2025 CIF San Diego Champions Crowned

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Open Division Champions

Cathedral Catholic Dons

Def. Carlsbad 20-16

Cathedral Catholic staged one of the most stunning rallies in San Diego Section playoff history, erasing a 16-0 deficit with a furious fourth-quarter surge to defeat Carlsbad 20-16 and claim their fourth Open Division championship. The Dons (10-2) looked finished after Carlsbad quarterback Eli MacNeal connected with Travis Jeffery on a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter, building on his earlier 27-yard scoring strike to Ethan Meyerhoff and a 37-yard Beckham Filippini field goal that had the Lancers cruising with a 16-0 lead. But Cathedral Catholic's offense awakened in the final period, beginning with Honor Faalave-Johnson's five-yard rushing touchdown before quarterback Brady Palmer delivered the game's defining moment—a soaring 71-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Cook that made it 16-13. With under a minute remaining, the Dons completed their remarkable comeback with a four-yard rushing touchdown to take their first lead at 20-16, then held on through the final seconds to secure the crown. The devastating loss marked Carlsbad's (10-2) fourth defeat in an Open Division title game, as they were unable to protect their advantage despite dominating for three quarters behind MacNeal's strong performance and a defense that had completely bottled up the Dons until the fourth quarter explosion.

Division I Champions

Granite Hills Eagles

Def. Lincoln 41-29

Granite Hills claimed its fourth straight section championship by overcoming an early deficit in a physical, back-and-forth thriller that saw the lead change hands multiple times before the Eagles prevailed. After Rashad Robinson's explosive touchdown run put Lincoln up 14-0, junior quarterback Zachary Benitez sparked the comeback by connecting with Zhedan Smith to make it 14-7. Gage Spalding's rushing touchdown tied it 14-14, but Junior Curtis answered to restore the Hornets' lead at 21-14. Just before halftime, Benitez delivered a spectacular 65-yard strike to Noah Walker, though the missed extra point left Lincoln ahead 21-20 at the break. Granite Hills seized control in the third quarter when Benitez found Walker on an eight-yard touchdown pass for a 26-21 lead, but Robinson responded with another touchdown run and two-point conversion to put Lincoln back on top 29-26. The Eagles answered immediately as Benitez hit Walker for their third scoring connection, giving Granite Hills a 33-29 advantage entering the fourth quarter. After surviving a missed field goal attempt, Spalding delivered the knockout blow with a late touchdown run with 1:25 remaining to seal the victory. Benitez finished with a phenomenal 16-of-25 performance for 309 yards and four touchdowns while adding eight rushing yards, orchestrating an offense that accumulated 500 total yards. Walker was unstoppable with seven receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns, while Smith contributed three catches for 71 yards and a score. Spalding powered the ground game with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, complemented by Anthony Mattar's 25 yards and Seth Rodriquez's 40 yards. The Eagles' defense dominated when it mattered most, led by Braydon Wells' 10 tackles, while Wyatt MacLeod wreaked havoc with 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Parker Johnson added 13 tackles and a tackle for loss.

Prep Football: Santa Fe Christian Survives Thriller to Win Division 2 Crown, Perfect Season Continues

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

In a heart-stopping battle that came down to the final minutes, Santa Fe Christian (13-0) survived a furious Steele Canyon comeback to claim the CIF San Diego Division II championship 44-41 on Friday night, continuing their campaign as the only undefeated team remaining in the San Diego Section. The Eagles, coached by a staff that includes NFL legend Drew Brees as an assistant, delivered a championship performance befitting their historic season.

Quarterback Dax Labrum put on a championship clinic, throwing for five touchdown passes to lead the Eagles' high-powered offense. Labrum found his favorite target Chase Woolley three times in the end zone, including a spectacular 51-yard strike in the third quarter. Woolley's impact extended beyond receiving, as he delivered a crucial kickoff return deep into Steele Canyon territory in the fourth quarter that set up what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. Kicker Bradan Scott, who also caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Labrum, was flawless on the night, converting all six extra points and drilling three field goals from 21, 37, and 43 yards out.

The game featured multiple momentum swings and showcased the resilience of both teams. Steele Canyon struck first with an 80-yard touchdown pass and a 98-yard kickoff return for a score to take an early 14-10 lead, but Santa Fe Christian seized control in the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 17-0 to build a commanding 30-14 halftime advantage. The Cougars refused to go quietly, clawing back with 27 second-half points including a late fourth-quarter touchdown by Sinan Khudur that cut the deficit to just three points at 44-41 with minutes remaining.

