The Union-Tribune’s John Maffei picks the winners of this weekend’s high school football playoff games.  All games are Friday at 7 p.m., unless noted:

CIF San Diego Section Football Playoffs

Open Division

Championship game 

(3) Cathedral Catholic (9-2) vs. (1) Lincoln (9-2) at Snapdragon Stadium

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Parking: $15 prepay, $20 day of event. Orange Lot opens at 5 p.m.

Tickets: $19 for adults; $10 for students and seniors. Children under 5 are free. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster or at the Snapdragon Stadium box office. Seating is general admission.

Streaming: NFHS Network

Preview: Ranked No. 21 in the state by MaxPreps, Cathedral Catholic is led by quarterback Brady Palmer, running back Jake Funderburk and wide receiver Hunter Harrington. The Dons’ losses are to San Francisco St. Ignatius (8-2) and Lincoln (27-7). Cathedral Catholic has outscored its opponents 397-121 and has won three in a row since losing to Lincoln, outscoring those three teams 138-18.  …  Lincoln has won seven in a row ,with its losses coming to Arbor View of Nevada and JSerra. QB Akili Smith, an Oregon commit, is the offensive spark. Courtney Miller-Thompson is his favorite target. Running back Aden Jackson keeps defenses honest.

Prediction: Cathedral Catholic 21, Lincoln 20

Division 1

Semifinals

(4) El Camino (6-5) at (1) San Marcos (10-1)

Preview: El Camino is ranked No. 83 in the state. The Wildcats had lost two in a row before beating Mount Miguel 43-27 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats use two QBs — Gavin Wasserman and Vinny Simon. Leo Bell, who has 790 yards rushing and receiving, and Kingston Faatiti, who has 665 yards, are the RBs. Jathan Bejarano is the No. 1 WR. Jake Williams is a monster on defense with 148 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Zac Ballow has 61 tackles. As a team, the Wildcats have 28 TFLs, 15 sacks and 12 interceptions. … San Marcos, led by QB Kreet Makihele, is ranked No. 47 in the state. Makihele has thrown for 2,980 yards and 40 TDs. Jace Nix has 42 catches, while CJ Williams, Caleb Reese and Brady Pohl all have 32. Elijah Bechtel leads the defense with 76 tackles and 10 TFLs. Ty Saggaser has 46 tackles, 17 TFLs and 10 sacks. The Knights’ only loss came against crosstown rival Mission Hills (17-14).

Prediction: San Marcos 28, El Camino 21

(3) Granite Hills (9-2) at (2) Carlsbad (8-3)

Preview: Granite Hills is ranked No. 60 in the state. Zac Benitez has thrown for 1,860 yards and 24 TDs. Max Turner has rushed 200 times for 1,670 yards and 24 TDs. Brenden Lewis has 59 receptions and Lathan Fry 32. Trevor Smith leads the defense with 90 tackles while Parker Vance has seven interceptions. … Carlsbad is ranked No. 43 in California. Eli MacNeal has thrown for 1,991 yards and 22 TDs. Jake Morrison, who has missed the last two games, has 798 rushing yards. Kai Brown stepped in last week and rushed 21 times for 177 yards and three scores. Connor Hawk leads the receivers with 46 catches. Colton Thomas leads the defense with 51 tackles, 15 TFLs and 11 sacks, Ashawn Cranford has 60 tackles, 15 TFLs and 11 sacks. … Granite Hills knocked top-seeded Carlsbad out of the Open Division playoffs last season.

Prediction: Carlsbad 24, Granite Hills 21

Division 2

Semifinals

(4) Poway (4-7) AT (1) University City (10-1)

Preview: Poway had been outscored 257-217 and had lost six in row before beating Point Loma (28-7) in last week’s quarterfinals. Ty Hurst has thrown for 2,018 yards and Luke Jorgensen has 1,009 yards rushing and receiving. … University City’s only loss was a 31-13 defeat to Scripps Ranch. Quentyn DeMara has thrown for 2,490 yards and rushed for 483. Nakeem Jones has 95 carries for 764 yards while Drayen Garner has 46 catches for 920 yards and 12 TDs. Ty Lockett has 103 tackles.

Prediction: University City 35, Poway 21

(3) Helix (5-6) at (2) Mater Dei Catholic (8-3)

Preview: Helix has used four QBs this season. The Highlanders rely on RB Pablo Jackson, who has 1,222 rushing yards — including 275 last week in a win over La Jolla. … Mater Dei Catholic was 0-3 to start the season, but has rallied to win eight in a row. Kartell Purvis has thrown for 2,442 yards and 32 TDs. Matt Carr and Isaiah Cook both average better than 20 yards a catch.

