San Diego Section high school football championships: Matchups, previews for Divisions 1-4
The 2023 San Diego Section football playoffs conclude this week with four championship games across Friday and Saturday at Southwestern College.
The reigning San Diego Section champions are Mater Dei Catholic (Division 1), Granite Hills (Division 2), University City (Division 3) and Palo Verde Valley (Division 4).
DIVISION 1 (Bracket)
(2) Mission Hills (9-3) vs. (5) St. Augustine (9-4)
Friday, 7pm
(Series tied 1-1)
Mission Hills shutout St. Augustine 42-0 last season in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs on their way to being the runners-up in the bracket. The Grizzlies dropped their first two Avocado League games before embarking on their current five-game winning streak that has led them back to Southwestern College for the second straight season.
St. Augustine was 4-4 following a loss to Lincoln but have rebounded to reach the championship round for the first time since 2018. St. Augustine, the youngest team in Division 1, have seen 37 of their 52 touchdowns scored by underclassmen this season. Sophomore quarterback Brady Palmer has 21 touchdown passes while the Saints' two leading rushers, William Flores and Honor Fa'alave Johnson, are both freshmen. Senior Isaiah Hasten has 11 touchdown receptions and five interceptions.
DIVISION 2 (Bracket)
(1) Del Norte (10-2) vs. (3) La Jolla (10-2)
Saturday, 7pm
(Del Norte leads series 3-2)
Del Norte has set a school record with 10 victories this season under first-year head coach Nick Barnett and will play in their first CIF football title game. The Nighthawks have won nine of their past 10 games, losing their regular season finale to San Marcos. Junior receiver Ty Olsen has been one of the section's most prolific pass catchers with 65 catches for 1,164 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games.
La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach has the Vikings in the CIF championship for the third time in the past four full seasons. The Vikings have been on a run offensively, scoring 42 points or more in six of their past seven games. Senior quarterback Jackson Diehl has been a dual-threat monster with 27 touchdown passes and 15 more scores on the ground. Younger brother Carson Diehl has been a force on both sides of the ball with nine touchdown receptions, eight interceptions and three forced fumbles.
DIVISION 3 (Bracket)
(4) Grossmont (7-5) vs. (6) La Jolla Country Day (10-3)
Saturday, 2pm
(First matchup)
A season removed from going 0-10, first-year head coach Anthony Lawrence has guided the Foothillers into the CIF title game looking for their first championship since 1971. Grossmont has outscored last season's team by 301 points and are averaging 374 yards per game.
La Jolla Country Day has reached double digit wins for the first time since 2016's state championship runner-up team. Senior quarterback and Navy commit Jaden Mangini tossed five touchdowns passes in last week's win at Fallbrook and is 16 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
DIVISION 4 (Bracket)
(1) Mount Miguel (11-1) vs. (2) Chula Vista (10-2)
Friday, 2pm
(Series tied 6-6)
Mount Miguel averaged more than 420 yards per game this season, led by senior quarterback Matthew Barton who's tossed 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The Matadors have been held under 37 points once this season and raced past Chula Vista 49-0 during their week two matchup. They'll be looking for their first CIF title since 1960 under first-year head coach Verlain Betofe.
After losing to Mount Miguel in week two, the Spartans only other loss came against Division 5 champion Sweetwater. Chula Vista has been able to hold seven opponents to 10 points or less and will have their work cut out to slow down the explosive Matador offense. The Spartans narrowly advanced to the championship game, beating Westview 11-8 with a walk-off field goal last week.