Santa Fe Christian's ability to answer every Steele Canyon challenge in the final quarter proved to be the difference. When the Cougars scored to make it 37-34, the Eagles immediately responded with Labrum's fifth touchdown pass following Woolley's big return. The Eagles then controlled the clock in the final minutes to secure the title. Steele Canyon's season ends at 9-4 after a valiant effort, while Santa Fe Christian will advance to the State Playoffs, where they'll look to continue their perfect season and bring another championship back to Solana Beach.

Prep Football: Tigers Roar to Division 5 Championship

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

The Morse Tigers (9-4) captured their first CIF section football championship since 2018 with a commanding 45-30 victory over the Hoover Cardinals (7-7) in Friday's Division 5 title game.

Senior athlete Superior Garror put on a championship performance for the ages, accounting for four touchdowns including three on the ground and a spectacular 60-yard punt return for a score. Garror's explosive runs of 42, 16, and 32 yards for touchdowns kept Hoover's defense scrambling all night. Quarterback Ethan Esmailian complemented the ground attack with two touchdown passes, connecting with Alex Smith and De'Vell Green, as the Tigers built an insurmountable lead.

The game remained scoreless through the first quarter before Morse broke through with a Christopher Felix Martinez field goal early in the second. From there, the Tigers never looked back, outscoring Hoover 17-6 in the second quarter to take control. Despite Hoover quarterback Hezekiah Manuel's valiant efforts throwing three touchdown passes to keep the Cardinals in the fight, Morse's balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense proved too much to overcome. The Tigers' defense came up with crucial stops throughout the game, including key tackles for loss from Gael Diaz, Edward Walker, and Mekhi Toliver, while Rochadd Laban added a momentum-shifting sack in the fourth quarter.

The championship marks a triumphant return to glory for a Morse program that has been building toward this moment after finishing 1-9 last season. With a raucous crowd supporting them and the weight of their community's expectations on their shoulders, the Tigers delivered when it mattered most, adding another chapter to the school's rich football tradition and bringing the trophy back home to Skyline Drive.

Prep Football: Cathedral Catholic Rallies to Win Open Division Title

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Cathedral Catholic 20, Carlsbad 16

In one of the most dramatic finishes in San Diego Section Open Division history, the Cathedral Catholic Dons (10-2) erased a 16-point deficit with an explosive fourth quarter to defeat the Carlsbad Lancers (10-2) 20-16 and capture their fourth Open Division championship.

The comeback seemed improbable as Carlsbad dominated the first three quarters. The Lancers jumped ahead 7-0 in the second quarter when quarterback Eli MacNeal connected with Ethan Meyerhoff on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Beckham Filippini added a 37-yard field goal before halftime to extend the lead to 10-0.

Carlsbad appeared to put the game away early in the third quarter when MacNeal found Travis Jeffery for a 48-yard touchdown strike, giving the Lancers a commanding 16-0 advantage.

But the Dons refused to quit.

College Football Roundup: SDSU & USD secure conference home wins

Aztecs Dominate Boise State for First Place in the Mountain West

San Diego State secured a decisive 17-7 victory over the Boise State Broncos on November 15th at Snapdragon Stadium, improving their record to 8-2 (5-1 in conference) while the Broncos fell to 6-4. The Aztecs controlled the game from the second quarter onward, establishing dominance on the ground with 277 rushing yards compared to Boise State's 164.

Quarterback Jayden Denegal proved instrumental in the win, rushing for both of San Diego State's touchdowns—a one-yard score in the second quarter and an eight-yard run later in the half. Lucky Sutton led the ground attack with 150 yards on 25 carries, while Christian Washington added 98 yards including a spectacular 41-yard gain. The Aztecs' defense stifled Boise State's passing game, limiting them to just 17 yards through the air. Dylan Riley scored the Broncos' only touchdown on a nine-yard run, and Gabriel Plascencia added a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. The win kept San Diego State firmly in contention for a Mountain West Championship berth with just two regular season games remaining (vs. San Jose State, @ New Mexico).

Toreros Explode in Fourth Quarter, Defeat Butler 29-7

The University of San Diego Toreros put up 23 fourth-quarter points to overwhelm the Butler Bulldogs 29-7 on Senior Day at Torero Stadium, improving to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Pioneer Football League. After trailing 7-6 entering the final quarter, the Toreros completely dominated the closing period, scoring a safety, two touchdowns, and controlling possession for over nine minutes.

Senior captain Matt Colombo led USD's balanced rushing attack with 113 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while fellow senior Adam Criter added 56 yards and a score. Quarterback Dom Nankil (Mater Dei Catholic) threw for 218 yards including a spectacular 43-yard touchdown strike to Josh Heverly in the fourth quarter. The Toreros' defense forced two critical interceptions in the fourth quarter, with linebacker Nate Fischer recording both a fumble recovery and an interception while leading the team with nine total tackles. Butler's Reagan Andrew threw for 141 yards and a touchdown to Brady Preston, but the Bulldogs managed just 75 rushing yards and fell to 5-6 on the season. The victory keeps USD's hopes of sharing the PFL title alive heading into the final game of the regular season at Stetson.

