San Diego Section high school football Open Division Championship preview: Carlsbad and Cathedral Catholic will battle for the top spot

Carlsbad and Cathedral Catholic will finally get the chance to settle it on the field on Saturday night in the San Diego Section Open Division Championship game at Escondido High School.

After battling for the top spot in the San Diego Section for the latter half of the spring season and during each week of the fall season, Carlsbad and Cathedral Catholic will finally get the chance to settle it on the field on Saturday night in the San Diego Section Open Division Championship game at Escondido High School.

The two schools haven't met in the regular season since 2010 season, but will now face off for the fifth time in the past six postseasons, having split the previous four matchups.

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Cathedral Catholic expected big things entering the season, putting together one of the most challenging schedules of any San Diego Section team in recent history. The Dons opened with a win against Torrey Pines before losing at Corona Centennial, 57-14, a week later. They rebounded with consecutive wins over Chaminade and Helix before once against traveling out of the section, this time to De La Salle, and losing to the Spartans, 49-21. They've won six straight games since losing to De La Salle, including a forfeit win over Lincoln in the final week of the regular season. In the five games played on the field during that stretch they've averaged 47 points per game.

“(Corona Centennial and De La Salle) were both learning experiences," Cathedral Catholic head coach Sean Doyle said earlier this week. "Obviously Centennial, look at what they are right now, an exceptional team. De La Salle is what they are. It was a great opportunity for our kids to play them and say if we want to be at that level then we’ve got some work to do.”

Heading into last week's semifinal game against Mission Hills, the Dons had been off for just under three weeks but showed no signs of rust, beating the Grizzlies 38-10. Senior running back Lucky Sutton was strong as usual, rushing for 187 yards and had his fourth four-touchdown game of the season.

"Thadd does a great job, Sean Doyle said. "They’re gonna be coached extremely well and it’s gonna be a heck of a game like it’s been every year when we’ve played them.”

Carlsbad surprised many during the spring season, finishing 5-0. The Lancers returned 13 starters this season and haven't slowed down, sitting at 11-0 as they head into the championship game. Carlsbad started the fall season with three consecutive Southern Section opponents, beating them by a combined 89 points. They then dove into Avocado League play and were tested in their first three games, beating El Camino by 14 points, Mission Hills by six points, and used a last minute drive to survive Torrey Pines, 34-33. The Lancers welcomed back star running back Paulo Burak from injury after the Torrey Pines game and have seen their offense reach a new dimension in their five games since. They're averaging 47 points per game since Burak's return, while he's scored seven touchdowns in those games and has averaged ten yards per carry.

“I think just navigating COVID, guys being healthy and being in shape," Carlsbad head coach Thadd MacNeal said of his teams' ability to stay unbeaten to this point. "We have this mantra, 'better for longer'. Just trying to be consistent with our training and our ability to perform at a high level every single week and honestly going to week-to-week-to-week and not looking ahead and we’ve been fortunate to not have a bunch of injuries.”

They hosted four-seed Torrey Pines in last week's Open Division semifinal game, a rematch of the week seven buzzer-beater, and made quick work of the Falcons, winning 44-7. The Lancers rushed for 225 yards and got an efficient effort from sophomore standout quarterback Julian Sayin, who finished 14 of 17 for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

The Dons have featured wing-T, run heavy approach under Sean Doyle and have Lucky Sutton and crew running it to perfection this fall. The senior running back accounts for just under half (160) of their 323 rushes this year, while averaging over ten yards per carry. He's scored 26 times on the ground and four more through the air. The Dons pick their spots to attack through the air with senior quarterback Charlie Mirer having attempted 143 passes, resulting in 12 touchdown passes. The Dons have only two wide receivers with double digit catches, seniors Rex Haynes and Deric Woo.

“They’re so powerful on offense and (Lucky Sutton) is outstanding," Thadd MacNeal said of Cathedral Catholic. "They’re just so efficient and they execute to perfection their offense and what they do. You can’t line up wrong, you can’t be in the wrong gap, we can’t have those type of problems and then you gotta tackle. Defensively it starts with Jaxson Moi, he’s probably the best defensive lineman in the county without a doubt, those linebackers are very, very good and they have a top notch secondary as well. Their defensive coordinator (John Montali) has been there a long time and he does a great job.”

Carlsbad has relied on a balanced offense during MacNeal's tenure and has arguably the best offensive pieces this season that he's had in any of his 11 seasons. Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has thrown 32 touchdown passes and only five interceptions while completing 72% of this passes. The Lancers have two running backs with over 500 rushing yards in Paulo Burak and Anthony Ferrelli and two receivers with over 50 receptions in Matt Moore and two-way starter Josh Davis, who led the Lancers with 12 tackles in their 2019 championship loss to Helix.

“They play great defense and fly around as do we, so we’ve gotta find a way to move the ball and stop their personnel. They just got (Paulo Burak) back, so not having a lot of film on him and what he does hurts a little I guess but it’s just gonna be a great high school football game and we’ll see what happens," Doyle said of matching up with the Lancers.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Sean Doyle has captured two Open Division championships with the Dons but brings a new group this year that hasn't experienced that game.

“Just like every other coach says, you live the whole thing, enjoy the week, enjoy the day and have a great time, it’s a football game," Doyle said.

Carlsbad played in the Open Division Championship two seasons ago, losing to Helix, 28-21, and have not lost a game since.

“Just the hunger to not only get here but win it has never been more but at the same time we feel very fortunate to be in the Open Division Championship again," Thadd MacNeal said of his team.