in the opener and Grossmont August 28 (both on the road), for big Point Loma in the home and Eastern League opener in week three. The defending league champs are coached by former LJHS Defensive Coordinator Ryan Price.
Running back Joseph Crudo (10)
tries to elude the grasp of defender
Cash Kalauli-Martin (55) on the
opening possession between La Jolla
and Mission Bay at University City.
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