A significant accomplishment was overlooked for a few weeks. Mater Dei’s John Joyner became the 49th San Diego Section coach to win a career 100th game.
Fast-finishing for a second straight year, the Crusaders coach’s team defeated Eastlake, 36-7, for its fifth straight win after an 0-3 start and gave Joyner his 103rd victory.
Victory No. 100 was in Week 6, 23-14, over St. Augustine. (thanks for the reminder, East County stat maven Adam Paul.)
Mater Dei lost its first four in 2022 and roared to a 11-4 finish and a state Division II-AA championship, 26-18, over Oakland McClymonds.
Knock off 2-7 Otay Ranch this week and the Crusaders and Joyner (103-68 overall) can claim their third consecutive Metro Mesa title.
NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER
Of the 19 leagues in the San Diego Section, all but the Western still have some unfinished business.
Lincoln, which completed its first 10-0 regular season in the school’s 70 varsity seasons, has won the league and will sit back with the assuredly No. 1 seed in the Open Division playoffs.
Several teams have clinched ties for loop titles, but losses this week could affect playoff pairings.
AVOCADO
Carlsbad (4-0) has a tie for crown and closes at home against El Camino. Stumble against the Wildcats and see Torrey Pines (3-1) beat La Costa Canyon would mean a 4-1 deadlock with the Falcons.
The tie should be easily resolved. Carlsbad scored a 17-7 victory over the Falcons in Week 8.
CENTRAL
San Diego is 3-0 and Hoover 3-1. The Cavers must beat Clairemont or fall into a tie. Hoover is done with league play. San Diego has the edge in a tie-breaker, having topped the Cardinals, 56-45, in Week 8.
CITY
Mission Bay (2-1) visits Scripps Ranch (3-0). The Buccaneers need a win after stumbling last week, 26-14, to Crawford, which lost to Scripps Ranch, 37-7, in Week 6.
COASTAL
The Bishop’s (5-0) and host Santa Fe Christian (5-0) will determine seaside bragging rights from Bird Rock to Moonlight Beach.
EASTERN
La Jolla (3-0) clinches with a win at Christian (0-3). The Vikings beat Point Loma (3-1), 48-29 in Week 8. The Pointers, 6-4 overall, are waiting for the playoffs.
GROSSMONT HILLS
Granite Hills (4-0) has taken charge in a circuit ruled for years by Helix (3-1). The Eagles’ double-overtime, 44-43 win over the Highlanders last week was their third in the last four seasons over the Scots, who lost a four-overtime, 47-44 crusher to Granite in 2022.
Birds of prey and defending State Division II-A champion, the Eagles face in-and-out Grossmont (2-2) this week, while Helix takes on similarly mediocre Steele Canyon (2-2).
GROSSMONT VALLEY
Mount Miguel (3-0) closes with a visit from Monte Vista (2-1) and holds a 46-20 victory over El Capitan (2-1).
IMPERIAL VALLEY
El Centro Central (5-0) and Brawley (5-0), blood rivals 15 miles apart and at each other’s throats since 1921, meet for the 173rd time, Brawley holding an 82-80 advantage with 10 ties.
Central, Brawley, and Calexico are the only schools in California that have met every year for 102 years.
“The High”, as El Centro locals know the Spartans, played two games every season through 2005 against Brawley and some time in the ‘seventies the rivals began playing for a perpetual Bell trophy, which can be heard from Plaster City to Glammis, according to legend.
MANZANITA
The Dragons of San Pasqual Academy (5-0) defeated Borrego Springs (4-1), 60-20, a month ago and finishes against Salton City West Shores, while the Rams meet Ocean View Christian.
METRO MESA
Bonita Vista (1-1) and Eastlake (1-1) will battle at Southwestern for runner-up honors to Mater Dei (2-0), a virtual lock versus Otay Ranch (0-2).
METRO PACIFIC
CalPreps.com gives Chula Vista (3-0) a 99 per cent chance of victory against San Ysidro (0-3).
Castle Park (2-1), 49-13 loser to the Spartans in Week 9, plays for second place against San Diego Southwest (1-2). A victory by the Raiders would create a three-way tie with Mar Vista and the Trojans.
METRO SOUTH BAY
Olympian (2-0) can avoid a tie by defeating Montgomery (1-1). Sweetwater (1-1) takes on Hilltop.
OCEAN
St. Joseph (3-1) is at Calvin Christian (3-1) and the winner hopes that Foothills Christian (4-0) stumbles at San Diego Jewish (0-4).
