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.
Cathedral Catholic's offense, which had struggled for three quarters, suddenly came alive. Honor Faalave-Johnson punched in a five-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 16-6 with about 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, though the two-point conversion attempt failed.
The momentum had shifted.
Minutes later, quarterback Brady Palmer delivered the play of the game, launching a 71-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Cook. This time, the extra point was good, and suddenly it was a one-possession game at 16-13.
With under a minute remaining and their season on the line, the Dons drove down the field in clutch fashion. The drive culminated in a 4-yard rushing touchdown that gave Cathedral Catholic their first lead of the night at 19-16. The successful extra point made it 20-16, and the Dons' defense held on through the final seconds to secure the championship.
The stunning 20-0 fourth-quarter run represented one of the most impressive comebacks in recent playoff memory. Palmer was instrumental in the rally, while Faalave provided key plays on the ground throughout the final period.
For Carlsbad, the heartbreaking loss marked their fourth defeat in an Open Division title game, ending what had been a stellar season. Despite strong performances from MacNeal, who threw for multiple touchdowns, and a defense that stifled the Dons for three quarters, the Lancers were unable to hold on in the final period.
Cathedral Catholic's championship marks their section-leading fourth Open Division title in program history and caps a season that will be remembered for their resilience and championship composure when it mattered most.
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