With one game remaining on the regular season football schedule, the upcoming San Diego Section playoff field is almost set.
There is still room for some teams to move up and others to move down in the rankings. Other teams can cement an automatic playoff berth by winning a league championship, and those often aren’t easy to come by.
A total of 64 tackle teams will be admitted into the Open Division through Division V fields. An additional number of teams will compete for the Division V-AA championship as well as the eight-player Division VI banner.
A total of eight division championships will be awarded this year in a playoff field enumerating 70 or more teams.
The top four teams on the chopping block will compete in the elite Open Division. The remaining 12 teams in Division I will compete for that title. Twelve teams in each of the remaining Division II through Division V tiers will gain playoff entry.
Second season
Mater Dei Catholic finished runner-up in last year’s Division II playoffs. The Crusaders enter Friday’s Metro-Mesa finale at Eastlake ranked 15th in the section, 11th among Division I teams, and with a one-game lead in the league standings, assured of no worse than a league co-championship.
A win by Mater Dei Catholic would likely solidify a spot in the Division I field, and outright possession of the league banner, but a loss could drop the Crusaders back down to Division II and a potential league co-championship with someone.
Eastlake enters Friday’s game 2-1 in league, 4-5 overall, in the upper half of the Division IV rankings. The Titans came up on the short end of a 16-9 loss to the one-win Chula Vista Spartans last Friday, showing that no one is safe in any given week.
Mater Dei Catholic moved one win closer to outright possession of this year’s league title after last Friday’s 48-15 win over visiting Sweetwater.
Quarterbacks Jackson Munford and Jayden Blondin each passed for two touchdowns in the win. Blondin, a freshman, completed five of six aerials for 174 yards, including a 90-yarder to senior Mekhi Oluwa, while Munford, a junior, completed five of seven passes for 113 yards.
Blondin also rushed three times for 101 yards and one touchdown. He finished the game with 275 total yards.
The two Mater Dei Catholic signal-callers completed 10 of 13 attempts for 287 yards and four touchdowns. Blondin finished the game with a stratospheric 163.2 quarterback efficiency rating while Munford sported a 153.3 rating.
Senior Jordan Dumaran finished the game with one rushing touchdown and one receiving score. He rushed nine times for 65 yards and caught one pass for 20 yards.
Seniors Javon Jackson (one catch, 24 yards) and Larell Parker (one pass, 33 yards) also caught TD passes.
The hosts finished the night with 480 yards in total offense.
Senior Noah Cook caught one pass for 43 yards. Junior Diego Mendoza had two catches for 40 yards. Senior Johnathan Hawthorne had one catch for 26 yards. Senior Visi Nava had one catch for 11 yards as the two quarterbacks distributed the ball to eight receivers.
Sophomore Xavier Vitela rushed four times for 26 yards.
“I’m proud of our guys for how they handled the game.” Mater Dei Catholic head coach Rashard Cook said. “We knew this game had league-title implications, so the focus all week was on execution and discipline, not distractions. We had a handful of injuries and the players responded exactly how you’d hope.
“Offensively, we controlled the tempo early our run game set the tone and opened up opportunities through the air.”
Noah Cook had five unassisted tackles on defense and one sack on while freshman Shelby Villegas had one punt return for 40 yards and a fumble return for 40 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Pia Latu had two tackles for losses while Vitela logged four unassisted tackles. Hawthorne registered three unassisted tackles and one pass break-up.
“Defensively, I thought we played fast and physical,” the MDCHS coach said. “We created pressure, limited big plays and forced them into tough third-down situations. Special teams also gave us good field position and scored once which made a big difference.
“As for the playoffs, this win puts us right where we want to be first as league champions in control of our path. But we’re not satisfied. The message to the team is simple: the standard doesn’t change. We’ll enjoy this one, then get back to work and keep building toward playing our best football in November.”
Otay Ranch, Sweetwater and Chula Vista are all 1-2 in league play. Sweetwater finished regular season play 4-6 overall while Otay Ranch is 3-6 and Chula Vista is 2-7.
