CHULA VISTA – After starting the season 0-3, the Mater Dei Catholic football team was hearing the voices: “This is not their year.”

The No. 2 seeded Crusaders thought differently, winning nine games in a row and advancing to the San Diego Section Division II final with a thrilling 17-14 victory over No.3 Helix on Friday night at Mater Dei Catholic.

“This is proof, this team is something special,” said Mater Dei’s junior wide receiver Larell Parker. “Since Day 1 we knew this was a great team, but we have one more to go.”

Parker had a lot to say in the matter, pulling down the game-winning pass from Kartell Purvis with just 2:22 left in the game.

The Crusaders (9-3) will face Poway in next Friday’s Division II Final at Southwestern College.

After trailing most of the game, the Highlanders (5-7) grabbed a 14-10 lead with a minute left in the third quarter when back-up lefty quarterback Jerome Stevens completed a 64-yard TD to Jeremy Robinson. Stevens just came off the bench for starter Jett Gottlieb who went down with an elbow injury.

Getting the ball with 8:35 left in the game, Mater Dei started what proved to be the winning drive. First on the ground being Gael Aguilar (12 carries, 60 yards). Then quarterback Kartel Purvis did what he does best – throw the ball.

First Purvis found Isaiah Cook for a 36-yard pass up the left side, taking it down to the 11 with four minutes to play.

“Coach asked me what was there and I said that was there all night,” said Purvis, who was 13 of 21 for 131 and two TDs on the night. “I knew he had his guy beat.”

From there it took three more plays, when Purvis rolled right and hit Parker for the winning score.

The Crusaders scored the only TD of the first half, a half littered with penalty flags.

They took up much of the second quarter, driving 65 yards in 13 plays, with Matt Carr capping the march taking a flip pass and sweeping right for the 1-yard score.

In the half the Highlanders were penalized 11 times for 116 yards, including having a 53-yard touchdown pass from Gotlieb to Harlem Harris called back for a penalty with 32 seconds left in the half.

The Highlanders lost starting running back Isaiah Jackson with a knee injury after their first possession of the game.

“We started the season with adversity and we finished the year with adversity,” said Helix head coach Damaji Jones. “I’m proud of my kids, they played hard. They gave us a chance right to the end.”

The difference on the scoreboard turned out to be the results of Angel Mendoza’s 29-yard field goal with 2:26 left in the third quarter.

The Crusaders are coming off a disappointing 2023 playoff when they fell at home 27-0 to Madison in the Division I opening round.

The last time these two teams met was in the Southern California 2-AA Final in 2021. The Crusaders got the best of the matchup that day, downing the Highlanders 24-21, leading to their 37-10 win over Central Catholic for the state title.

With the victory, the Crusaders have won six semifinal appearances in 10 years (not counting COVID year), including three of the last four seasons.

Mater Dei Catholic 17, Helix – 14

Helix – 0 0 14 0 – 14

Mater Dei Catholic – 0 7 3 7 – 17

MD – Carr 1 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)

H – Lindley 2 run (Laue kick)

MD – FG Mendoza 29

H – Robinson 64 pass from Stevens (Laue kick)

MD – Parker 6 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)