2024 Football Week 10: Mabel O’Farrell Wins Again
Mabel O’Farrell is on a roll.
The Falcons won their second consecutive game and fourth all-time last week, dating to 2018 and 54 losses.
Bruce Newland is Mabel’s third coach since the Falcons began playing football seven seasons ago. The 27-6 win over Mountain Empire followed a 38-12 triumph over Rock.
Heady stuff for the squad from the area sometimes known as South Encanto.
O’Farrell’s only other victories were 24-12 at La Habra Whittier Christian in 2022 and 1-0 by forfeit over Orange Glen in 2023.
A junior high when it opened in 1959, the campus on Skyline Drive, about halfway between Lincoln and what would become Morse, O’Farrell eventually transitioned to a performing arts school and in 1994 took on charter status.
The Falcons were independents for three seasons and then were slotted into the Pacific League in 2021. They moved in 2022 to the Sunset League.
Who was Mabel O’Farrell? Not much is known.
She reportedly was born in the 1870s and one report claimed she was on the San Diego Board of Supervisors (unsubstantiated) and was said to once seeking to open a school for wayward youth in the early 20th century.
SOUTH BAY TRADITION
Sweetwater, which opened as the National City School in 1910, was the only high school south of the San Diego City limits until 1947 and the Red Devils’ No. 1 rival was Escondido or Grossmont, first in the County League and then the Metropolitan.
Chula Vista opened its doors in September, 1947, in a temporary facility on the grounds of the Brown Field Airport, about 10 miles from its present site.
The Red Devils and Spartans met for the first time in that post World War II era and last week’s 28-12 Sweetwater victory marked the 78th consecutive season the teams have gone head to head.
Sweetwater holds the series edge, 41 victories to 34. Three games ended in ties.
MAFFEI FEELS IT
John Maffei’s The San Diego Union Week 10 poll:
Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. *First-place votes. Previous ranking in (italics).
Bold indicates latest. NR–Not ranked. MaxPreps‘ and Cal-Hi Sports‘ are state rankings.
| RANK | TEAM/RECORD | POINTS | MAXPREPS | CALPREPS.COM | CAL-HI SPORTS |
| 1. | Lincoln (7-2) 30* | 300 (1) | 11 (13) | 59.9 (59.1) | 13 (13) |
| 2. | La Costa Canyon (9-0) | 263 (2) | 26 (25) | 47.7 (46.7) | 21 (22) |
| 3. | Cathedral (7-2) | 252 (3) | 29 (32) | 46.7 (45.3) | 29 (31) |
| 4. | Granite Hills (7-2) | 192 (4) | 68 (65) | 34.5 (33.9) | 35 (35) |
| 5. | Mission Hills (7-2) | 187 (5) | 51 (55) | 39.3 (37.1) | 38 (39) |
| 6. | San Marcos (8-1) | 157 (6) | 58 (69) | 37.3 (33.3) | 45 (47) |
| 7. | Carlsbad (6-3) | 96 (7) | 71 (71) | 34.3 (33.1) | NR (On Bubble) |
| 8. | Mount Miguel (7-2) | 91 (9) | 116 (113) | 25.2 (23.3) | On Bubble (Bubble) |
| 9. | Scripps Ranch (9-0) | 56 (10) | 129 (147) | 20.8 (22.8) | NR |
| 10. | Rancho Bernardo (7-2) | 25 (8) | 136 (112) | 24 (25.8) | NR |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
El Camino (5-4, 10 points), Torrey Pines (4-5, 9), University (8-1, 5), Brawley (8-1, 4), Valley Center (7-2, 2). Santa Fe Christian (8-1, 2), El Centro Central (7-2, 1).
VOTING PANEL
Twenty-nine sportswriters, sportscasters, administrators from San Diego County, plus Max Preps.com.
- John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Kevin Farmer (Union-Tribune Freelance contributors).
- Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez (CIF San Diego Section).
- Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds, John Carroll, Chase Izidor (KUSI, Channel 51).
- Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).
- Braden Suprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
- Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
- Tom Helmantoler, (Southern Conference advisor).
- Rex Johnson, Bruce Ward (CIF Advisory Committee).
- Mike Dolan, Joe Evangelist (San Diego Coaching Legends).
- Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net).
- Bodie DeSilva, John Kentera, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Dennis Ackerman, Eric Williams, Thomas Gutierrez, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (Freelance contributors).