The shrink wrap came off the new-and-improved sports facilities at La Jolla High as quarterback Cole Dimich ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead a 32-0 league demolishing of Serra at Homecoming on Oct. 14.
Dimich, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, rushed for 145 yards, leading a ground attack that yielded a total of 326 yards, split among big gainers Daniel McColl with 86 yards and Alex Dockery with 57 yards and a TD.
The Viking offense had, by far, its best productivity of the season with 490 yards combined, including 164 yards in the air by Dimich on 10 for 17 passing, as Coach Matt Morrison’s squad evened its City League record at 1-1 and improved to 3-5 on the season.
The explosive victory played in well with the theme of the night, which was star digs populated by star coaches of the present and past who were recognized on the newly-etched Wall of Honor inside Edwards Stadium. In addition, an upbeat ceremony inaugurating the new tennis pavilion just off the new football field turf and track had its poignant moments, with Russell Lanthorne III recalling his namesake father’s memory.
“Mom and Dad loved you all so much,” he told the assembled folks at an afternoon reception tearily as he stood before a plaque recognizing his father, Russell J. Lanthorne, who piloted 10 straight CIF boys tennis team champions from 1970 to 1979, with a preposterous record of 254-7.
A short time later, senior Sadie Lee cut the ribbon on the new and renovated buildings – including locker rooms, coaches’ offices, weight room, trainer’s room, and concession stands – saying, “There’s not much a younger sibling can impress older siblings with, but when I show them (Helen and Cameron) the new facilities, they are impressed.” Lee plays lacrosse and field hockey for the Vikings. Her siblings both played lacrosse, as well, in addition to other sports.
In the Viking football assault, Dimich’s four TDs on the ground and in the air included a 69-yard scoring pass play to fellow senior Dockery, who juked and entertained the large home crowd, which included 30 coaching inductees recognized before the game for the Wall of Honor. “Dock,” a 5-foot-8-inch tall, 180-pound running back, piled up 183 total yards, with 78 yards on a pair of receptions and a TD, and 48 yards on punt returns, in addition to his rushing production. The crowd oohed and aahed at some of his acrobatic running moves, including being knocked sideways by one defender, then righting himself and continuing for an eight-yard gain to set up his rushing TD just before halftime.
The Vikings recovered an onside kick to open the game, then scored on their first two possessions, first Dimich’s eight-yard run, then his 69-yard catch-and-run to Dockery.
Serra, now 0-2 in the City League and 1-6 overall, put up little resistance as La Jolla scored again in the second quarter on Dockery’s short run for a 20-0 lead, which they took into halftime. The game was basically decided by then. Dimich had a spectacular run of 57 yards on a quarterback keeper, one of his two TD runs in the third quarter to close out scoring at 32-0.
A slimmed-down McColl, like several of his fellow seniors playing both ways, carried his newly-svelte 205-pound frame on blasting forays into the Conquistador defense for hard-earned yardage. His 13 carries were a season high. His longest run covered 21 yards. The quick, bruising linebacker added 32 yards on three catches, including a 27-yard play. On defense, McColl punished the Q’s with nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, half a sack, and a recovered fumble.
The Viking defense, one of the strong points this season, completely shut down Serra’s non-attack, limiting tiny 5-foot-6-inch tall junior running back Bryan Pratt, whom head coach Dru Smith said the Q’s had to get going to be effective, to 13 yards on five carries. Senior quarterback Joaquin Quintana-McKinney was similarly smothered by the swarming La Jolla defense, garnering a scant 33 yards on 2-for-6 passing, and a total of three yards on 14 carries.
At the tennis pavilion ceremony, former Vikings girls coach Maggie Mulkins was recognized with a plaque alongside that of Lanthorne’s. Mulkins’ teams won 17 CIF team championships and 22 Western League titles in her years as head coach from 1975-1985 and 1995-2010, earning her a spot in the San Diego Coaches Hall of Fame.
Former Viking tennis player John Holladay, who played at La Jolla from 1969 to 1972, talked during the reception of his team’s incredible pairing against the USC varsity. The super-talented high school squad narrowly lost to the college team. La Jolla’s number one, two, and three singles players all won. “Even though there was excitement,” said Holladay, who has continued on after a career at USC to USTA national titles in father-daughter play with his daughter Hannah, “I don’t think anyone on our team thought they didn’t have a chance to win.” Holladay concluded, “There was more excitement than awe.”
The Viking tennis team traveled up to the Los Angeles Tennis Club for the matchup. “Our coach (Russ Lanthorne, plaque honoree) somehow knew how to contact the USC coach.” La Jolla sent out Raul Ramirez, Chico Hagey, Holladay, and Steve Mott as the numbers one through four in singles. Ramirez, like Holladay, went on to play at USC, Hagey at Stanford, and Mott at UCLA. “Raul became number one in the world in singles and doubles in 1976,” said Holladay. Both Hagey and Holladay played at Wimbledon, the latter three times.
Present La Jolla High number-one singles player Alex Kuo and her teammates appreciate what the new facilities mean. “I think it’s awesome,” said Kuo before the ceremony. “We never really had anything like this. Now we have a building right near the courts.”
Teammate Julia Borad, who plays doubles, said, “I think it’s great. We have a spin room (with cycles), a training room (not open yet), which is basically for things like that (pointing to trainer’s tape on Kuo’s right leg).” They both grinned, with Kuo saying, “It’s not really injured. It’s okay.”
Alice Wu, a senior who serves as a captain, said, “I think it’s a lot nicer. I was here before construction. It was basically a brick wall, some old bleachers, and some old drinking fountains.” Asked about boys coach Matt Previdi’s comment last spring that the new facilities will help draw student athletes to La Jolla High, Wu replied, “I think the cleanness of the area shows a dedication and a passion for the program.” The newly unveiled patio, with the walkway above the courts newly completed and banners displaying both boys and girls league and CIF championships on the fences, did look pretty sharp for the reception, which included sushi and coconut shrimp.
Jack McGrory, former San Diego city manager and master of ceremonies for the short ceremony at the tennis pavilion, had the quote of the evening when he was introduced as “the man who moved Fay Avenue to get the (Coggan) pool built.” McGrory, not missing a beat, said, “Illegally,” chuckling, in reference to his maneuver that realigned the street behind the school.
Lee, in her remarks from the podium during the ribbon-cutting, referred to the hardship during construction the past year and a half that students could not enjoy Homecoming, graduation, and other events on the home field. But she said it was worth the wait.
Her fellow seniors on the La Jolla football team, the core of the squad through the transition from last season to this, have been one of the strengths in Morrison’s first year as coach. Ross Martin, a defensive end listed at 6 foot 3 inches tall, 200 pounds, who recorded 12 tackles against Serra, doubling his previous game high, recalled, “Ever since JV, we’ve come together. As a freshman, I was not too involved. I got injured. I broke my right arm (displaying a long ribbon of scar on the inside of his forearm). On junior varsity, we saw we could really have something here.”
Martin, who had his second straight game with two quarterback sacks, said, “I’ve known Daniel (McColl) since Pop Warner, age 10 or 11.”
Nick Hammel, a 6 foot 3 inch tall, 190-pound linebacker who had four tackles, said, “I’ve known Daniel since first grade. We went to All Hallows together. We’re (all) comfortable with each other, and we trust each other. We all have experience, because we’re seniors.”
Christophe Gish, center-guard on the offensive line, said, “(It’s) the trust. I’m sure most teams have this. I’ve played next to Dane (Hansen), JoJo (Russell) is not in there (due to injury), Tino (Mendez). I know how many times we’ve run through each play (and it gives me confidence).”