LJ FB: 'Whitt' new with CB's

Damarious "Whitt" Whitten,

new cornerbacks coach for the

Vikings. He snagged 9 picks

and was named Marine Corps

"Defensive Player of the Year"

in his playing days.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"Defensive Player of the Year" at cornerback in the Marine Corps, and someone who played at Steeler great Ben Roethlisberger's high school alma mater--those are things to get people's attention.

Damarious "Coach Whitt" Whitten steps in as new staff for the Viking corners. The courteous mentor with braids, on the sidelines for La Jolla's games at the USD Camp 7-v-7 games Sat., June 21, allowed as how he starred at Findlay (Ohio) High, where QB Roethlisberger spun a few passes years ago.

He also played at Old Redford High in Detroit, Michigan, during his prep days.

Damarious recorded nine interceptions from the cornerback position to garner the Marine Corps award. A reporter noted that that was same number of picks current Viking senior Carson Diehl led the county with during his sophomore year in 2023. "That's the real challenge, is when you're known and they're coming at you," commented the assistant coach.

The Viking staff will have other changes in 2025, as Randy Cowell will occupy the Defensive Coordinator spot opposite Head Coach Tyler Roach's direction of the offense.

Associate Head Coach Scott "Juice" Hughley, a big favorite with players during his five years coaching at La Jolla, has moved over to Del Norte's football program, where he also works during the day as a campus supervisor.

LJ FB: USD Camp game story

The Vikings' most recent offseason competition

took place June 21 at the USD Camp, the campus

on a hill in San Diego, (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"Not our best showing," commented La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach. "We were just a little off all day."

Roach was reacting to his team's 2-3 showing in the USD Camp 7-v-7 tournament Sat., June 21. The Vikings, with senior quarterback Hudson Smith targeting receivers Nico Bardaro, Aiden Farrell, Logan Clark, Emerson Rota, and others, lost their first game at 9:30 a.m. to Charter Oak (Covina), 13-4, without scoring a touchdown.

After the 20-minute timed game, La Jolla had a short rest on a warm morning until 10:33, when the Vikings' scheduled game kicked off with their opponent, Pinnacle (Phoenix), again getting the ball on offense first.

This time, Smith and crew got off to a better start, tying the contest 6-6 on their first possession with a TD reception by Kaden Pomare. The extra point attempt failed.

The La Jolla defense, featuring middle linebacker Charlie Martin, cornerback Lukas Grismer, and linebacker Joseph Crudo, among others, stopped the Pioneers on their next possession, with three "time"'s being called--the equivalent of a sack, without tackling in 7-v-7.

Then Huddy found Bardaro in open area where Nico had room to run for touchdown number two, 12-6, before the extra point pass in the middle of the field to the same receiver was off.

After Martin's pick, La Jolla came back with a Smith-Grismer connection toward the left sideline on the first down played, 18-6. Smith's throw in the center to Rota on the extra point failed.

Roach's offense, with a "bigger" QB, as La Jolla's program described the senior earlier this offseason, had more points up its sleeve with Hudson's TD completion to Aiden Hogan. The final was 24-6.

La Jolla went 1-2 the rest of the day.

LJ FB: More photos - Charter Oak game 6/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Nico Bardaro takes in a Hudson Smith

pass in the middle under close coverage.

Corner Aiden Farrell (behind) makes the stop

on a Charter Oak receiver on first-and-goal.

Hudson Smith, with a year of seasoning as

the starting QB, cocks to fire.

On the fifth pass of the game, Charter Oak scores

a TD as coverage gets leaky. CO won the 20-minute

game, 13-6.

LJ FB 4, Charter Oak (Covina) 13 - USD Camp 6/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Tight end Nico Bardaro takes a completion

for first down with less than five minutes

left in the 20-minute game, down 13-4.

Senior Lukas Grismer (R) defends on a pass attempt

near the goal line. Ball is knocked away.

Grismer (6), a cornerback, completes the stop

on a ball that seemed to be in the Charger receiver's

grasp for a moment on a good, physical play.

Soph cornerback Aiden Farrell (L) positions himself

to cover his man on Charter Oak split wide to the left.

Coach Tyler Roach tries to light a fire under his

players after the loss in the 9:30 a.m. contest.

Junior Joseph Crudo (rear left), a linebacker,

lines up with fellow senior Drake Weise (21)

and Aiden Farrell (white cap) before a play

midway through the LJ-Charter Oak encounter.

Vikings take a break on the USD lower field sidelines

after the game. JV coach Chris Macy (R) sits on a

bucket.

From left, freshman assistant Ben Martin (also head

track coach) and varsity assistant Chris Velez, in his

sixth year with LJ, watch the scrimmage.

Vike head coach Tyler Roach (R) takes a break

after the first game with Marshall (L), his 10-year-old

son who just celebrated his birthday June 18.

Junior tight end Nico Bardaro, split left, barks out

some communication as the Vike offense sets up.

LJ FB: USD Camp 7-v-7 - Vikings 24, Pinnacle (Phoenix) 6 - 6/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Receiver Kaden Pomare (foreground)

prepares to go out as QB Hudson Smith

looks his way.

Senior quarterback Hudson Smith (1)

lets loose with a long pass against Pinnacle.

Vike head coach Tyler Roach (L) advises

receiver Emerson Rota (4) as QB Hudson

Smith (1) listens at the end of the second game.

Logan Clark (5) defends as a Monarch

makes a flying catch.

Vikings huddle before the second game, with

Hudson Smith (center rear, hand up) leading

the close. Linebacker Charlie Smith is far right.

LJ FB: Campus osprey puts on show as Vikes work out below 6/20

Photos by Ed Piper

The LJHS campus osprey, Onid, swoops over the football field

while Viking hopefuls work out below Fri. morning, June 20.

Onid the osprey carries a fish in his talons

as he transports it across Edwards Stadium

from the east side to the nest atop a light

stanchion on the west side of the field.

Zach "Snacks" Gergurich (far right) rises from

a prone position to sprint 50 yards downfield

as part of the workout under coach Ben Martin.

Fellow junior Emerson Rota (red shirt) and

senior teammate Dane Tyvoll (next to him)

wait in their group to do the drill.

Football assistant and head track coach Ben Martin

(on the bullhorn) runs the practice. At far left

are QB Hudson Smith (white T-shirt)

and middle linebacker Charlie Martin.

Two team members arrive on their e-bikes

before the 7 a.m. workout.

LJ FB: 2nd in bracket at SDSU Camp

The campus osprey (upper left) keeps an eye out

next to the nest atop the central light standard

during weight-training Wed. morning, June 18.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla went 5-2 and took second in its bracket at the SDSU Camp in 7-v-7 games June 7-8, according to new DC Randy Cowell.

The Vikings came up against Centennial (Peoria, AZ) in the final, losing that contest on the campus at San Diego State. Cowell is installing new defensive patterns in his role as Defensive Coordinator.

This weekend, June 21-22, the Coach Tyler Roach-led offensive players will go to the USD Camp locally.

Middle linebacker Charlie Martin, sporting a visible 2-to-3-inch vertical scar on the outside of his right wrist from surgery earlier this year, said, "It's getting better. I still can't lift (weights)," as he ramps up with his teammates for the Aug. 22 season opener at Torrey Pines High.

Cowell, the DC, coached at Valley Center for 20 years. He then was an assistant at Escondido Charter most recently.

Roach begins his ninth season at the helm. He served as a defensive assistant at La Jolla prior to that time.