Fifth in a series this week on San Diego Section playoff matchups.
V-A
San Diego coach Charles James, while returning the city’s oldest and perhaps most beloved high school to prominence, recognized tradition and greatness.
After multi-generation tough sledding, which began with a gradual shift in demographics and school boundaries after Duane Maley retired following a championship in 1959, the Cavers are thriving again.
San Diego won 176 games and lost 347 from 1960-2014. They were 2-8 and 1-9 in James’ first two seasons, 2015-16, but have enjoyed back to back 12-1 and 10-2 campaigns.
The Cavers topped Kearny, 42-14, last week for their first outright San Diego Section title (they shared a championship after a 21-21 tie with Escondido in 1969) and James paid tribute to those who came before him in an interview following the game with television channel KUSI 51.
James, born several years after Maley’s departure, wanted the viewing audience to know that he was up on his Cavers history and how James valued the school’s tradition.
That tradition includes national championship recognition in 1955 and the years 1944-60, when San Diego made the playoffs 14 times, plus Southern Section championship appearances in 1916, ’25, ’33, ’47, and ‘59.
His message also has filtered down to James’ players, music to the ears of the vast number of alumni who still support the former “Old Grey Castle.”
San Diego takes its next step against Temecula Linfield Saturday night in the Southern California Division V-A playoffs.
The Cavers like to run the ball. Raiden Hunter has rushed for 1,063 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mo Jackson has gained 986 yards in 86 attempts plus 17 touchdowns and an 11.5-yard rushing average. Jayden Wickware is at 7.3 yards a carry and has gained 631 yards in 87 carries. Quinn O’Connor, who transferred when Horizon Christian closed, has been an effective quarterback with 49 completions in 95 attempts and 16 touchdown passes.
FAMILIAR FACE
Linfield Christian, which opened in 1936 as Culter Academy in Los Angeles and bounced around until settling in Temecula in 1972, has a long history with San Diego teams, mostly among the smallest schools, many in eight-man competition.
The Lions hold a 30-22-2 record against San Diego Section clubs since 1981. Local teams, however, were 6-1-1 from 2010 through the 2012 season. There have been no games since.
Linfield, with reported support from ex-Lincoln star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, upgraded to 13-1 against stronger competition this season, losing only to San Bernardino Aquinas, 30-20, and averaging 57 points.
The Lions won games in which they scored 85, 78, 70, 69, and 63 points. Their offensive coordinator is former Lincoln standout and NFL No. 1 draft choice Akili Smith.
Kaleb Maresh has thrown for 32 touchdowns, is averaging 8.8 yards carrying the ball, and has scored 13 touchdowns. Kenric Jamieson is the workhorse with 2,011 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns.
Max Preps ranks the Cavers 137th in California and Linfield 165th. Cal Preps.com assigned San Diego a 29.2 rating and Linfield 27.6. The computer predicted a 35-34 Linfield victory.
