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A field of dreams, the turf at Snapdragon Stadium has not been this fall.
Sand kicked up during San Diego State football games more often than at a beach volleyball game. Field conditions were so poor that the San Diego Wave moved its season-ending soccer match to Louisville.
After the Aztecs’ home game Nov. 8 against New Mexico, the Kentucky bluegrass sod was replaced by TifTuf, a hybrid Bermuda developed by the University of Georgia.
The first sporting event held on the new grass: Saturday night’s San Diego Section Open Division football championship game between No. 1 Lincoln High School and No. 3 Cathedral Catholic.
The field looked green with some tan splotches. The south end zone, where Cathedral loosened up, was kicking up divots like Day 1 of a golf tournament.
But after warmups, players gave the grass a thumbs up.
“It feels good, better than last year,” said Lincoln wide receiver Isaiah Grant. “It was a little taller (last year) and slippery. Tonight, I feel fast and explosive.”
Said Cathedral running back Willy Flores: “I can feel the thickness. I feel confident out here. It’s very nice.”
What’s in a name?
Honor Fa’alave-Johnson is a sophomore starting cornerback at Cathedral Catholic. His older brother, Humble, graduated from St. Augustine last June. They have two sisters, Honesty and Harmony.
It was Honor’s mother, Aislyn, who came up with the idea of naming the children starting with the letter H.
Aislyn said her mother originally wanted her to name their first son after her brother, Preston, who had passed away. But there were already four Prestons in the family, so she opted for the distinct name, Humble, then kept the “H” theme going.
Honor, who intercepted a Lincoln pass in the second quarter, likes his name.
“When you tell someone your name,” he said, “they won’t forget it.”
Was he dreaming?
Lincoln coach David Dunn was so sick during last week’s 13-7 semifinal overtime win against Mission Hills that he watched the game from inside his car underneath one end zone at Southwestern College.
“The heater’s on 85,” said Dunn. “I’m sitting there freezing and sweating at the same time.”
At one point during Mission Hills’ 22-play, 14-minute, 48-second drive to start the second half, Dunn dozed off. When he woke up, the Grizzlies still had the football.
“I’m thinking, ‘What quarter is it? What’s going on?’” Dunn said. “It felt like a dream. I’m sick, my eyes are watering, my chest is hurting, my stomach’s hurting, my body’s aching and I’m thinking, ‘How in the hell do they still have the ball the whole time?’”
In a stunning stat, Mission Hills had the ball for the first 38 plays in the second half to Lincoln’s four.
Movie review
Lincoln’s football team, 60 players in all, spent Friday night at the movies. Their choice? “Gladiator II.”
“Action-packed, great storyline. We loved the movie,” said Dunn.
No curfew
Lincoln quarterback Akili Smith Jr. and running back Aden Jackson were out past midnight Friday, making a guest appearance on KUSI’s “Prep Pigskin Report,” being interviewed by Brandon Stone.
Dunn had no problem with the players being out late.
“As long as it wasn’t with (co-hosts) Burt (Grossman) and Paul (Rudy),” joked Dunn. “I definitely knew where (the players) were. They weren’t out partying.”
Disrespect
While Lincoln thumped Cathedral Catholic 27-7 last month, many picked Cathedral to upset the Hornets in the rematch. “We’re not worried about you picking us to win,” Dunn said before the game. “Just watch us win.”
Disrespect II
A Lincoln slogan scripted across T-shirts, “They hate us because they ain’t us.”
Little-known fact
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP Marcus Allen is, of course, a Lincoln graduate. So is his younger brother, 61-year-old Damon Allen. Damon Allen played in the Canadian Football League, throwing for 72,381 yards (second all-time) and rushing for 11,920 (third all-time).
He won four Grey Cups, playing for three teams. In 2005, he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. He was 42 at the time and had a 2-year-old grandson.
By the numbers
11 — Cathedral Catholic players who spent last season at St. Augustine, where the Saints won the Division 1 championship
5-10, 140 — Size of Cathedral cornerback Vedder Brandt, the lightest player on either team.
6-3, 330 — Size of Lincoln two-way lineman Journey Tala, the heaviest player on either team.
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