Tonight’s Lincoln-Carlsbad game for the San Diego Section Open Division championship in Snapdragon Stadium will be the first since 2013 not involving Helix or Cathedral.
Lincoln and Carlsbad have been here before, as recently as 2019 and 2021, and each is looking for a breakout.
The Hornets lost in the Division I championship game to Oceanside, 28-10, in 2019 and to Helix, 28-21 in 2021.
Carlsbad, competing in the Open Division, lost to Cathedral, 28-20, in ’19 and to the Dons again in ’21, 48-19.
Carlsbad is 36-4 since 2019. Lincoln is 32-9 over the same period.
RECORDS EVEN
Each is 10-1. Lincoln dropped a 14-7 decision at Los Angeles’ Mission Hills Bishop Alemany in Week 2. Carlsbad was defeated at home, 34-18, by Inglewood in Week 2.
Cal-Hi Sports rates Lincoln as the No. 13 team in the state and Carlsbad No. 14 (Inglewood, 12-0, is No. 9; unranked Alemany finished 3-8). Max Preps rates Carlsbad 16th and Lincoln 17th. Cal Preps.com assigns the Lancers a 57.6 strength rating and Lincoln 56.5.
Lincoln defeated Mater Dei, 56-20, in a Week 4 home game. Carlsbad won its opening game, 36-35, in double overtime at Mater Dei.
Lincoln is 9-7 in championship games since the school played its first varsity schedule in 1954. Carlsbad is 6-6 in championship games since it opened in 1957.
COACHES HAVE STAYED
Each team has longevity at the head coach position.
Carlsbad’s Thadd MacNeal is 86-46 since 2011. Lincoln’s David Dunn is 80-57-1 since 2011.
The rival coaches are 1-1 after a home-and-home series in 2014-15. MacNeal’s host team blanked Lincoln, 45-0, in 2014 but lost at Lincoln, 20-16, in 2015.
The Lancers (Avocado) and Hornets (Western) play in the toughest leagues in the San Diego Section.
Each team has a superstar player headed for the Southeast Conference. Carlsbad quarterback Julian Sayin has committed to Alabama and Lincoln running back Roderick Robinson has announced for Georgia.
Another Hornet, linebacker DJ Peevy, has committed to USC.
The pick: Lincoln.
Full disclosure: I graduated from Lincoln.
THE OTHER GAMES
Semifinal contests in Divisions I-V are tonight. Finals will be next week at Escondido High and Southwestern College.
The D-VI eight-man championship, Victory Christian (10-0) vs. St. Joseph’s (9-1), will be Saturday night at Escondido.
