Scene & Heard: Carlsbad football coach finds success on field, with food

OCEANSIDE — When he’s not leading Carlsbad High School’s football team, coach Thadd MacNeal runs two extremely successful businesses.

He’s co-commissioner, with Lancers defensive coordinator Paul “Pub” Publico, of North County Coast Friday Night Lights — the youth flag football league that encompasses players from Carlsbad, San Marcos, La Costa, Encinitas, Vista and Oceanside.

The organization has grown from about 500 players when they both moved from Orange County to more than 2,500 per season.

“I think we just did it to get people loving football, and it’s definitely a community event,” MacNeal said. “It’s a great thing for our city and our community.”

MacNeal also owns That Pizza Place on El Camino Real in Carlsbad along with former Lancers teammates John Chavez, Chris Chiarappa and Troy Guerra. The lifelong friends reopened the restaurant after it shut down during the pandemic.

MacNeal sees some similarities between running a business and running a football program.

“It’s about culture and family, and I think that’s kind of what try to base our program on,” he said. “Pleasing people and making people feel good.”

Eli Creating His Own Path

Lancers quarterback Eli MacNeal is following in some rather large footsteps at the position.

He’s not only stepping in after Julian Sayin’s incredible career — Sayin led Ohio State to a win over No. 1 Texas last week — Eli is manning the same position his father did 36 years ago.

Thadd MacNeal was Cralsbad’s starting QB from 1986-88. More than playing for his dad who was one of the best in program history, one would think it’s a natural pressure to start after Sayin.

Thadd MacNeal says the pressure probably comes from another stat.

“He’s my 19th quarterback that’s going to play college,” the coach said, “so there’s an expectation for the position.”

A Cornell commit, Eli MacNeal has always been a student of the game. Sayin is a good player to emualte.

“Julian just did everything right, honestly,” Eli said. “He’s a good person off the field. Watched a lot of film. Was good to his teammates. Being a good leader for the team is what I picked up from him.”

Eli MacNeal’s older brother Marcus is a longsnapper at UCLA.

Hobbs the Renaissance Man

In addition to his role as coach of El Camino, Michael Hobbs is a PE teacher on campus.

Before joining that department, he taught English for 12 years. His favorite piece of literature to teach was “Night” by Elie Wiesel. He also enjoyed teaching Shakespeare, especially “Macbeth,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” and “Othello.”

Hobbs has also taught two American classics, “Of Mice and Men” and “Into the Wild.”

Road Warriors

Carlsbad’s Friday night opponent, El Camino, is getting the most out of its buses.

Last Friday, the Wildcats traveled to Chino Hills, a 138-mile round trip. Following a bye next week, they’ll travel even further to Apple Valley, which is 240 miles from El Camino’s Oceanside campus.

Food review

A visit to Oceanside isn’t complete without Hawaiian BBQ. Ohana Street Bites parked its food truck near the press box.

Highly recommend the Ohana Mix, which includes teriyaki chicken, kalua pork, rice, macaroni salad, green onion and topped with “da sauce.”

Five belches on the U-T five-belch meter.

By the numbers

3 — Segas on El Camino: Twins Anthony and Blake Sega and cousin Micah Sega.

7 — Number of people needed to carry and prepare the Wildcats’ inflatable tunnel for pregame intros.

9 — The first nine players on El Camino’s roster are all seniors as single-digit numbers have become increasingly common.

11 — Consecutive wins for Carlsbad over an Oceanside-based team heading into Friday’s game.

24 — Wins at SDSU for Carlsbad alumnus and Lancers quarterback coach Christian Chapman, making him the program’s winningest QB.

35 — Games started by Chapman at SDSU, third in program history behind El Capitan alumnus Ryan Lindley (49) and Todd Santos (45).