Otay Ranch hosts Chula Vista in the teams’ regular season finale on Friday.
All three Metro-Mesa League lower end dwellers are all hoping for playoff berths.
Otay Ranch is battling to stay in the Division III tier while Sweetwater is on the bubble of Division IV/Division V and Chua Vista is in the middle of Division V.
Senior Zane Willis (12 carries, 44 yards) and senior Sean Carlos (six catches, 43 yards) scored touchdowns for Sweetwater in the loss to the Crusaders.
Junior Elijah Richardson (20 carries, 73 yards) and senior Isaiah Heard (21 carries, 51 yards) each scored touchdowns in the win over Eastlake. Heard also tacked on a pair of two-point conversion runs.
The Spartans had one interception (junior Jaylen Clark) and three fumble recoveries (two by sophomore Cesar Ceja) on defense.
Eastlake would a contender in the Division IV playoffs as would be Chula Vista.
Olympic moment
Olympian or Hilltop will emerge from Friday’s game as this year’s Metro-South Bay League champion.
At 8-1, Olympian is a contender in the postseason playoffs. Can the Eagles win the Division III championship?
At 6-3 and on a four-game winning streak, Hilltop is having one of its best seasons in years.
Olympian, coming off a dramatic 29-21 triple OT win over Montgomery the prior week, put a damper on Bonita Vista’s homecoming celebration last Friday with a 38-7 win.
Senior Jayden Fuentes passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 71 yards and one touchdown. Fuentes finished the game with 357 all-purpose yards.
The Eagles also received rushing scores from sophomore Jayce Reimer (four carries, 53 yards) and junior Devin Fuller (five carries, 19 yards).
Senior Patricio Flatts (three catches, 46 yards) and junior Gio Ware (three 42 yards) each reeled in scoring passes.
Senior Eisuke Simmons rounded out OHS scoring with five extra-point conversions and a field goal.
Fuentes fired three TD passes in the OT win over the Aztecs, including a pair to Flatts.
Hilltop is coming off a rousing 28-20 win over Montgomery to hand the Aztecs their second league loss. Senior Alejandro Carranza passed for 148 yards and two touchdowns (both to senior Julian Moran) while senior Leo Mendoza rushed for 156 yards and one touchdown to lead the Lancers.
Moran had two catches for 95 yards, including one for 69 yards. Junior Lajuan Johnson (nine carries, 44 yards) also scored a rushing touchdown.
“The last few weeks we have played well in every aspect of the game — offense, defense and special teams.” Hilltop coach Bryan Wagner said. “We do need to clean a few things up. I have been impressed that we have been more physical than the other team. Our defense has been getting key interceptions and fumble recoveries and, for the most part, we’ve taken care of the ball on offense.”
The Lancers look to stay in the Division IV bracket.
King Neptune
Mar Vista (2-0, 5-4) wrapped up no worse than a Metro-Pacific League co-championship following last Friday’s 41-0 shutout win over Castle Park (0-2 in league, 1-8 overall).
The Mariners can secure sole possession of this year’s title with a win this Friday at San Ysidro (1-1 in league, 5-4 overall).
Southwest defeated San Ysidro, 27-20, in overtime last Friday to stay in the hunt for a league co-championship with a Mar Vista loss. San Ysidro is still in the hunt for a possible tri-championship.
“Our offense was explosive, our defense relentless and the energy on the field unmatched,” MV coach Sergio Villalva said. “The team’s effort, focus and execution were on full display —showing once again what Mar Vista football is all about: discipline, teamwork, and pride in the green and gold.”
Quarterback Holden Bell was near perfect, completing six of seven passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns (three to sophomore Braylon Shumate with three catches for 102 yards).
Freshman Jehiel Crawford rushed five times for 65 yards and two touchdowns while senior Ciontae Fewell had three catches for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Shumate, who scored on 64- and 90-yard pass plays, also made an interception on defense. Fewell scored on a 60-yard shovel pass.
Fewell and sophomore Luke Everett keyed the Mariners defensively with nine and eight tackles. Senior Steven Fausto had one sack while Everett blocked a punt to set up a touchdown.