Prediction: Mater Dei Catholic 31, Helix 24

Division 3

Semifinals

(4) San Pasqual (6-5) at (1) Central Union (8-3)

Preview: San Pasqual started the season 1-5, but has won its last five. The Eagles are led by Robert Renteria, who has thrown for 1,739 yards and leads the team with 463 rushing yards. Marcus Rocha has 54 catches for 1,000 yard and 11 TDs. . …  El Centro’s Central Union runs an old-school single-wing offense with eight offensive linemen. QB Luis Jimenez and RB Nico Viesco make the offense go.

Prediction: San Pasqual 30, Central Union 27

(7) St. Augustine (2-10) at (2) San Diego (8-3)

Preview: St. Augustine is the feel-good story of the playoffs, winning two postseason games after going 0-10 in the regular season. The Saints have scored just 26 points in two playoff wins, but have allowed just six. QB Vincent Smith and RB Caelyb Aguirre key the offense. Pai Polamalu has 117 tackles to lead the defense. … San Diego QB Jayden Harris has thrown for 1,398 yards. The Cavers have a trio of RBs in Jayden Johnson, Kyle Cooper and Miles Johnson. The defense has allowed just 157 points in 11 games.

Prediction: San Diego 24, St. Augustine 10

Division 4

Semifinals

(8) Montgomery (9-3) at (5) Westview (5-7)

Preview: Montgomery has won seven in a row. Freshman Isaiah Mena-Malijan has thrown for 1,587 yards and 17 TDs since taking over as starter. He has three top receivers in Raul Moreno, Zantez Thomas and former QB Andie Deanda.  … Westview has playoff wins over Vincent Memorial and Mission Bay. The Wolverines are led by QB Mason Walsh and RB Langdon Mullica.

Prediction: Montgomery 24, Westview 17

(3) Grossmont (5-6) at (2) El Capitan (8-3)

Preview: Grossmont scores points in bunches, but also gives them up. Thomas Donovan has thrown for 3,911 yards and 51 TDs and is closing in on CIF records. Noah Walker has 104 catches for 1,467 yards and 24 TDs. … El Capitan has won seven in a row. Brandt Barker has thrown for 1,896 yards and 21 TDs. RB Brady Joralememon and WR Ayden Benegas are the Vaqueros’ other weapons.

Prediction: El Capitan 49, Grossmont 42

Division 5

Semifinals

(12) Monte Vista (7-5) at (1) Vista (4-7)

Preview: Monte Vista was the last team to get in the playoffs and is the lowest-seeded team alive in any division. The offense revolves around Alexander Villanueva, who has rushed 303 times for 2,469 yards. Derrick Taylor has thrown just 39 passes for 706 yards. … Vista, which was 4-26 in three seasons before this season, has equaled that win total this season. William Calderon has thrown for 787 yards; Ashaun Mitchell has caught 40 passes for 657 yards.

Prediction: Vista 21, Monte Vista 20

(3) Crawford (6-5) at (2) Bonita Vista (6-5)

Preview: Crawford has won three in a row after losing four in a row. Philip Huynh is the leader, throwing for 1,352 yards and 17 TDs. Trevon Blanks has 42 catches for 714 yards. … Bonita Vista has also won three in a row. Kenneth Jordan keys the offense with 926 rushing yards on 182 carries.

Prediction: Bonita Vista  24, Crawford 21

8-man

Championship game

(3) Calvin Christian (7-3) vs. (1) St. Joseph Academy (9-1) at Palomar College

Preview: Calvin Christian rebounded from an 86-58 regular-season loss to Foothills Christian, knocking off Foothlls 50-34 in last week’s semifinal. QB Cole Souders is the offensive leader along with RBs Blake Edens, Bowen Anderson and Aiden Kisel. … St. Joseph Academy is led by Asher Larkin, who is the team’s leading rusher and has 88 tackles. Matthew Adams is also a load. St. Joseph has rushed 502 times for 4,279 yards and 58 TDs. The only loss was 34-30 to Riverside Chadwick. St. Joseph beat Calvin Christian 54-22 on Nov. 1.

Prediction: St Joseph Academy 45, Calvin Christian 28

Last week: 14-10

Season: 110-47 

Originally Published: November 21, 2024 at 1:24 PM PST