Cathedral Catholic High School secures the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship and sweeps the final football poll. The Dons overcame a deficit to defeat Carlsbad. Granite Hills and Santa Fe Christian also show strong performance. The rankings were decided by a group of sports journalists.
Cathedral Catholic High School secured the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship, a victory reflected in their complete dominance of The San Diego Union-Tribune's final football poll of the 2025 season. They swept all 30 first-place ballots, a testament to their exceptional performance culminating in a thrilling Open Division title game win against Carlsbad.
The Dons, demonstrating resilience and skill, overcame a significant 16-point deficit to defeat Carlsbad with a final score of 20-16. Their success is even more remarkable considering their starting position at the beginning of the playoffs, where they were ranked No. 2. This season marked a dynamic competition, with only two other teams, Lincoln and Mission Hills, achieving the coveted No. 1 ranking. Lincoln impressively held the top spot for a substantial 10 weeks, receiving unanimous first-place votes twice. Mission Hills also enjoyed the No. 1 position twice, showcasing the competitive landscape of San Diego Section football. This dominance and the championship victory solidified Cathedral Catholic's place at the pinnacle of high school football in the region.\The final rankings paint a comprehensive picture of the season's unfolding drama and achievements. Carlsbad, despite their strong performance, finishes the season at No. 2 with a commendable 10-2 record, representing a significant climb from their No. 5 playoff starting position. Granite Hills, the San Diego Section Division 1 champion, secures the No. 3 spot with a 10-3 record and a notable ascent from No. 6. They are set to host Oxnard Pacifica in an upcoming game. Mission Hills, initially the No. 1 team at the outset of the playoffs, drops to No. 4, while La Costa Canyon rounds out the top five. Lincoln, after their Division 1 championship game loss to Granite Hills, settles at No. 6. Santa Fe Christian, undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record, emerges as the only new entrant to the Top 10, claiming the No. 8 position. The comprehensive list also acknowledges the strong performances of other teams. The poll reflects the breadth of talent and the competitive spirit evident throughout the season. These rankings highlight the depth and diversity of the high school football talent across the San Diego Section, with several teams demonstrating considerable skill and potential. The rankings also reflect the efforts of the sportswriters who contributed.\The poll's credibility and accuracy stem from the diverse and experienced panel of 30 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators from across the San Diego Section. This group, representing various media outlets and organizations, includes John Maffei from The San Diego Union-Tribune, alongside esteemed freelance writers such as Don Norcross, Kevin Farmer, Rick Hoff, and Steve Brand. Their collective expertise ensures a well-rounded and informed evaluation of each team's performance. The panel's composition also includes prominent figures from the CIF Office, local television stations like KUSI-TV (Chase Izidoro, Allison Edmonds), radio personalities from 97.3-FM The Fan (Braden Surprenant), and representatives from online sports platforms such as partletonsports.com (Rick Smith), sdfootball.net (Raymond Brown). Furthermore, the panel features experienced members of the Coaching Legends Committee (Mike Dolan), the Southern Conference Advisor (Tom Helmantoler), and the CIF Advisory Committee (Rex Johnson, Joe Evangelist, Bruce Ward), ensuring a broad range of perspectives. Several contributors (John Carroll), members of the San Diego Sports Association (Christian Pedersen), and freelance contributors (Bodie DeSilva, John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve Dolan, Eric Williams, Thomas Gutierrez, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul) contribute to the ranking. Their detailed assessment of each team's performance across various parameters provides a thorough overview of the high school football landscape in San Diego
High School Football CIF Championship Cathedral Catholic San Diego Football Poll
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