Sophomore Oscar Lopez led Castle Park with 125 all-purpose yards: 40 receiving and 85 on kick returns.
Fabulous 50
Southwest High School celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary with gala homecoming ceremonies last Friday, including a 27-20 overtime win over the visiting San Ysidro Cougars.
With the win, the Raiders took the golden shovel rivalry trophy home again.
Junior quarterback Leo Holguin completed 23 of 32 passing attempts for 244 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Junior Samuel Gonzales rushed 23 times for 62 yards and one touchdown while making five catches for 68 yards and a receiving score to finish the game with 130 all-purpose yards.
Junior Leonel Rivera had five catches for 65 yards and one touchdown while junior Barrington Bowen scored on a one-yard run. Junior Sergio Ybarra recorded one sack on defense.
Junior Bryan Landeros passed for 245 yards with two touchdowns. Junior Caleb Contreras had 176 receiving yards and one TD and senior Aaron Garcia had 69 yards on two catches and one TD.
Contreras scored on an 85-yard play while Garcia scored on a 58-yard play.
Southwest scored on their overtime possession but San Ysidro’s ball-carrier was tripped up and was stopped on the three-yard line to end the game.
South County Football Log
Metro-Mesa League
Friday, Oct. 24
Mater Dei Catholic 48, Sweetwater 15
Chula Vista 16, Eastlake 9
Friday, Oct. 31
Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Chula Vista at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
Sweetwater, bye
Standings: Mater Dei Catholic 3-0 (6-3 overall), Eastlake 2-1 (4-5 overall), Chula Vista 1-2 (2-7 overall), Sweetwater 1-3 (4-6 overall)
Metro-South Bay League
Friday, Oct. 24
Olympian 38, Bonita Vista 7
Hilltop 28, Montgomery 20
Friday, Oct. 31
Olympian at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.
Montgomery vs. Bonita Vista at Mater Dei Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Standings: Olympian 2-0 (8-1 overall), Hilltop 2-0 (6-3 overall), Montgomery 0-2 (5-4 overall), Bonita Vista 0-2 (3-6 overall)
Metro-Pacific League
Friday, Oct. 24
Mar Vista 41, Castle Park 0
Southwest 27, San Ysidro 20 (OT)
Friday, Oct. 31
Mar Vista at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
Castle Park vs. Southwest at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.
Standings: Mar Vista 2-0 (5-4 overall), Southwest 1-1 (4-5 overall), San Ysidro 1-1 (5-4 overall), Castle Park 0-2 (1-8 overall)
San Diego Section Football Rankings
Division I Tier
1. Cathedral Catholic 7-2
2. Lincoln 7-2
3. Carlsbad 8-1
4. Mission Hills 8-1
5. La Costa Canyon 8-1
6. Granite Hills 6-3
7. San Marcos 6-3
8. Mt. Miguel 6-3
9.Oceanside 5-4
10. Pt. Loma 9-0
11. Rancho Bernardo 7-2
12. Poway 4-5
13. Torrey Pines 4-5
14. Del Norte 4-5
15. Mater Dei Catholic 6-3
16. Imperial 9-0
Note: Top four teams advance to Open Division playoffs
Division II tier
17. El Camino 1-8
18. Holtville 8-1
19. Steele Canyon 7-2
20. La Jolla 5-4
21. Helix 4-6
22. Santa Fe Christian 9-0
23. Mission Bay 9-0
24. San Diego 5-4
25. St. Augustine 4-5
26. San Pasqual 6-3
27. Grossmont 8-1
28. Scripps Ranch 5-4
Division III tier
29. Central Union 7-2
30. Ramona 5-4
31. Olympian 8-1
32. Army-Navy Academy 7-1
33. Madison 3-6
34. University City 5-4
35. Christian 2-7
36. Bishop’s 7-2
37. Brawley 2-7
38. Otay Ranch 3-6
39. Patrick Henry 5-5
40. Montgomery 5-4
Division IV tier
41. Westview 5-4
42. Mt. Carmel 4-6
43. El Capitan 4-5
44. Eastlake 4-5
45. La Jolla Country Day 4-5
46. Rancho Buena Vista 5-4
47. Valley Center 3-6
48. Hilltop 6-3
49. Mitra Mesa 3-6
50. Coronado 5-3
51. Santana 5-4
52. Sweetwater 4-6
Division V tier
53. Coastal Academy 8-1
54. West Hills 3-6
55. Canyon Hills 6-3
56. Calexico 3-5
57. Chula Vista 2-7
58. Fallbrook 3-6
59. Morse 5-4
60. Monte Vista 5-4
61. Escondido 2-7
62. Hoover 4-5
63. Bonita Vista 3-6
64. Kearny 5-4
Others: 65. Kearny 5-4, 66. Classical Academy 2-7, 67. Crawford 2-7, 68. Valhalla 2-7, 69. Vista 0-9, 70. San Ysidro 5-4, 71. Mar Vista 5-4, 72. Southwest 4-5, 73. Vincent Memorial 3-6, 74. Escondido Charter 2-7, 75. Southwest El Centro 1-8, 76. El Cajon Valley 2-7, 77. Castle Park 1-8, 78. Orange Glen 1-7.
