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.