Roundup: Defense shines as Cathedral Catholic advances in Open Division playoffs; Carlsbad upsets LCC

Two months ago, Kevin Clark was an afterthought, a special teams player buried on the Cathedral Catholic High School football depth chart.

“But the guy just kept making plays,” Dons coach Sean Doyle said. “After our game against St. Francis in Mountain View, (defensive coordinator) John Montali came to me and said Kevin needed to be on the field. So we put him in, and he has been special.”

Never more so than Friday night in a 42-35 shootout win over Mission Hills in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals.

On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Clark recovered a Mission Hills fumble. On the next play, Honor Fa’alave-Johnson scored on a 47-yard run.

With the game tied 28-28 in the third quarter, Clark intercepted a pass, blunting a Mission Hills drive that had reached the Cathedral Catholic 20-yard line.

Finally, in the game’s dying seconds, Clark intercepted his second pass of the game, this time on a deep ball. Mission Hills’ hopes were dashed at the Dons’ 15-yard line.

“I’ve never had a game like that, ” said Clark, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior. “On the fumble, I just hustled to the ball, saw it come out and was in the right place at the right time. The Mission Hills quarterback (Troy Huhn) is really good, and Mission Hills’ offensive line protected him well. So we had to make some plays on the back end.”

Clark said “there was no panic” on the final drive.

“I just read my keys and the ball came to me,” he said. “This was a special game.”

Clark came into the Mission Hills game with 67 tackles, five tackles for losses and a sack. The fumble recovery was his second of the season. The interceptions were his first two of the season.

Cathedral Catholic (9-2), seeded No. 4, will play No. 3-seeded Carlsbad (10-1) on Nov. 25 for the Open Division championship and the right to play for a state title. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. from Southwestern College.

Open Division

Semifinal

(3) Carlsbad 27, (2) La Costa Canyon 23: Quarterback Eli MacNeal completed 11 of 12 passes for 101 yards and touchdowns to Rocky Cummings and Ian Wall as Carlsbad (10-1) held on. Kai Brown rushed 26 times for 191 yards and a pair of scores. For LCC (9-2), Quinn Roth threw three TD passes, two to Coby Herman. The other went to Jackson Maggiore.

Divsion 1

Quarterfinals

(1) Lincoln 51, (9) Poway 41: Junior Curtis gained 307 yards on 20 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 3, 90 and 42 yards for Lincoln (9-2). Rashad Robinson gained 114 yards on seven carries, scoring twice. Kainan Manna threw for 108 yards and two TDs, including a 68-yard, bobbling catch and run by Courtney Miller-Thompson. For Poway, Noah Schuback completed 14 of 23 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. Poway (5-7) got three TD runs from Luke Jorgensen. Lincoln hosts San Marcos in the semifinals.

(4) San Marcos 24, (5) Point Loma 21: Carson Hackett made field goals of 19, 24 and 44 yards to pace San Marcos (7-4). Kreet Makihele connected on an 8-yard TD pass to Zeke McIntyre and Zamar Reese had a 5-yard TD run for the Knights. Ryder Watson threw a TD pass to Leo Shad and had a 7-yard TD run for Point Loma (11-1). Romeo Carter intercepted a pass.

(3) Mount Miguel 26, (6) Oceanside 20: Jeremiah Loper threw for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Mount Miguel (8-3). Jayden Hunter rushed 10 times for 91 yards and a TD. Cameron Salcido and EZ Tokio had TD catches for Oceanside (7-5). Mount Miguel advances to play at Granite Hills.

(2) Granite Hills 56, (7) Rancho Bernardo 7: Jesse Wilhite scored on an 83-yard interception return and returned a fumble 34 yards for a TD to lead Granite Hills (8-3). Parker Johnson had an 82-yard TD run on the first play of the game and Gage Spalding had an 83-yard TD run. Zac Benitez threw three TD passes. Granite HIlls’ defense forced five Rancho Bernardo (9-3) turnovers.