Division V-AA tier
1. Maranatha Christian 8-1
2. Palo Verde Valley 6-4,
3. Mountain Empire 7-2
4. Clairemont 1-9
5. Calipatria 4-4
6. Victory Christian Academy 4-5
7. Rock Academy 4-5
8. O’Farrell Charter 4-5
9. . Foothills Christian 1-8
10. Tri-City Christian 0-9
Division VI tier
Eight Player
Records: St. Joseph Academy (7-1), Borrego Springs (6-1), Julian (5-3), Francis Parker (4-3), Horizon Prep (3-3), West Shores (2-7), Warner (0-5), Calvin Christian (0-8)
CIF GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS: Tiers: Open Division (8 teams), Division I (16 teams), Division II (16 teams), Division III (16 teams), Division IV (16 teams), Division V (12 teams), Division V-AA (12 teams).
Section finals: Open Division, Division II, Division III all Nov. 8 at Montgomery High School. Division I, Division IV botyh Nov. 7 at Francis Parker School. Division V, Division V-AA both Nov. 6 at MiraCosta College.
Knights driving toward playoff berth
The San Diego Section Division V-AA championship game is scheduled next month. Just getting into the division playoff field is the goal of the Victory Christian Academy Knights, who are on the borderline of making postseason play at 4-5 overall, 3-2 in Sunset League play.
The Knights close out regular season play by hosting O’Farrell Charter Friday at 7 p.m. on campus. O’Farrell enters the game with a 4-5 overall mark, 2-3 in league play. The game is key for both teams in their bid to qualify for the playoffs.
Ahead of the No. 6 Knights in the division rankings are five teams: No. 1 Maranatha Christian at 7-1, No. 2 Palo Verde Valley at 6-4, No. 3 Mountain Empire at 7-2, No. 4 Clairemont at 1-9 and No. 5 Calipatria at 4-4. Trailing Victory Christian in the division rankings are No. 7 Rock Academy at 4-5, No. 8 O’Farrell Charter at 4-5, No. 9 Foothills Christian at 1-8 and No. 10 Tri-City Christian at 0-9
The Knights are on a two-game winning streak after defeating Tri-City Christian, 52-0, on Oct. 17 and Orange Glen, 23-13, last Friday.
In the win over Tri-City Christian, senior Gabriel Aguirre rushed for 122 yards on five carries and three touchdowns while senior Chato Garcia passed for 51 yards and two touchdowns — both to senior Ben Cordova (two catches, 34 yards).
The Knights accumulated 376 yards in total offense, including 325 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Aguirre snapped off one run for 58 yards while senior Andres Sanchez (two carries, 69 yards) steered course for a 61-yard breakout for a TD.
In the non-league win over Orange Glen, Aguirre (242 all-purpose yards) scored one rushing touchdown and another on a 55-yard interception return while Garcia (eight carries, 78 yards) had one rushing score.
— Phillip Brents
