Viking senior captain Nico Bardaro, coming back from a nerve problem in his back, exploded for three touchdowns in the first half, propelling La Jolla to a 21-14 lead at University City Fri., Nov. 13.
But then the team's defense could not hold the lead at 3:44 of the second quarter, as the Cents, behind quarterback Thomas Dietrich and running back Deshaun Hille, roared to a 56-35 Division 3 quarterfinal win.
It was a problem La Jolla's defense had all season. Head Coach Tyler Roach's squad stumbled out to a 1-4 record in pre-league, then 2-3 to tie UC during Eastern League play. Friday's encounter was a repeat of the Vikings' loss to Coach Paul Lawrence's unit two weeks prior, in which they surrendered 49 points.
Bardaro, who has provided a team spark as an edge rusher on defense and dynamic scorer out of the wildcat, had been held out of La Jolla's first-round 31-14 win at home over Central Union. But immediately at UCHS, the momentum quickly built as Nico ran over for his first TD with just over six minutes elapsed after workhorse Kali Deberry's seven carries on the drive.
Kali Deberry (23) carries up the middle
for 20 yards on the Vikings' opening drive
that consumed 80 yards on 11 plays.
It was one of seven rushes for Deberry
on the possession.
Quarterback Brody Bukich was on the verge of leading the Vikings to another TD and a 14-0 lead on their second possession, before a penalty forced Roach to punt.
The Centurions (5-5) went in as the fourth seed, enjoying a first-round bye as a result of their earlier win at La Jolla on a last-second TD pass by Dietrich, the Vikings (4-8 overall) as the fifth seed. University City travels to Steele Canyon for the semifinals Nov. 20 after the Cougars got by Valhalla, 42-31.
Bardaro, 6'4", 195 pounds, had a rousing 35-yard pass reception from Bukich before his second touchdown. He ran 21 yards for that score with 8:28 left in the second quarter. Then, less than five minutes of elapsed time later, Nico took a Bukich aerial 43 yards for the 21-14 lead. It seemed La Jolla had the momentum and the fire to go further.
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