2022 San Diego JuCo Preseason Rankings

These rankings are based on how the four San Diego County teams fare against each other. State polls and results against programs outside of the county do not determine this list.

#1 San Diego Mesa Olympians (7-4)

Has not lost to a San Diego opponent since 2018 (7-game streak).

#2 Palomar Comets (6-5)

Ranked #14 in the final 2021 JCAB State Poll (Highest in SD).

#3 Southwestern Jaguars (3-7)

A new era begins after 15-year head coach Ed Carberry retires.

#4 Grossmont Griffins (7-3)

10-game losing streak against San Diego opponents.

2022 San Diego County Games

September 3rd

Grossmont at Southwestern, 6pm

Previous Meeting: Southwestern 10, Grossmont 7 (Sept. 4, 2021)

September 17th

Southwestern at Palomar, 6pm

Previous Meeting: Palomar 26, Southwestern 7 (Sept. 18, 2021)

October 1st

Palomar at San Diego Mesa, 6pm

Previous Meeting: San Diego Mesa 31, Palomar 27 (Oct. 2, 2021)

November 12th

Southwestern at San Diego Mesa, 6pm

Previous Meeting: San Diego Mesa 35, Southwestern 29 (Nov. 13, 2021)

Prep Football: SD Union-Tribune Media Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Team; Record; Points; Last Week

1. Carlsbad (17); 2-0; 285; 2

2. Cathedral Catholic (11); 1-1; 255; 1

3. Madison (1); 2-0; 229; 3

4. Helix (1); 2-0; 202; 6

5. Lincoln; 1-1; 160; 4

6. Mission Hills; 2-0; 156; 7

7. Mater Dei Catholic; 0-2; 149; 5

8. Poway; 2-0; 89; 8

9. Ramona; 2-0; 69; 9

10. El Camino; 2-0; 28; NR

Others Receiving Votes

Torrey Pines (0-2, 8 points), Central Union (2-0, 6 points), Granite Hills (1-1, 2 points), 

St. Augustine (1-1, 2 points), Del Norte (2-0, 1 point), Mira Mesa (1-1, 1 point).

Voters: 30 sportswriters, sportscasters and administrators from throughout the county

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Eric Williams and Thomas Gutierrez (freelance writers), Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds and John Carroll (KUSI-TV), Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com), Ramon Scott and Adam (EastCountySports.com), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com), John Kentera and Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan), Steve Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9-FM, Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association), Troy Hirsch and Nic Pollino (Fox 5 San Diego), Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen and Ron Marquez (CIF Office), Mike Dolan and Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee), Joe Evangelist (San Digo Coaching Legends Committee), Will Torrez (Valley Sports Network), Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net), Tom Helmantoler (Advisor Southern Conference), MaxPreps.

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Aug. 25-27)

DE Ratumana Balabalavu - Army & Navy Academy

3 Sacks & 4 Tackles for Loss

vs. Clairemont

RB Chris Bausch - Fallbrook

30 carries for 140 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Santa Fe Christian

RB Nehemiah Brunson Jr. - Army & Navy Academy

3 carries for 124 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Clairemont

DB Jackson Daniels - Helix

3 Interceptions (1 returned for TD)

vs. Otay Ranch

QB Jackson Diehl - La Jolla

275 Passing Yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Scripps Ranch

ATH Charlie Gooding - La Jolla Country Day

3 Touchdowns (2 REC, 1 INT) & 2 Interceptions (1 returned for TD)

vs. Crawford

RB Kal-El Gordon - El Cajon Valley

128 Rushing Yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Hoover

QB Carson Howard - El Camino

3 Touchdowns (2 Pass, 1 Run)

vs. Grossmont

QB Ryland Jessee - Helix

4 Touchdown Passes

vs. Otay Ranch

QB Casey Kotcher-Smith - San Diego

322 Passing Yards & 4 Touchdowns (3 Pass, 1 Run)

vs. Westview

WR Ty Olsen - Del Norte

199 Receiving Yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. University City

DB Gavin Marzion - Mission Bay

2 Interceptions (1 returned for TD)

vs. Mar Vista

LB Thomas McCormick - Carlsbad 

16.5 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 PBU's, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, & 1 Sack

