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Now, there is no doubt.
Lincoln is the best high school football team in the San Diego Section.
The Hornets proved that on a wet, cold Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium, beating Western League rival Cathedral Catholic 31-13 to win the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title.
Saturday’s victory, their second over Cathedral Catholic this season, puts the Hornets (10-2) into the Southern California Regionals. Cathedral Catholic finishes 9-3.
Lincoln rushed 53 times for 359 yards, with Aden Jackson carrying 24 times for 141 yards. Junior Curtis had 18 carries for 147 yards. And quarterback Akili Smith Jr. rushed 10 times for 69 yards, continually escaping the grasp of Cathedral Catholic rushers to pick up positive yardage.
Smith completed 8 of 12 passes for 74 yards and was intercepted twice — once by Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and once by Josh Faraimo.
“We played with a lot of confidence and a lot of effort,” said Curtis. “The offensive line did its job and I did mine. And our defense was amazing all night.”
Cathedral Catholic ran 42 plays to Lincoln’s 65. The Dons rushed 24 times for 118 yards.
Of Cathedral Catholic’s 118 yards, 45 came on one play.
“We put that thing on them,” said Lincoln offensive/defensive lineman Journey Tala. “The good fight, the great fight.”
Dons quarterback Brady Palmer was under pressure the entire game. He was sacked four times, including once by Donald Reed in the game’s dying seconds.
“We showed dominance on both sides of the ball,” said Lincoln coach David Dunn. “And we showed great perseverance as a team.”
After a series of punts to start the game, Lincoln scored first on a 5-yard run by Curtis late in the first quarter. The run capped a six-play, 58-yard drive.
Cathedral Catholic drew even early in the second quarter when Palmer found PJ Johnson alone behind the secondary for a 56-yard scoring play.
It was all Lincoln after that, however.
An interception by Keontae McClay set Lincoln up at the Cathedral Catholic 24. Five plays later, Aden Jackson scored on a 2-yard run.
After a Cathedral Catholic punt, Lincoln got a 24-yard field goal by Felix Benavidez to make it 17-7.
The Dons looked like they might get back in the game when Jonathan Solomon burst up the middle and rambled from the Cathedral Catholic 25 to the Lincoln 30. But Isaac Turner punched the ball free, Abdulahi Sharif recovered and returned the ball to the Cathedral 27.
“I saw him break through the middle and I just pursued,” said Turner. “It’s just never giving up until the play is over.”
On the next play, Smith found Isaiah Grant in the end zone behind the defense for a back-breaking score.
“We had some chances early, but one dropped ball and a punchout from behind cost us a couple of touchdowns,” said Cathedral Catholic coach Sean Doyle.
“Any one of those plays could have changed the perspective of the game.
“It’s the little things that make the difference between winning and losing in a championship game.”
Lincoln 31, Cathedral Catholic 13
Cathedral Catholic 0 7 6 0 — 13
Lincoln 7 10 7 7 — 31
L — Curtis 5 run (Benavidez kick)
CC — Johnson 56 pass from Palmer (Eastlack kick)
L —Jackson 2 run (Benavidez kick)
L — Benavidez 24 FG
L — Grant 25 pass from Smith (Benavidez kick)
CC — Cook 35 pass from Palmer (kick failed)
L — Jackson 36 run (Benavidez kick)
Originally Published:
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