Prep Football: Can Cathedral Catholic Repeat as Open Division Champions?

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Location: San Diego, CA

League: Western

Head Coach: Sean Doyle (31st Season)

2025 Season: 11-3 (3-0 Western League, 1st)

2025 Playoffs: Lost to Folsom (CA) in State Final

2026 Outlook:

The reigning Open Division champions have nowhere to go but up—though repeating as San Diego's top dog will be no easy feat. Sean Doyle enters his 31st season at the helm with a roster that should be loaded on defense and in the backfield, but haunted by two glaring question marks: a brand-new quarterback and a largely rebuilt offensive line. 

The Dons roller coaster 2025 season featured an upset lost to Point Loma, an upset win at Lincoln (who was No. 1 in the county at the time), and an unforgettable 20-16 comeback win over Carlsbad to capture the Open Division title. They also swept every first-place vote in the final Union-Tribune poll and advanced to the State championship game. But that was then.

This 2026 squad will lean heavily on USC-bound Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, the reigning section Offensive Player of the Year, who is expected to line up at running back, receiver, and cornerback. Joining him in the backfield is Willie Flores, while Isaac Cook returns as a dynamic deep threat after hauling in 49 catches for over 1,200 yards and 12 scores last season.

The Elite 14+ Club: San Diego Prep Football’s Greatest Seasons

Photo & Information Credit: PartletonSports.com

Winning a CIF San Diego Section championship is hard. But reaching 14 or 15 victories in a single season? That's a benchmark only the most dominant programs in section history have achieved—an elite club that represents the very best of San Diego Prep Football.

Most Wins in a Single Season (CIF San Diego Section)

Team	Year	Record	CIF Section Title	State Result
Cathedral Catholic	2016	15–0	Open Division	🏆 D1-AA Champion
Morse	1990	14–0	Division 3-A	No State Playoffs
Morse	1992	14–0	Division 3-A	No State Playoffs
Cathedral Catholic	2008	14–0	Division III	🏆 D2 Champion
Oceanside	2009	14–0	Division II	🏆 D1 Champion
Bishop's	2010	14–0	Division V	🏆 D4 Champion
Madison	2012	14–1	Division IV	🏆 D3 Champion
El Capitan	2014	14–1	Division II	Runner-up
Oceanside	2014	14–1	Division I	Runner-up
Mater Dei Catholic	2015	14–1	Division IV	🏆 D4-AA Champion
Bishop's	2016	14–1	Division IV	🏆 D3-A Champion
Southwest-El Centro	2017	14–1	Division III	Runner-up

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: 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.

Prep Football: Cathedral Catholic Seeks Championship Glory in Sean Doyle's 30th Season

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

League: Western

Head Coach: Sean Doyle (30th Season)

2024 Season: 9-3, Lost Open Division Final

SDFN Preseason Ranking: #2

Week 1: 8/22 vs. Mater Dei Catholic

The Cathedral Catholic Dons enter the 2025 season carrying high expectations after a strong 9-3 campaign that included an appearance in the Open Division championship game. Under the veteran leadership of head coach Sean Doyle—now in his remarkable 30th season—the Dons return a talented roster loaded with college-bound players and are poised for another championship run.

Veteran Leadership Under Sean Doyle

Few coaches in California prep football command the respect that Sean Doyle has earned during his three-decade tenure at Cathedral Catholic. Entering his 30th season, Doyle has built a program culture centered on discipline, fundamentals, and developing young men both on and off the field. His experience in big games and ability to reload talent year after year make the Dons a perennial contender.

Doyle's traditionally ground-oriented offensive philosophy has evolved over the years, and he's shown a willingness to adapt his system to maximize his players' talents. With the weapons returning in 2025, expect a more balanced attack that can beat teams through the air or on the ground.