vs. Mater Dei Catholic

RB Connor Rath - Poway

26 carries for 167 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Eastlake

QB Julian Sayin - Carlsbad

3 Touchdowns (2 Pass, 1 Run)

vs. Mater Dei Catholic

QB Jack Schneider - Del Norte

323 Passing Yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. University City

QB Brodie Stump - Kearny

384 Total Yards & 5 Touchdowns (4 Pass, 1 Run)

vs. Monte Vista

ATH Joaquin Thomas Jr. - Granite Hills

2 Touchdowns (81-yard KR, 1 REC)

vs. Valhalla

ATH Makei Thompson - Mira Mesa

225 All-Purpose Yards & 2 Touchdowns (1 Run, 1 REC)

vs. San Marcos

RB Gino Trappasso - Rancho Buena Vista

25 carries for 262 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Morse

WR Drew Ventimiglia - Mt. Carmel

8 catches for 156 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Patrick Henry

ATH Tom Vail - Christian

3 Total Touchdowns (2 Runs, 1 Pass)

vs. Bishop's

Prep Football: Mt. Carmel holds off Patrick Henry

How the Top 10 Fared (Week 2)
#1 Cathedral Catholic - Loss to Centennial (Corona, CA) 7-42#2 Carlsbad - Def. #5 Mater Dei Catholic 36-35 2OT#3 Madison - Def. Steele Canyon 35-7#4 Lincoln - Loss to Alemany (Mission Hills, CA) 7-14#5 Mater Dei Catholic - Loss to #2 Carlsbad 35-36 2OT#6 Helix - Def. Otay Ranch 52-0 (Thur.)#7 Mission Hills - Def. Lawndale (CA) - 31-7#8 Poway - Def. Eastlake 14-6#9 Ramona - Def. Rancho Bernardo 34-6#10 Torrey Pines - Loss to San Clemente (CA) 17-28
Early Player of the Week Contenders
DB Jackson Daniels - HelixQB Jackson Diehl - La JollaRB Kal-El Gordon - El Cajon ValleyQB Carson Howard  - El CaminoQB Ryland Jessie - HelixRB Connor Rath - PowayQB Julian Sayin - CarlsbadATH Joaquin Thomas Jr., Granite HillsRB Gino Trappasso, Rancho Buena VistaATH Tom Vail - ChristianRB Drew Ventimiglia - Mt. Carmel

Prep Football: #6 Helix cruise past Otay Ranch in home opener

Photo Credit: Ramon Scott of EastCountySports.com

In a rare Thursday night meeting, the No. 6 Helix Highlanders (2-0) earned a decisive 52-0 win over the Otay Ranch Mustangs (0-2) in their first home game of the season. Junior quarterback Ryland Jesse continued his outstanding start to the season by adding four touchdown passes to his total, giving him eight on the season. Seniors Quincy Herron and Adren Parker had two receiving scores each, while junior Jackson Daniels recorded three interceptions, including a 55-yard pick-six.

After the game, we spoke with first-year Helix head coach Damaja Jones about his first win at home, the team's transition from being run-oriented to having current success in the passing game, and more.

Prep Football: SD Union-Tribune Media Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Team; Record; Points; Last Week

1. Cathedral Catholic (27); 1-0; 293; 1

2. Carlsbad (3); 0-0; 267; 2

3. Madison;1-0; 207; 4

4. Lincoln; 1-0; 204; 5

5. Mater Dei Catholic; 0-1; 199; 3

6. Helix; 1-0; 180; 6

7. Mission Hills; 1-0; 143; 7

8. Poway; 1-0; 88; 10

9. Ramona; 1-0; 25; NR

10. Torrey Pines; 0-1; 24; 8

Others Receiving Votes

Steele Canyon (1-0, 18 points), El Camino (1-0, 13 points), Brawley (1-0, 10 points), San Marcos (1-0, 3 points), Scripps Ranch (0-1, 3 points), Granite Hills (0-1, 2 points), Central Union (1-0, 2 points), Patrick Henry (0-0, 1 point).

