Expectations. Every team across San Diego County faces them yearly, whether high or low.
But for the La Jolla High football team, the expectations for 2023 are high, and understandably so. Coming off a CIF Quarterfinals appearance in 2022 and returning a number of key starters from last season, Vikings head coach Tyler Roach and his staff like the direction this year’s team is heading in.
“We think we can be competitive and in the thick of things all the way through in both the Eastern League and Div. II,” said Roach, “Div. II is stacked this year, but we plan on staying right in the mix. But we can’t look too far ahead; we’re just focused on week one and taking things one week at a time.”
When looking over the Vikings roster, what quickly will stand out is the team’s “star” power, which is perhaps none more notable than starting left tackle Jett Thomas – with offers from schools like Arizona, SDSU, and Colorado State – whose play will be significant in dictating the success of La Jolla’s offense.
“Jett is our tone-setter up front, not only physically, but he’s a smart kid and can really play every position along the O-line,” Roach said. “We have two other returning starters who will also help set things up front in Logan Bonnett and Sawyer Moseley. Both are big strong kids who had big off-seasons developing.”
But the offensive line is the only spot of strength, as the Vikings will also have signal caller Jackson Diehl back under center in 2023.
Coming off a year that had him account for 30 total TDs (28 in the air, two on the ground), and a QB rating north of 100.5, he will undoubtedly be the engine in the Viking’s offense.
“The strides and the confidence that [Jackson] made from week one to playoffs last year were incredible,” noted Roach. “His poise, his ability to use his legs, and extending plays were huge leaps. With that experience and the phenomenal offseason he had to develop his game and intangibles, we’re excited to see what he has in store for 2023.”
The stats for Diehl should be high again with the impressive number of skill players he will have working with him both outside the numbers and in the backfield.
Roach feels confident in the team’s depth at both RB and WR. For his receiver core, they return Nick Sebro and Hank Hansen, who started last season and showed the ability to find pay dirt as the duo combined for 14 TDs last season. As well, the Vikings expect contributions from several underclassmen.
“We feel like this season we can line up five receivers top to bottom and make teams pick their poison that will allow us to present more challenges to teams this season,” said Roach.
For the passing attack, while the Vikings feel confident they can go vertical, Roach feels the strength can and will be the intermediate passing game, allowing their WR core to run after the catch and make men miss in open space.
Roach is willing to lean on Adian McGill as the feature back, or as the coaching staff calls him, Carolina for the Vikings’ bell-cow.
“He’s a bruiser with speed in the open field,” said Roach, “He can pitch in with the passing game, and he had a heck of an offseason by transforming himself in the weight room and training. For a change of pace, we will also have Brandon Goldstein, a senior who is also a good runner and will be important to us this season.”
On the defensive side, Roach also feels confident in his group. It’s going to be an overall younger group, but still, one that should be improved due to what Roach feels is more general athleticism.
“We bring back both of our linebackers and several of our starters on the D-line who are well-rounded,” said Roach. “We like how our defense as a whole is evolving, and I think they, as a unit, can be a difference maker for us.”
La Jolla kicks off tonight, Aug 18, against long-time rival Bishops High in the battle for Pearl Street at Gene Edwards Stadium at 7 p.m. It’s what the Vikings and their fans hope is the first building block to a championship season.
