The regular season portion of the 2011 high school football season ends this week. That means clutch time for teams either preparing to put a lock on league championship titles or seeking wins to enhance their inclusion in the upcoming San Diego Section divisional playoffs.
Because of the Veterans Day holiday, games this week are being played on both Nov. 10 and Nov. 11.
The playoffs start Friday, Nov. 18, and conclude with championship games in early December.
In highlight games on Thursday, the Olympian Eagles (Metro-Mesa), Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders (Metro-Pacific) and Mar Vista Mariners (Metro-South Bay) were each looking to clinch unbeaten league campaigns with victories.
The section seeding meeting is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 12. Teams will be seeded in five enrollment divisions.
Soaring Eagles
Olympian delivered the stunner of the season by defeating five-time defending Metro-Mesa League champion Eastlake, 16-7, amid challenging weather conditions last Friday. The meeting was the first ever between the teams in vastly differing enrollment divisions.
Despite the loss, the Titans (6-3) are still vying for a top four seed in the Division I playoffs. Meanwhile, the Eagles (6-3) are competing for a top four seed in the Division III field.
Olympian snapped Eastlake’s vaunted 22-game league winning streak while extending its own league winning streak — spread across three different leagues in as many years — to 13 games. The Eagles previously captured championship titles in the South Bay League (2009) and Metro-Pacific (2010).
The Eagles finished 11-1 in 2009 and 10-2 in 2010.
Mar Vista, enjoying its best season in memory, entered Thursday’s Battle for the Bell rivalry game against Southwest sporting an 8-1 overall record. The Mariners are also seeking a high Division III playoff seed.
Fantastic finishes
There is a very short list of four unbeaten teams left in the section. Poway (8-0-1) and Madison (8-0-1) join Augustine (9-0) and National City’s Kuyper Prep (7-0) as the section’s remaining undefeated teams.
Kuyper Prep will battle Maranatha Christian for the Sunset League championship on Friday. Both teams sport 5-0 league records in the eight-man football league.
Kuyper Prep defeated Sylmar Condordia, 62-14, on Saturday as Caleb Northcutt and Steven Hannibal each scored two touchdowns and teammates David Lozoya, Roman Mayne, Markus Fulford, Jonathan Keifner and Fernando Castaneda each scored once.
St. Augustine defeated Eastern League rival Lincoln, 41-7, last Friday at rain-soaked Southwestern College. The Saints now face a showdown against Cathedral Catholic (8-1 overall) in Friday’s annual Holy Bowl match on the Dons’ Del Mar campus. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
Joe Kennedy threw three touchdown passes in the second half to spark the unbeaten Saints.
Extra points
The Helix Highlanders (8-1) and Mt. Miguel Matadors (7-1) will be looking to secure top seeds in their respective playoff divisions. Helix enters Thursday’s Grossmont Hills League championship game against host Steele Canyon ranked No. 1 among section teams. The Scotties, who defeated Granite Hills, 63-7, last Friday, entered the week ranked first in their division in all of Southern California.
The Matadors handed Santana its first loss of the season, 37-23, on Oct. 28 in a match-up of Division IV kingpins. Both teams will look to crash the title hopes of Madison and Valley Center, last year’s Division IV championship game entrants.
Santana rebounded to defeat host Monte Vista, 46-0, last Friday to conclude the 2011 pigskin campaign with a stellar 9-1 overall record.
In a game scheduled Friday at Granite Hills High School, the Christian Patriots (6-3 overall) will be out to secure sole possession of second place in the Coastal League standings by defeating the injury-riddled Bishop’s Knights, last year’s section Division V and State Bowl champions.
A victory by the Patriots (3-1 in league play) would likely earn them a No. 2 seed in the Division V playoffs behind 2011 Coastal League champion Santa Fe Christian (4-0, 8-1).
Chula Vista’s Calvary Christian Academy (4-5-1 overall) retains hope of slipping into the Division V playoffs after recording a key 14-6 non-league victory against Foothills Christian on Oct. 21.
The Royal Knights entered the season with what head coach Gene Rheam called the school’s “best team” since the program advanced to the 11-man level, but fell out of contention for this year’s Citrus League championship following a 21-20 loss to Julian on Oct. 28.
Calvary Christian had kicked off league play with a 14-14 tie against San Pasqual Academy on Oct. 15.
The Royal Knights wrapped up regular season play with a 44-21 victory against winless Borrego Springs last Friday. Justin Harrison (22 carries, 307 yards) led the way with four touchdowns while teammates Jesse Perez-Chenge and Jerry Sotelo (19 carries, 178 yards) each scored one TD.
San Pasqual Academy (2-0-1 in league, 6-2-1 overall) earned the league’s automatic entry into the section playoffs by defeating Julian, 12-2, last Friday.