Voters: 30 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators from throughout the county

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Eric Williams and Thomas Gutierrez (freelance writers), Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds and John Carroll (KUSI-TV), Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com), Ramon Scott and Adam (EastCountySports.com), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com), John Kentera and Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan), Steve Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9-FM, Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association), Troy Hirsch and Nic Pollino (Fox 5 San Diego), Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen and Ron Marquez (CIF Office), Mike Dolan and Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee), Joe Evangelist (San Digo Coaching Legends Committee), Will Torrez (Valley Sports Network), Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net), Tom Helmantoler (Advisor Southern Conference), MaxPreps.

Prep Football: Players of the Week (Aug. 18-20)

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

WR Josh Ball - San Marcos

8 catches for 223 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Rancho Bernardo

QB Matthew Barton - Mount Miguel

15/23 for 161 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Sweetwater

ATH Jeremiah Castillo - Mount Miguel

6 catches for 92 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Sweetwater

QB KJ Chatham - Lincoln

12/14 for 189 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Capital Christian (Sacramento, CA)

LB Madden Faraimo - Cathedral Catholic

2 INTs, 1 Fumble Recovery

vs. Mater Dei Catholic

QB William Fierro, Bishop’s

4 Total Touchdowns (2 Pass, 2 Run)

vs. La Jolla

RB Major Givens - Steele Canyon

11 carries for 224 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Heritage (Menifee, CA)

TE Quincy Herron - Helix

8 catches for 164 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Mira Mesa

WR Jake Jackson - Madison

2 catches for 2 Touchdowns

vs. Otay Ranch

QB Ryland Jessee - Helix

15/27 for 236 yards & 4 Touchdowns

vs. Mira Mesa

QB Colin Lester - Ramona

3 Total Touchdowns (2 Run, 1 Pass) & 1 sack

vs. Christian

QB Kreet Makihele - San Marcos

23/29 for 390 yards & 5 Touchdowns

vs. Rancho Bernardo

ATH Kevin Olah - Santa Fe Christian

190 Total Yards, 1 TD Catch, 5 Pass Break Ups

vs. Valley Center

WR Ty Olsen - Del Norte

6 catches for 135 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Escondido

RB Roderick Robinson II - Lincoln

8 carries for 183 yards & 4 Touchdowns 

vs. Capital Christian (Sacramento, CA)

RB Hector Sanchez - Holtville

5 carries for 157 yards & 2 Touchdowns

vs. Southwest (El Centro)

WR Jacob Sloan - Mission Bay

12 catches for 142 yards & 1 Touchdown

vs. El Cajon Valley

RB Charles Sullivan - Central

21 carries for 258 yards & 3 Touchdowns

vs. Mt. Carmel

ATH Corey Thompson Jr. - Lincoln

2 Touchdowns (1 REC, 1 INT), & 2 Interceptions

vs. Capital Christian (Sacramento, CA)

LB James Tivao - Madison

13 Tackles (3 for loss), 1 Forced Fumble, & 1 TD run

vs. Otay Ranch

RB Gino Trapasso - Rancho Buena Vista

7 carries for 252 yards & 5 Touchdowns 

vs. Castle Park

ATH Chris Williams - Francis Parker

7 TDs (6 Rush, 1 INT), 455 All-Purpose Yards, & 2 INTs

San Diego Section Record 52 Points

vs. Polytechnic (Pasadena, CA)

