SBLive’s San Diego Section Top 10 Football Rankings: Cathedral Catholic finishes the season at No. 1

The San Diego Section playoffs featured exciting action across all six divisions, including three teams, Cathedral Catholic, Mater Dei Catholic, and Scripps Ranch, that have extended their postseason runs into the CIF State Championships.

Cathedral Catholic went wire-to-wire, finishing the season at No. 1 in the latest SBLive Top 10 San Diego Section high school football rankings (Dec. 7) heading into the CIF State Championship game. The rankings are compiled by reporter Bodie De Silva and will be released every week throughout the fall 2021 season.

(Lead photo by Heston Quan)

SBLIVE’S SAN DIEGO SECTION TOP 10

Dec. 7, 2021

1. Cathedral Catholic (11-2)

The Dons took down Carlsbad in the Open Division Championship game, 48-19, behind 275 rushing yards and three touchdowns by Lucky Sutton. They then took down Orange Lutheran 71-62 in the D1-AA Southern Region bowl game with Sutton scoring seven touchdowns. They'll play Folsom on Friday night in the state championship.

2. Carlsbad (11-1)

The Lancers scored first but weren't able to keep up with Cathedral Catholic in the Open Division Championship game, snapping their 16-game winning streak.

3. Mater Dei Catholic (12-0)

Mater Dei Catholic cruised through the section playoffs, beating Ramona 37-10 in the D3 championship game. The Crusaders then outlasted Helix, 24-21, in the D2-AA Southern Region bowl game. They'll take on Central Catholic (Modesto) on Friday afternoon in the state championship.

4. Helix (9-3)

Helix shutout Lincoln in the second half and scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to beat Lincoln, 28-21. They came up just short against Mater Dei Catholic in the D2-AA Southern Region bowl game on Friday.

5. Lincoln (8-4)

The Hornets made a run to the Division 1 Championship game but fell 28-21 to Helix, ending their season.

6. Mission Hills (8-3)

Mission Hills won five straight games to end the regular season and clinch a spot in the Open Division but fell to eventual champion Cathedral Catholic, 38-10, in the semifinal round.

7. Torrey Pines (6-4)

The Falcons were awarded the four-seed in the Open Division playoffs but couldn't take down top-seed Carlsbad in their rematch, falling 44-7.

8. Scripps Ranch (12-1)

Scripps Ranch has played their best football in the playoffs, allowing only 14 total points over three games to capture the Division 2 Championship. The Falcons then beat Valencia in a shootout last week, 45-38, and will play Wilcox in the D2-A State Championship game on Saturday at noon.

9. Madison (9-3)

The Warhawks won their final four games of the regular season but lost to Lincoln in the Division 1 Semifinals, 42-14, after beating the Hornets a month earlier.

10. Patrick Henry (10-3)

Patrick Henry got hot after starting 2-2 and rolled through the Division 4 playoffs, beating University City in the championship game, 49-21. They made a valiant comeback last week against Birmingham in the D3-A Southern Region bowl game but fell short, 42-35.