Classical (6-1) remains on top, and next meets Bonita Vista (4-1), which stubbed its toe on unranked Grossmont. Mira Mesa (6-1), with only a one-score loss to Our Lady of Peace (3-0 and 12-3 last year), plus undefeated La Costa Canyon, Poway, and San Marcos are on the rise.

Complete schedules and results are here.

Top 10 San Diego section teams per the Max Preps ranking system*, as of Sept. 5:

* The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the strength of schedule of opponents, is described here.

Henrik Jonson, Web Master

Defending San Diego Section champions are off to a strong start, each with a majority of their All-CIF starters returning.

Division I Bonita Vista (3-0), coming off a 19-1 season, is outscoring its opponents 533 to 137. This early season includes a win over Brawley (6-2), itself a five-game winner in a one-day tournament!

D-II Classical  (6-1), rated No. 4 in the state by Max Preps, overpowered Mission Viejo, Number 13 Newport Harbor, and 26 Long Beach Poly, losing only to #2  San Juan Capistrano JSerra.  Last season the Caimans were 17-2 and led the section in scoring at 30 points a game, outscoring opponents 573 to 86.

A local “Clash of the Titans” is Sept. 7, when Classical hosts Bonita Vista. Schedules and results are here.

D-I newcomer Poway (4-0, #36)  dominated its 4 opponents with a 114-20 scoring  total, as only Santana (4-1-1) put up a fight, 20-12. The lady Titans will meet Bonita Vista on Sept. 21.

In town notables are Mira Mesa (4-1), Mission Bay (4-2), plus Kearny (3-0), with all shutout wins and outscoring opponents 75-0.

Brawley (6-2), Imperial (4-1), and Calexico Vincent Memorial (3-0) are off to a good starts in the desert.

San Diego section teams with a Max Preps top 100 state ranking through Aug. 29:

Henrik Jonson, Web Master

Forty-six flag teams, many with quickly organized, short schedules, played a total of about 325 games in the inaugural 2023 season. The 2024 season, with 72 teams and a potential full schedule of 20 in the regular season, plus two dozen playoff jousts, the total should surpass 700 games. The  schedule continues to grow.

Most of the 26 new squads are from North County, including all 5 from Poway Unified (Del Norte, Poway, Mt Carmel, Rancho Bernardo, Westview). Other added large schools include Carlsbad, Escondido, La Costa Canyon, Mission Hills, San Marcos, Oceanside, Ramona,  and Vista.

See the Flag Teams page for a complete list of San Diego Section entries.

CIF-RELATED ISSUES

Now 24 versus 20 minutes per half and a 7-second passing clock; if ball is not thrown or touched by another player, the play is dead. As previous, no blocking downfield, only behind the line-of-scrimmage, and really just ‘obstructing’ since no contact is allowed. It’s up to the defender to avoid a stationary ‘blocker’. Similarly, a ‘tackler’ cannot obstruct a runner to grab a flag. The most allowed contact is some hand-fighting for a pass.

Full CIF Rules here, with 2024 changes and clarifications highlighted in red. The rule book is more than 10 pages.

With more games and a possible short officiating crew issue, a solution is multiple games per day, per site with multiple teams. Last weekend a showcase of 5 games with 10 teams, in one long day, demonstrated this ‘tournament’ style plan.

To date, most league affiliations are unpublished  beyond the 3 listed below. Division (I, II, or more) groupings also are unavailable.

Playoffs begin November 11, with the local champions crowned 11/21-23. No mention of further regional playoff participation.

CONFERENCES, AS OF AUG. 22, 2024

Avocado: Carlsbad, El Camino, La Costa Canyon, Mission Hills, San Dieguito, San Marcos
Palomar: Canyon Crest, Del Norte, Mt Carmel, Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Westview
Valley: Escondido, Ramona, Rancho Buena Vista, Sage Creek, San Pasqual, Vista

Henrik Jonson, Web Master

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