Prep Football: How the 2022 Preseason Top 10 Fared in Week 1

#1 Mater Dei Catholic (0-1) - Loss to #2 Cathedral 14-28

#2 Cathedral Catholic (1-0) - Def. Mater Dei 28-14

#3 Carlsbad (0-0) - Bye

#4 Lincoln (1-0) - Def. Capital Christian (Sacramento, CA) 56-0

#5 Madison (1-0) - Def. Otay Ranch 47-7

#6 Helix (1-0) - Def. Mira Mesa 41-21

#7 Mission Hills - (1-0) Def. Chaparral (Temecula, CA) 44-33

#8 Torrey Pines (0-1) - Loss to Ayala (Chino Hills, CA) 14-28

#9 Scripps Ranch (0-1) - Loss to Brawley 27-20

#10 Poway - (1-0) Def. Granite Hills 31-19

Tale of the Tape: Cathedral at Mater Dei

🏈 Cathedral Catholic Dons at Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders

📍Mater Dei Catholic High School

📅 Saturday, August 20, 2022 🕖 6:00 P.M. PT

📺 KUSI News

Series History

First Meeting: 1965 - USDHS 35, Marian Catholic 0

Previous Meeting: 2007 - Cathedral 49, Mater Dei 0

Cathedral leads All-Time Series 4-2

Breakdown

When the first media poll of the season is out on Monday, voters should know who the county's undisputed top team is. After a spectacular state championship run that included wins over three Division I opponents, including section champion Helix in the 2021 State Regional playoff, Mater Dei made a momentous jump from Division III to Division I. Their D-I debut will entail a hard schedule, beginning with a highly anticipated game against defending Open and 1-AA state champion Cathedral Catholic, a club that hasn't lost to a San Diego section opponent since 2019.

Prep Football: Top 22 in 2022 (Athletes)

These players can excel at multiple positions on the gridiron, as well as in other sports. 

Here is the list of our Top 22 Athletes heading into the 2022 season.

Name (School) Graduation Class

Noah Allen - Point Loma, 2023

Surahz Buncom - Mater Dei Catholic, 2023

Jeremiah Castillo - Mount Miguel, 2024

Samuel Cooper IV - University City, 2023

Josiah Cox - Lincoln, 2023

Cayden Dawson - University City, 2023

Cruz Estrada - Mater Dei Catholic, 2023

Jaylen Hall - Mater Dei Catholic, 2023

Justin Johnson - Carlsbad, 2023

Avondre Kelley - Francis Parker, 2025

Jax Leatherwood - Scripps Ranch, 2023

Zach Marshall - Carlsbad, 2023

DJ Overstreet - Mater Dei Catholic, 2023

Adren Parker - Helix, 2023

Berrot Rankin - Madison, 2023

Dante Scott - Bonita Vista, 2023

Chris Snyder, Jr. - Mater Dei Catholic, 2023

Joaquin Thomas Jr. - Granite Hills, 2023

Makei Thompson - Mira Mesa, 2023

Corey Thompson Jr. - Lincoln, 2023

Chris White - Lincoln, 2023

Christopher Williams - Francis Parker, 2023

Prep Football: The top team in each city entering the 2022 season

Inspired by a CBS Sports article listing the top college football teams in each state, here are our top teams from each city in the San Diego Section that feature more than one football program. Our list is based on recent head-to-head matchups and team success.

Prep Football: 2022 Preseason Rankings

With less than two weeks remaining before we kick off the 2022 regular season campaign, here are our top 10 teams heading into the upcoming campaign.

PFL Announces 2022 Preseason Poll and All-PFL Team

The 2022 Preseason Poll & All-PFL Team have been released by the Pioneer Football League. 

The University of San Diego Toreros received three first-place votes and 91 total points, placing them at number 2 in the poll behind defending PFL Co-Champion Davidson, who received 98 points and eight first-place votes.

USD players featured on the All-PFL Team are sophomore wide receiver Vance Jefferson (Poway), junior offensive lineman Finley Lecky, junior defensive lineman Will Buck, graduate defensive lineman Muhindo Kapapa, senior linebacker David Ambagtsheer (St. Augustine), and senior defensive back Amir Wallace.

Last season, the Toreros finished 7-4 and won a record-tying 12th PFL championship, winning seven straight games to finish the season. San Diego will look to extend their streak when they open the 2022 campaign against La Verne on September 3 at Torero Stadium.