Mount Miguel crashed the Top 10 with a 42-21 victory over previous No. 1o El Capitan, but UT-San Diego‘s weekly rankings otherwise remained the same in the lead-up to Week 8.
Except.
Cathedral, which I ranked second, stayed fifth and, contrary to some other winners, did not receive more  points after a 42-3 blowout of 4-1 Scripps Ranch.
I don’t get it. Â The Dons have played a tougher schedule than all of the teams above them other than Oceanside, but they’re not getting any respect, in my opinion.
Justifiably perceived North County bias in  media power outlets doesn’t appear to be in play.
Cathedral is considered “North County” (although its Del Mar address  is within San Diego’s city limits, as is Torrey Pines’, and Cathedral is part of the city’s Eastern League).
San Pasqual, 6-0 and second in the poll, obviously is outstanding.
But the Eagles haven’t had a Vista Murietta, Arizona’s Chandler Hamilton, or Gardena Serra on their schedule, as have Cathedral, Eastlake, and Oceanside. San Pasqual has had a full plate of essentially rank-and-file North County neighbors.
The first five teams’ strength of schedules (opponents’ won-loss records combined):
| Team | Won | Lost | Pct. |
| Mission Hills | 15 | 21 | .417 |
| San Pasqual | 16 | 19 | .457 |
| Eastlake | 20 | 18 | .526 |
| Oceanside | 29 | 9 | .763 |
| Cathedral | 22 | 15 | .595 |
I couldn’t elevate Oceanside despite its strength of schedule. Â That 30-6 loss to Mission Hills was uncharacteristic but it couldn’t be ignored.
| Place | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
| 1 | Mission Hills (31) | 6-0 | 310 | 1 |
| 2 | San Pasqual | 6-0 | 246 | 2 |
| 3 | Eastlake | 5-1 | 223 | 3 |
| 4 | Oceanside | 4-2 | 218 | 4 |
| 5 | Cathedral | 5-1 | 182 | 5 |
| 6 | Ramona | 6-0 | 178 | 6 |
| 7 | Madison | 6-1 | 122 | 7 |
| 8 | Helix | 4-2 | 110 | 8 |
| 9 | Carlsbad | 5-1 | Â 43 | 9 |
| 10 | Mount Miguel | 5-2 | Â 18 | — |
*Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Others receiving votes with points: St. Augustine, 14; Grossmont, El Capitan, 13 each; Torrey Pines, 4, Imperial, Mission Bay, Hoover, 2 each; Rancho Buena Vista, 1.
I know this is weeks later… Cathedral had a tougher schedule than any team in SD including Oceanside. Unlike Oceanside, they faced two nationally ranked opponents. People forget that they faced a Utah team for their season opener who was ranked #9 in the nation coming into that game. Weeks later they faced a Vista Murietta who was top 30 in the nation… They convincingly beat both teams. You are correct about the North County bias. Cathedral also scrimmaged Mission Hills before the season… Mission Hills could not hang. And we all know that Mission Hills destroyed Oceanside during the season and beat them in the CIF championship. Also, the Union Tribune is theee worst when it comes to Northside bias… let alone pre-game score predictions.
I’ve been having trouble with my browser. Apologies for not replying sooner. I feel you, but I couldn’t justify my Cathedral love after they were beaten by St. Augustine. The team from Utah finished with a 7-6 record, beaten 44-20 in the playoffs. It also had losses of 59-36 and 56-26 during the regular season. Cathedral could have paid rent, it spent so much time in the red zone in the fourth quarter at Helix without scoring. That loss and the loss to Saints knocked them out of a truly great season. But that’s football. I’m still going to vote them No. 3 in the final U-T San Diego poll, which probably will be the only third-place vote the Dons receive. The win over Vista Murrieta was terrific, even with Murrieta losing to Corona Centennial 26-12 in the Inland Conference finals of the Southern section last night. Cathedral shuts it down with a 11-2 record and the memory of a great win in the San Diego Section D-I finals.
I never would have voted Oceanside lower than #2. However, I believe that, by virtue of their win over Vista Murrieta, Cathedral deserves to be #3. Close between San Pasqual and Eastlake, gladly SP gets a chance to prove it the Friday. Ramona, Helix, Carlsbad and Madison round out my top nine. #10 is difficult to identify, but all of the teams getting votes seem to deserve recognition.
Open Division playoffs are going to be very interesting!
I think Oceanside beats Cathedral in a head-to-head, but it’s hard to reconcile that second loss. We’ll find out about San Pasqual this week…but also a lot more about Mission Hills.
Ramona is interesting. I saw Helix beat Cathedral and Madison has regrouped very well. Let’s seehow Mount Miguel handles a top 10 rating.