San Diego Section Top 10 high school football rankings via SBLive/Sports Illustrated (10/30/2023)

The regular season has come to a close in the San Diego Section and three of the sections best teams have yet to lose. Lincoln, Carlsbad, Granite Hills and Helix make up the four-team Open Division bracket that will begin play on November 10.

San Diego Section playoff football brackets

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The other seven San Diego Section brackets will get underway this week. Torrey Pines snagged the top seed in Division 1 while Del Norte (D2), Mission Bay (D3), Mount Miguel (D4), Vincent Memorial (D5), Holtville (D5-AA) and Foothills Christian (D6) are the other top seeds.

SBLive's San Diego Section Top 10 football rankings

1. Lincoln (10-0)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Helix

Previous ranking: 1

Lincoln wrapped up their second straight unbeaten Western League title last week and had a bye to finish the regular season. They'll have another week off before they host Helix in the semifinal round of the Open Division playoffs.

2. Carlsbad (10-0)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Granite Hills

Previous ranking: 2

Carlsbad put together a dominant 31-3 victory against El Camino, winning their 29th straight Avocado League game. The Lancers will begin the Open Division playoff as the two-seed, hosting unbeaten Granite Hills.

3. Granite Hills (10-0)

Next game: Nov. 10 at Carlsbad

Previous ranking: 3

Granite Hills followed up their win against Helix with a road victory at Grossmont to capture the outright league title. After taking home the Division 2 championship in 2022, the Eagles are into the Open Division playoffs for the first time in school history.

4. Helix (9-1)

Next game: Nov. 10 at Lincoln

Previous ranking: 4

Helix surpassed 50 points for the third time in four games, closing out the regular season with a win over Steele Canyon. The three-time Open Division champions are back into the bracket for the first time since 2019.

5. Torrey Pines (7-3)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Madison/Mater Dei Catholic winner

Previous ranking: 5

Torrey Pines closed out a remarkable regular season by winning at rival La Costa Canyon 27-17. The Falcons finished in second place in the Avocado League and were rewarded with the top-seed in the Division 1 playoffs. They'll have a week off while they await the winner of Madison and Mater Dei Catholic.

6. Mission Hills (7-3)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. San Marcos/Poway winner

Previous ranking: 6

The Grizzlies finished third in the Avocado League, beating La Costa Canyon, El Camino and Poway to close out the season. As the two-seed in the Division 1 playoffs, they'll have a bye before hosting the winner of San Marcos and Poway.

7. San Marcos (8-2)

Next game: Friday vs. Poway

Previous ranking: NR

San Marcos closed out the regular season on a high note Thursday night, beating Del Norte 21-6 to capture the Palomar League title. The Knights registered 12 sacks and held the Nighthawks to 147 total yards.

8. El Camino (6-4)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Cathedral Catholic/Ramona winner

Previous ranking: 8

El Camino dropped their final two games, scoring a combined 10 points in losses to Carlsbad and Mission Hills. The Wildcats were still able to secure a first-round bye in the Division 1 playoffs. They'll await the winner of Cathedral Catholic and Ramona in round two.

9. La Costa Canyon (5-5)

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. St. Augustine/Mira Mesa winner

Previous ranking: 9

La Costa Canyon dropped their final four games in the Avocado League, losing three by exactly one touchdown. The Mavericks will get a week to regroup as the four-seed in the Division 1 playoffs while they await the winner of St. Augustine and Mira Mesa.

10. St. Augustine (6-4)

Next game: Friday vs. Mira Mesa

Previous ranking: NR

The Saints completed the regular season on a high note, taking down rival Cathedral Catholic 27-21 to secure second place in the Western League. They'll host Mira Mesa in the Division 1 first round with the winner moving on to La Costa Canyon.

Honorable Mention

Del Norte

Cathedral Catholic

Mater Dei Catholic

Madison

La Jolla

Mount Miguel

(Feature photo by Justin Fine)

-- Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca