Vikings escape Patriots’ defense

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 19, 2026

Christian High junior Connor Nguyen

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
LA JOLLA 15, No. 30 CHRISTIAN 9

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Christian found the defensive improvement it needed Friday night. Finding one more touchdown proved more difficult.

The Patriots held La Jolla to 224 total yards and received a go-ahead safety from junior Drew Gaut, but the Vikings rallied for a 15-9 Eastern League victory at Valley Stadium.

Christian fell to 5-3 overall and 0-3 in league, its third consecutive loss following a 5-0 start. La Jolla improved to 3-5 and 2-1.

Sophomore quarterback Joel Hardy IV completed 13 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, connecting with sophomore Gavin Runkle on a 9-yard scoring pass that helped the Patriots establish a 7-0 lead.

La Jolla drew even before halftime. Gaut subsequently tackled a Vikings ballcarrier in the end zone for a safety, giving Christian a 9-7 advantage.

The Vikings answered with the winning points and led 15-9 with 6:14 remaining. Christian could not produce another scoring possession.

Sophomore running back Julian Morones carried 25 times for 140 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. He added two receptions for 17 yards as the Patriots finished with 164 rushing yards and 288 total yards.

Junior Connor Nguyen provided Christian’s largest receiving contribution, gaining 77 yards on two catches. Runkle caught three passes for 22 yards, including the Patriots’ only touchdown.

The production gave Christian a more balanced offensive performance than it managed a week earlier at University City. The Patriots nevertheless finished with nine points despite outgaining La Jolla by 64 yards.

Vikings junior quarterback Brody Bukich accounted for both La Jolla touchdowns, throwing a 19-yard scoring pass to senior Bryson Grant and adding a rushing touchdown. Bukich completed nine of 17 passes for 110 yards.

Junior Kali Deberry supplied most of La Jolla’s ground production with 100 yards on 17 carries. He also lost a fumble.

Christian limited senior receiver Nicolas Bardaro to two catches for five yards, a substantial change from his eight-catch, 135-yard performance against Cathedral Catholic the previous week. Bardaro contributed a rushing two-point conversion to the Vikings’ scoring.

Grant also recorded nine tackles, while A.J. Lennan had two sacks for La Jolla.

For Christian, the defensive effort kept a first Eastern League victory within reach throughout the evening. The Patriots allowed 114 rushing yards and 110 passing yards, one week after surrendering 370 yards through the air in a 47-27 loss at University City.

This time, Christian needed one more finish from its offense.

Hardy gives Patriots a passing lift

With Kaleb Runkle sidelined in recent weeks, Christian has needed its young quarterback to develop alongside a productive running game.

Joel Hardy IV supplied encouraging evidence against La Jolla.

The sophomore completed 76.5 percent of his attempts, throwing for 124 yards and a touchdown. A week earlier, he finished five of 11 for 22 yards at University City.

His touchdown connection with Gavin Runkle gave Christian the early lead, while Connor Nguyen’s two receptions for 77 yards supplied a downfield element.

Sophomore Taj Carrillo added 22 rushing yards on two attempts. Senior Quentin Uhland carried twice for two yards, and seniors Caden Brierley and Logan Saathoff each caught two passes.

The additional contributions helped Christian avoid placing its entire offensive burden on Julian Morones, who still handled 25 of the team’s 29 rushing attempts.

The next step is converting that broader production into more scoring possessions.

Gaut’s safety highlights defensive rebound

Drew Gaut’s tackle in the end zone briefly put Christian in position to win a game controlled largely by its defenses.

The safety broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Patriots a two-point lead.

Christian’s work against La Jolla’s passing game was equally significant. The Vikings entered with multiple receiving threats, but finished with 110 passing yards. No La Jolla receiver caught more than two passes.

The Patriots held Nicolas Bardaro, the Vikings’ leading receiver entering the game, to five receiving yards. Senior J. Hanlon led La Jolla with 31 yards on two catches.

Deberry reached 100 yards rushing, but La Jolla’s longest run was 16 yards. Christian made the Vikings work for their yardage and remained within one touchdown at the finish.

Lookahead: Patriots face Saints ground game

ST. AUGUSTINE (4-4, 3-0) at CHRISTIAN (5-3, 0-3)
Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. — Valley Stadium

Christian’s improved defense faces an immediate test against St. Augustine senior Paisios Polamalu, whose latest performance helped keep the Saints unbeaten in Eastern League play.

Polamalu rushed 20 times for 287 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s victory over Scripps Ranch. He enters the Christian matchup averaging 175.6 rushing yards per game.

The Patriots have their own productive sophomore back in Julian Morones, who averages 157.6 rushing yards and gained 140 against La Jolla.

Their running games give both teams a foundation. Christian’s challenge is limiting Polamalu without allowing the Saints’ passing attack to create another problem.

Junior quarterback Julian Chanfreau threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Scripps Ranch. Junior receiver Mateo Iuli caught seven passes for 133 yards and both scores.

St. Augustine has won all three of its league games, beating La Jolla, University City and Scripps Ranch. Its 4-4 overall record includes losses to Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte, Helix and Lincoln.

Christian’s performance against La Jolla provides a defensive starting point. The Patriots reduced the passing damage that hurt them at University City and kept the game close enough to win.

Against the Saints, that effort must begin with containing Polamalu, maintaining tackling discipline and avoiding the long runs that can undo an otherwise sound possession.

Offensively, Joel Hardy IV’s efficient passing against La Jolla gives Christian something to build upon. Timely connections with Connor Nguyen and Gavin Runkle could help sustain drives and create room for Morones.

The Patriots have shown they can move the ball. After scoring one touchdown against La Jolla, their most pressing assignment is turning those yards into enough points to finish.