PACIFIC
Orange Glen (4-0) goes to Tri-City Christian (4-0) in Vista, looking for its first title since Rob Gilster’s Patriots club went 7-0 and won the Palomar League in 1995. The Eagles won the Pacific in 2018.
PALOMAR
This is rarefied air for Del Norte (4-0) as it awaits San Marcos (4-0). The Nighthawks tied for a Valley League championship in 2013 but in other seasons have not done better than third place since opening in 2010.
San Marcos is 8-0 against Del Norte since that inaugural campaign, but the Nighthawks have come on this season, 8-1 overall. They have a 32.6 CalPreps.com rating to the Knights’ 27.6.
VALLEY
Oceanside (5-0) has found the surroundings much more agreeable after 64 of the previous 69 years in the Avocado League or Avocado West League. The Pirates know the Valley, having posted an overall record of 64-8-2 during a couple stints in the early 2000’s.
Valley Center (4-1) can tie for first by defeating the Pirates and San Pasqual (4-1) also would garner a slice of the pie if the Golden Eagles top Escondido and V.C. pulls a surprise.
WESTERN
Cathedral and St. Augustine, each 3-1, collide in the Holy Bowl, while Lincoln, having clinched the title, takes it all in. The Hornets beat both teams, 40-14 and 42-7, respectively.
John Maffei’s Week 11 Union-Tribune Poll:
Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.*First-place votes.
NR–Not ranked.
Last entries in columns are previous rankings.
Max Preps‘ and Cal-Hi Sports‘ are state rankings.
| RANK | TEAM/RECORD | POINTS | MAXPREPS.COM | CALPREPS.COM | CAL-HI SPORTS |
| 1. | Lincoln (10-0) | *27/297/1 | 8/9 | 61.3/59.9 | 6/6 |
| 2. | Carlsbad (9-0) | *3/269/2 | 12/14 | 59.5/58.9 | 7/7 |
| 3. | Granite Hills (9-0) | 244/3 | 27/36 | 50.3/42.7 | 14/18 |
| 4. | Helix (8-1) | 210/4 | 28/18 |
50.1/54.3 | 18/16 |
| 5. | Torrey Pines (6-3) | 165/6 | 47/59 | 39.6/35.1 | On Bubble/On Bubble |
| 6. | Mission Hills (6-3) | 146/7 | 40/47 | 42.3/31.6 | On Bubble/On Bubble |
| 7. | El Camino (6-3) | 103/5 | 68/68 | 35.1/34.3 | NR/NR |
| 8 | Del Norte (8-1) | 79/8 | 85/83 | 32.6/29.8 | NR/NR |
| 9 | La Costa Canyon (5-4) | 52/9 | 72/80 | 34.8/34.6 | NR/NR |
| 10. | Cathedral (3-6) | 45/10 | 67/63 | 35.6/30.7 | On bubble/On Bubble |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Mater Dei (5-3, 18 points), Mount Miguel (8-1, 9), San Marcos (7-2, 6), St. Augustine (5-4,3), La Jolla (7-2, 2), Brawley (8-1, 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, Eric Williams, Thomas Gutierrez , Freelance contributors.
- Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds, John Carroll (KUSI, Channel 51).
- Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).
- Adam Paul (EastCountySports.com).
- Bodie DeSilva (ScorebookLive.com).
- John Kentera, Braden Suprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
- Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9-FM).
- Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
- Troy Hirsch, Nic Pollino (Fox 5 San Diego).
- Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez (CIF San Diego Section).
- Mike Dolan, Rex Johnson, Bruce Ward (CIF Advisory Committee).
- Joe Evangelist (San Diego Coaching Legends Committee).
- Will Torrez (Valley Sports Network).
- Tom Ronco (Imperial Valley Press).
- Raymond Brown (SDfootball.net).
- Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference Advisor).
- Max Preps.
When you have a chance could you post the names of the 48 County coaches that have been joined by Mr. Joyner? Your knowledge, time and efforts are always appreciated.
Very Best Wishes to you for the up-coming Holidays.
Allen: Go to the website home page and choose the football menu. Scroll down to “Coaches” and follow the link to “Coach 100”. It lists everyone. By the way, I watched my grandson’s soccer game last week at “historic” Wells Park in Ramona, next to the Montecito continuation school. I thought that must have been the stadium where you and Gary Mayer and others ran roughshod over Bulldogs opponents for Glenn Forsythe and Bob M cCutchdeon.