Prep Football: CIF San Diego Playoff Update

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Three Championships and five Championship Appearances are on the line as the 2025 CIF San Diego Football Playoffs roll on!

All championship games will be played at Southwestern College except 5-AA & 8-Man.

Open Division Championship

Tuesday, Nov. 25th @ Southwestern College, 7pm

#3 Carlsbad (10-1) vs. #4 Cathedral Catholic (9-2)

Division I Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 21st, 7pm

 #3 San Marcos (7-4) at #1 Lincoln (9-2)

 #4 Mount Miguel (8-3) at #2 Granite Hills (8-3)

Division II Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 21st, 7pm

#11 San Diego (7-5) at #2 Steele Canyon (8-3)

#12 Scripps Ranch (7-5) at #1 Santa Fe Christian (11-0)

Division III Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 21st, 7pm

#4 University City (6-5) at #1 Central (9-2)

#6 Christian (5-7) at #2 Army-Navy (9-1)

Division IV Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 21st, 7pm

#5 Eastlake (6-6) at #1 Westview (6-4)

#10 La Jolla Country Day (6-6) at #3 Valley Center (5-6)

Division V Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 21st, 7pm

#3 Monte Vista (6-5) at #2 Morse (7-4)

#9 Hoover (6-6) at #4 Canyon Hills (7-4)

Division 5-AA Championship

Saturday, Nov. 22nd @ Escondido HS, 7pm

#2 Palo Verde Valley (8-4) at #1 Maranatha Christian (11-1)

8-Man Championship

Saturday, Nov. 22nd @ Escondido HS, 3pm

#2 Borrego Springs (9-1) at #1 St. Joseph's Academy (9-1)

Women's Football: San Diego Rebellion Unveils 2026 Schedule

The San Diego Rebellion have dropped their 2026 season schedule, and fans have plenty to be excited about as the team gears up for another championship push in the Women's National Football Conference. The 2026 campaign will mark their 8th season of football and their 7th as members of the WNFC. Last season the Rebellion finished 7-1 with the lone loss coming in the Conference Final against the eventual champion Texas Elite Spartans.

The season kicks off in the Bay Area with a brand-new challenge against the expansion Golden State Storm, who will be hosting their first-ever game. A return match at home is scheduled for Week 5. Following that, San Diego returns home to take on the Los Angeles Legends. They lead the all-time series 6-0, including a shutout and a playoff win last season. Week 3 sees the team back on the road against the Las Vegas Silver Stars, another opponent the Rebellion have never lost to, holding a 7-0 series lead.

After a bye week, the schedule ramps up significantly. The Week 6 matchup is the headline event of the regular season, as the Rebellion heads to the Midwest to face the Kansas City Glory, a perennial playoff contender. This first-ever meeting will have heavy playoff implications heading into the final week. The regular season then concludes with what should be a highly competitive home outing against the Utah Falconz. San Diego opened last season with a 40-6 win over the Falconz to take a 4-3 advantage in the series. 

2026 Schedule

March 28: @ Golden State Storm

April 4: vs. Los Angeles Legends

April 11: @ Las Vegas Silver Stars

April 18: BYE WEEK

April 28: vs. Golden State Storm

May 2: @ Kansas City Glory

May 9: BYE WEEK

May 16: vs. Utah Falconz

Prep Football: Official 2025 CIF San Diego Playoff Brackets

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

The wait is over! The CIF San Diego Section has officially released the 2025 football playoff brackets.

The Avocado West League dominates the Open Division with all three co-champions (Mission Hills, La Costa Canyon, and Carlsbad) making the cut, while three undefeated teams (Point Loma, Santa Fe Christian, and Mission Bay) earned top-five seeds in their respective divisions.

Playoff action kicks off this Friday, November 7, with first-round games across Divisions I-V, Division 5-AA, and the 8-Man bracket. The Open Division will begin the following week on November 14. With 68 teams competing for section championships and a chance to advance to the CIF State playoffs in December, the next month of San Diego high school football promises to be electric.

Open Division

#4 Cathedral Catholic (8-2) at #1 Mission Hills (9-1)

#3 Carlsbad (9-1) at #2 La Costa Canyon (9-1)

Division I

Byes: #1 Lincoln (8-2), #2 Granite Hills (7-3), #3 San Marcos (6-4), #4 Mount Miguel (7-3)

#9 Poway (4-6) at #8 Torrey Pines (4-6)

#10 Del Norte (4-6) at #7 Rancho Bernardo (8-2)

#11 Holtville (9-1) at #6 Oceanside (6-4)

#12 Mater Dei Catholic (7-3) at #5 Point Loma (10-0)