Division 2

Quarterfinals

(1) Santa Fe Christian 17, (8) St. Augustine 9: Dax Labrum threw for 211 yards and a touchdown to Chase Wooley as Santa Fe Christian (11-0) advanced. The defense was led by Bradan Scott and Brady Berg. Pai Polamalu gained 118 yards rushing on 28 carries and caught two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown for St. Augustine (5-7). Vince Smith threw for 98 yards and a TD. SFC advances to host Scripps Ranch.

(12) Scripps Ranch 17, (4) El Camino 14: Parker Armstrong hit Kasen Mendez with a 34-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute to go as Scripps Ranch (7-5) rallied to win. The TD capped an 85-yard drive. Minutes earlier, the defense stopped El Camino on the 1-yard line. Jackson Rochet had 14 tackles for Scripps Ranch.

(11) San Diego 33, (3) Mission Bay 19: Kye Cooper scored four touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving, as San Diego High (7-5) pulled of the upset. Jayden Harris passed for a TD and Esteban Herrera had two strip sacks. San Diego (7-5) visits Steele Canyon in the semifinals. Trey Arnold threw two touchdown passes and Shane Brushie scored twice for Mission Bay (10-1).

(2) Steele Canyon 22, (7) Helix 19: Trailing 19-14, Steele Canyon (8-3) scored with two minutes to play to beat Helix (5-7). Gavin Caha completed 13 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Nico Jara caught 10 passes for 144 yards and a TD. Jacob Henton had two receptions for 49 yards and a TD.

Division 3

Quarterfinals 

(1) Central Union 35, (8) BIshop’s 17: Luis Jimenez threw touchdown passes of 63, 44 and 43 yards as top-seeded Central (9-2) advanced. Central, which trailed 17-7 in the first half, had 10 tackles for losses, four sacks and three interceptions. Joseph Aispuru had 13 tackles and Xavier Teruel had 10. CJ Acosta intercepted two passes and Joshua Garcia had a pick. Cash Herrera and Son Son Santiaguel had rushing TDs for Bishop’s (8-4). Darius Ashraf kicked a 31-yard field goal. Central hosts University City in the semifinals.

(4) University City 48, (5) Madison 42: Deshaun Hille scored six touchdowns and gained nearly 300 yards from scrimmage for University City (6-5). D.J. Ferguson caught a touchdown pass. Madison finishes 4-8.

(6) Christian 31, (3) Ramona 28 (OT): Steven Benson hit a game-winning 38-yard field goal in overtime for Christian (5-7). Kaleb Runkle completed 16 of 21 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Ronnie Scott caught two passes for 107 yards and two TDs. Soren Lacey caught four passes for 68 yards and two TDs. Christian advances to play Army-Navy in the semifinals. Ramona finishes 5-6.

(1) Army-Navy 28, (10) Patrick Henry 19: Judah Bogard threw for 152 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to lead Army-Navy (9-1). Landon Schrom and Vincent Leatherwood had rushing TDs. For Henry (6-6), Calvin Glenn had seven catches for 100 yards and a TD, rushed for 38 yards and a score and had a long kickoff return.

Division 4

Quarterfinals

(1) Westview 45, (8) Hilltop 28: Matt Guimond threw five touchdown passes to lead Westview (7-4). Miles Miranda caught two of the five with Kyler Brown, Josh Haney and Brogan Ford all catching one. Charles Klinghamer had a rushing TD. JJ Vargas had a strip sack and a fumble recovery. Mitchell Stehly had 13 tackles. Jackson Magnus kicked a field goal and 6 PATs. Westview hosts Eastlake in the semifinals. Hilltop finishes 8-4.

(5) Eastlake 45, (4) Mt. Carmel 29: David Branco rushed for touchdowns of 4, 11, 13 and 20 yards and returned an interception 48 yards for a score for Eastlake (6-6). Tyler Balko rushed for 109 yards and a TD and threw for 107 yards and a TD. Chris Wilson had an interception, Anthony Zaravia forced a fumble and Maximo Acosta had a fumble recovery. Jacob Naiman had a 29-yard field goal. Trevor Taumoepeau finished his career at Mt. Carmel by throwing for 330 yards and four TDs. Jackson Hanlon had five catches for 110 yards and a TD while Connor Gibbons caught 12 passes for 150 yards and a TD. Eastlake advances to play at Westview. Mt. Carmel finishes 4-7.

