The poll leaders switched places, as Mission Hills topped La Jolla Country Day prior to a recent Holiday Classic tournament game in Portland, Oregon, where the Lady Grizzlies beat the Oregon Number 11 team Portland Jefferson, but  lost to the No. 3 team, South Medford, in the tournament finals. Three of Mission Hills’ 6 losses are to California top 15 squads, and one to an Arizona top 10, ranked team.

The Week 1 poll follows weekly Top 10  polls that have been newspaper-published since the season began in November.

John Maffei’s Week 1 Union-Tribune Poll

Others receiving votes:
Bonita Vista (9 points), Carlsbad (6), Morse (4), Victory Christian (1), La Costa Canyon (1).

† First-place votes in parentheses. Points  awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. NR/Not ranked.
Max Preps and Cal-Hi Sports are state rankings.

The San Diego Union freelance representative Don Norcross and county-wide coaches participate in the poll.

Records are current as of 1/3/24

The San Diego Section winners were not a surprise, just the scores. Matches to decide ultimate bragging rights are expected to be nail biters when teams that average 25-30 points per game collide. You know the old adage about “assume”.

DIVISION I

Bonita Vista shut out erstwhile undefeated Torrey Pines, 19-0. Lady Barons quarterback Malyna Castillo, who passed for more than 3,300 yards in the regular season, tossed a touchdown pass to Quintera Lucia, then added two more. The defense stifled the Lady Falcons, with 2 interceptions by Mahliya Wilson, who also caught a touchdown pass.

MaxPreps national rankings has five California teams in the top 10, and 10 in the top 20; Bonita Vista (19-1) is seventh, and Torrey Pines (16-1) 14th. Each expects to be a contender next season.

DIVISION II

Classical Academy scored early and often, with frosh quarterback Ella Moore passing for five touchdowns to four different receivers, including two to Jiselle Nuñes, in a 50-0 rout of Cathedral Catholic.

The Lady Caimans’ defense added a touchdown pass off an interception as well.

With a freshman signal caller and young receivers, the Lady Caimans (17-2) figure to be an annual contender. They’re ranked 20th in the state and 38th nationally.

Cathedral finished the season with a 13-3 record.

THE FUTURE

CIF San Diego section bosses said the number of teams participating in 2024 is “expected to double”  from 46 to perhaps more than 90. In comparison, 99 boys football teams are active in 2023, from 34 when the section was formed in 1960.

A game officials crunch could be a problem, as flag teams may play up to 20 games, often two per week. Boys games are limited to 10 per regular season.

Future of the youth flag sport is bright and has been promoted for all ages by the National Football League. The International Olympic Committee added men’s and women’s flag football to the 2028 games.

—Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

DIVISION I

Top seed Bonita Vista took care of business, dominating No. 4 and 17-3 Calexico, 33-13, in the San Diego Section semifinals. The Lady Barons (18-1) have lorded over opponents, with a  514-137 scoring advantage, punctuating their MaxPreps’ state No. 6 rating.

Torrey Pines slipped past 12-5 Grossmont, 14-13, with a last-10-seconds, come-from-behind score, to remain undefeated at 16-0. The Lady Falcons, ranked ninth in California by MaxPreps, have been less regnant than Bonita Vista, with a 412-162 point differential amid six one-score contests.

Look for a Bonita Vista offense-Torrey Pines defense finale, a fitting context for the first championship of the inaugural flag football season.

DIVISION II

No. 1 Classical beat 5 La Costa Canyon 12-6, replaying a 13-6  late season victory over the 7-4 Mavericks. The Lady Caimans, state-ranked 19th, have consumed their foes with carnivorous zeal, 523-86, bettering even Bonita Vista’s efficiency.

No. 3 Cathedral defeated Mission Bay (9-4), 12-7. The Lady Dons, with a state No. 21 ranking, figure to be a worthy adversary for Classical.

The D-I and D-II games are Thursday, Nov 16,  at Escondido High beginning at 6 p.m.

—Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

Division I

Unlike the first round, most favorites won handily.  Torrey Pines (15-0) had to outscratch the Brawley Lady Wildcats, 14-13. Bonita Vista (17-1) and Grossmont (12-4) featured their offenses,  each putting up more than 30 points.

The Lady Barons, MaxPreps’ state No. 13, next face Calexico in the semifinals.  The Lady Falcons of Torrey Pines, Max Preps‘ No. 18, meet Grossmont, the cause of Bonita Vista’s only  loss, 19-13, in the season’s seventh game.

Division II

Two favorites were upset.  No. 7 seed Mission Bay sunk No. 2 Morse 30-21, and 5 La Costa Canyon climbed past 4 Our Lady of Peace,18-17. Classical, Max Preps’ No. 49, dominated Imperial,19-0, and Cathedral outscored Mater Dei, 20-6.

—Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

Two of the four better seeded teams prevailed in the first round of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs, including  Scripps Ranch, which had a close call with Hilltop, 13-12.

No. 11 seed Olympian upset 6 Mira Mesa, 12-7. The 9-5 Lady Eagles were behind early to the 8-9 Lady Marauders, but came back with a late interception and touchdown pass. They’ll travel to face 3 seed Grossmont (11-4) in the quarterfinals.

No. 10 seed Brawley bested 7 San Ysidro, 18-6. The Lady Wildcats were a low seed, despite a 16-4 overall record and 10-2 Southeastern Conference record. The Cougars went 6-0 in the Metro Conference, but only 5-9 versus outsiders. Brawley next meets 2 seed Torrey Pines (14-0).

D-II pairings were more  to form, with all favorites scoring 20 or more points in convincing victories.
The quarterfinals bring in previously byed top seeds for their first tests, as shown below.

PLAYOFF BRACKETS

—Henrik Jonson, Webmaster

Bonita Vista and Classical drew the top seeds in the two-division, inaugural postseason.

DIVISION I

While Torrey Pines (14-0) is the only undefeated San Diego Section team, MaxPreps ranks Bonita Vista (16-1) higher, based on strength of schedule. CIF bosses made the Lady Barons the number 1 seed and the Lady Falcons number 2. Calexico (16-2) is third.

Overall records were not the determining factor, i.e., Brawley (15-4) is a 10 seed, below 4 Grossmont (11-4,) and 5 San Dieguito (7-2). Mira Mesa, despite an 8-9 record, is ranked number 6, but four of its losses were to Bonita Vista, Torrey Pines (2) and Cathedral, elevating the Marauders over 7 San Ysidro (12-8) and 9 Hilltop (10-5).

DIVISION II

The top 7 seeds were as expected, but Santa Fe Christian at number 9 and with a 3-7 record also got some respect. Losses to Classical, Cathedral, Torrey Pines and Bonita Vista were factored in for the Lady Eagles, who rated ahead of 10 Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (6-6),11 Kearny (7-7), and 12 Castle Park (8-4).

Games are scheduled at sites of the better seeds, except for Scripps Ranch at Hilltop.  The Lady Falcons, seeded eighth, visit the number 9 Lancers.

INAUGURAL SEASON LEADERS

Standout individual performers include Giovanna Ortiz of Calexico with  4,188 passing yards (232 average), Abrielle Hagans of Morse with 1,049 rushing yards, and Mahliya Wilson of Bonita Vista, with 23 touchdown passes and 22 defensive pass interceptions.

PLAYOFF BRACKETS

—Henrik Jonson, Webmaster