2023 Week 1: Cathedral Takes Big Step Forward

Is Cathedral back?

The Dons, uncharacteristically uneven in 2022 despite their even 6-6 record, blasted Mater Dei, Cal-Hi Preps’ preseason state No. 34 and San Diego Section’s No. 3, 55-14, in the season opener and look for more success this week at Los Angeles West Hills Chaminade, a team coach Sean Doyle’s state Division I championship club clobbered, 50-17, in 2021.

Doyle, who annually opts for a challenging intersectional schedule that this year includes Phoenix Brophy Prep, Henderson Liberty of Nevada, and San Francisco St. Ignatius (Dan Fouts’ alma mater), plus Helix and the loaded rivalry teams of the Western League, rolled with quarterback Jack Stevens to knock out the state defending Division II-AA champion Crusaders.

Stevens completed 8 of 13 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 83 yards in seven carries for the San Diego Section preseason No. 7 Dons.

Doyle compared Stevens to Carlsbad’s heralded Julian Sayin and Stevens enthusiastically agreed. “I think Julian’s a helluva player,” the 6-foot, 1 inch senior said to Don Norcross of the Union-Tribune, “but I think I’m just as good.”

TRUE GRID

Six former NFL players are active head coaches:  Eric Weddle made his debut at Rancho Bernardo, losing to Poway, 14-6;  Bryan Wagner, in his fourth season at Hilltop, was a 27-21 winner at Valhalla;  Maranatha’s Rick Novak began his third season with a 42-7 loss to Temecula Linfield; David Dunn’s 13^th season at Lincoln started with a 41-0 victory at Honolulu Wai’anae; Shane Walton’s fourth season at The Bishop’s began with a 41-21 loss to La Jolla, and Nick Barnett is the first-year head coach at Del Norte and a 23-14 winner over Torrey Pines…

…Bonita Vista follows Lincoln in continuing San Diego’s Hawaii connection this week at Honolulu Kalani, 2-0 after wins of 20-9 over Waialua and 20-9 over William McKinley…the Barons’ 34-12 triumph over Castle Park was their first in the opening game since 2015…San Diego Section teams are 32-20 all time in visits to the islands…Sweetwater was the first, winning, 34-3, at Maui Wailuka Baldwin in 1984…Westview is 77-139-1 since its debut in 2003 but 15-4-1 in openers after a 34-14 decision against Olympian…

…Brandt Barker of El Capitan tied a school record of 7 touchdown passes and was 21×30 for 308 yards in the Vaqueros’ 47-18 blowout of Valley Center…Tanner Rust also threw for 7 TD’s in a 46-14 win over Santana in 2007…Julian Sayin of Carlsbad completed 24 of 34 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown as Carlsbad won a rematch at Inglewood, 30-6…Lincoln’s Akili Smith, Jr., son of the former Hornet and NFL No. 1 draft choice, was 9×17 for 167 yards and two touchdowns…La Jolla’s Jackson Diehl passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns  in the Vikings’ 41-19 win over The Bishop’s…

…Brawley apparently didn’t want to test expected dangerous, stormy weather over the Laguna Mountains and passed on the trip to Scripps Ranch… doubtful the game will be rescheduled….

Points awarded on  10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
El Camino (0-1, 18 points), El Capitan (1-0, 11), Poway (1-0, 10 points), Del Norte (1-0, 7), San Marcos (1-0, 5), Chula Vista (1-0, 1). Mira Mesa (0-1, 1).