(3) Valley Center 56, (11) Mira Mesa 29: Braylon Mitchell ran for a score and threw for four to lead Valley Center (5-6). Jesse Morales caught a pair of TDs and Gauge Enright caught a TD pass and had an interception. Joeisha Ryan Tirado ran for two scores and Joaquin Stehly had a TD run. Bryan Penaloza recovered a fumble near midfield and returned it for a score. Nico Giusti passed for 292 yards and two TDs for Mira Mesa (5-7). Kamari Black had 87 receiving yards and a score. Czavien Brown had 83 yards receiving, and Aaron Jones had 72 yards receiving and a score. Valley Center hosts La Jolla Country Day in the semifinals.

(10) La Jolla Country Day 22, (2) El Capitan 7: Jett Astephen threw touchdown passes of 34 and 48 yards to Hesh Hertz to lead LJCD (6-6). Astephen also hit Quentin Cesaire with a 55-yard scoring pass. Brody Copp scored for El Capitan (4-7).

Division 5

Quarterfinals 

(9) Hoover 52, (1) Sweetwater 49: Hoover’s Hez Manual threw for 345 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two scores as the Cardinals pulled off the upset. Rhani Grant caught nine passes for 153 yards and two TDs. Noah Contreras caught eight passes for 110 yards and a TD and returned a fumble 52 yards for a score. Abdul Abdallah had four catches for 79 yards and two TDs. Hoover (6-6) visits Canyon Hills in the semifinals. Sweetwater finishes 4-7.

(3) Monte Vista 21, (6) Fallbrook 10: Dion Hunter and Derrick Taylor rushed for touchdowns for Monte Vista (6-5). Travarius Florence returned an interception 45 yards for a score. Fallbrook finishes 4-8. Monte Vista advances to face Morse.

(4) Canyon Hills 23, (5) Chula Vista 12: Ma’Kahi Fields-Cooks gained 195 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns for Canyon Hills (7-4). Daniel Westhafer had eight tackles, two for losses. Reece Fogg had seven tackles and a forced fumble. Canyon Hills hosts Hoover in the semifinals. Chula Vista finishes 3-9.

(2) Morse 38, (7) Santana 0: Superior Garror scored five touchdowns for Morse (7-4). Santana finishes 6-6.

Division 5-A

Semifinals

(1) Maranatha Christian 49, (5) Clairemont 6: Shane Piester completed 11 of 12 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown for Maranatha (11-1). Aaron Tasin ran for a TD and had eight tackles. Dane Johnson ran for a score and caught a TD pass. Nathan Nigudula had five tackles and a sack and recovered a fumble. Clairemont finishes 2-10. Maranatha advances to Saturday’s title game against Palo Verde Valley at Escondido High School.

(2) Palo Verde Valley 46, (3) Mountain Empire 8: Christian Richards led the way with 11 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown, part of a 315-yard team rushing effort by Palo Verde Valley (8-4).  Ayden Walkerran 10 times for 105 yards and a TD, Mountain Empire finishes 9-3.

8-man

Semifinals

(1) St. Joseph Academy 64, (4) Francis Parker 16: Blaise McMahon rushed for four touchdowns and Josh Clow had two rushing scores for St. Joseph (9-1). Asher Larkin and Sean Ambuul also ran for TDs. Jaylen Murray threw a TD pass and ran for another for Francis Parker (5-5). St. Joseph advances to Saturday’s 3 p.m. championship game against Borrego Springs at Escondido High School.

(2) Borrego Springs 55, (3) Julian 14: Borrego Springs improves to 9-1 while Julian finishes 7-4.

Don Norcross, Breven Honda and Clark Fahrenthold contributed to this report.