The weekend also featured exceptional individual performances, including Monte Vista's Alex Villanueva breaking the section's single-season rushing record in their Division V title game, while Lincoln avenged last year's heartbreaking Open Division loss despite playing the entire season without a home field. From the dominant offensive showcase of Poway's 62-point explosion in Division II to El Capitan's defensive masterclass in Division IV, each championship game offered its own compelling narrative. Even in the 8-man ranks, St. Joseph Academy finally broke through after two runner-up finishes to claim their first football title, while Calipatria ended years of struggles to secure their program's first championship in Division V-AA.
Here's a recap of all the action as we congratulate not only the eight newly crowned champions, but every single student-athlete who competed this season. The future of San Diego football is bright thanks to your efforts.
Open Division Champions
Lincoln Hornets
Def. Cathedral Catholic 31-13
In a stunning display of resilience and determination, the Lincoln Hornets emerged triumphant over the Cathedral Catholic Dons at Snapdragon Stadium, solidifying their position as the undisputed top team in San Diego County. The Hornets' path to victory was paved with significant adversity, as they were forced to play and practice without a home field throughout the 2024 season due to ongoing renovations. However, these obstacles only served as fuel for their drive to succeed.
The Hornets (10-2) dominated with an impressive rushing attack that accumulated 359 yards, led by Aden Jackson and Junior Curtis who each ran for over 140 yards. The game's turning point came on Keontae McClay's interception, which set up a touchdown that began a scoring run, pushing Lincoln to a commanding 24-7 halftime lead.
Head Coach David Dunn praised his team's resilience throughout the challenging season, while senior receiver Isaiah Grant, who caught a crucial 25-yard touchdown pass, called the championship victory "a miracle". The win not only avenged Lincoln's heartbreaking loss in last year's final but also advanced them to the Southern California Regionals, where they'll begin to pursue their second state title in school history.
The Granite Hills Eagles are 2024 @CIFSDS Division I Champions!!
— Ray from SDFN (@sdfootball) December 1, 2024
#3 Granite Hills (11-2) 42
#1 San Marcos (11-2) 25
FINAL
GH: 3rd straight CIF Section Championship!
Maxwell Turner: 5 Touchdowns (33 Total in 2024)
📸 @NFHSNetwork / @SoCalSportsProd pic.twitter.com/cKDYARJez5
Division I Champions
Granite Hills Eagles
Def. San Marcos 42-25
In the main event of a phenomenal championship weekend at Southwestern College's Devore Stadium, Granite Hills secured their third consecutive San Diego Section title with a triumph over the San Marcos Knights in the Division I final. Led by senior running back Maxwell Turner's outstanding performance of 220 rushing yards and five touchdowns, the Eagles (11-2) dominated early, jumping to a 21-0 lead. Numerous explosive plays included a 67-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Zach Benitez to fellow sophomore Gage Spalding, while the Granite Hills defense recorded three interceptions and held San Marcos to just 58 rushing yards.
Despite a spirited comeback attempt by San Marcos, highlighted by Brady Pohl's versatile performance including a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, Granite Hills' balanced offensive attack proved too formidable. The victory marks a remarkable progression for the Eagles, who have now won titles in Division 2 (2022), Open Division (2023), and Division 1 (2024), as they advance to the state playoffs once again seeking further success.
.png "Poway Titans: 2024 CIF San Diego Division II Champions")
Division II Champions
Poway Titans
Def. Mater Dei Catholic 62-24
Fourth-seeded Poway claimed the Division II championship with a commanding victory over Mater Dei Catholic, transforming a competitive game into a rout by scoring six touchdowns in the second half. Wide receiver Colin McCann had an exceptional performance, amassing 168 receiving yards with three touchdown catches and adding a rushing touchdown, while quarterback Ty Hurst effectively executed head coach Brandon Harris's adaptive offensive system.
Despite their regular season struggles, Poway (6-7) completed a remarkable playoff transformation, setting scoring records and peaking at the perfect time. First-year head coach Brandon Harris credited his team's mastery of the offensive system and their playmakers' execution, as the Titans advanced to the Southern California Regionals with momentum on their side.
🏆 St. Augustine's unusual road to back-to-back titles:
— Ray from SDFN (@sdfootball) December 1, 2024
* Parted ways w/ HC after winning 2023 D1 crown
* Key starters transfer to rival schools
* Hires Ron Caragher, finish 2024 regular-season 0-10
* Controversially seeded in D3 Playoffs
* Goes on a 4-game winning streak
*… pic.twitter.com/5BLGXhXzDi
Division III Champions
St. Augustine Saints
Def. San Pasqual 13-7
St. Augustine completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in San Diego high school football history, transforming from a winless regular season to CIF San Diego Section Division III champions with a 13-7 victory over San Pasqual. After winning Division I in 2023, the Saints underwent significant changes including a new head coach and player transfers, leading to an 0-10 regular season before receiving the seventh seed in the Division III playoffs.
The Saints found their championship form at the perfect moment, winning four straight playoff games culminating in the title game where freshman kicker Callen Moore's two field goals and Pai Polamalu's touchdown run built a 13-0 lead. Their defense dominated throughout, holding San Pasqual to minimal yardage and preserving the victory despite a dramatic final-minute touchdown and onside kick recovery by the Eagles. The victory marks their second straight section title, albeit in different divisions, and stands as a testament to the team's resilience and the unpredictable nature of high school football.
.png "El Capitan Vaqueros: 2024 CIF San Diego Division IV Champions")
Division IV Champions
El Capitan Vaqueros
Def. Westview 17-14
El Capitan secured their second section championship in program history with a defensive masterclass, defeating fifth-seeded Westview 17-14 in the Division IV final. The second-seeded Vaqueros' defense dominated the game with six sacks and a crucial last-second interception by Tyler Easley, while holding Westview to just 32 rushing yards on 33 attempts. El Capitan's offense managed to produce enough points despite missing key players, including leading rusher Brady Joralemon.
The Vaqueros built an early lead through Garrett Luckinbill's touchdown run and Brody Copp's one-yard score, while quarterback Brandt Barker effectively managed the game with 138 passing yards, mostly to Ayden Banegas who had seven catches for 90 yards. After Westview tied the game in the third quarter, Brayden Ford's 26-yard field goal in the fourth proved decisive, securing El Capitan's ninth straight win and advancing them to the Southern California Regionals.
.png "Monte Vista Monarchs: 2024 CIF San Diego Division 5 Champions")
Division V Champions
Monte Vista Monarchs
Def. Bonita Vista 38-21
Monte Vista made history as the first 12-seed to win a San Diego Section title, defeating No. 2 seed Bonita Vista in the Division 5 final. Senior running back Alex Villanueva delivered a performance for the ages, rushing for 297 yards and five touchdowns on 46 carries, while also breaking the San Diego Section single-season rushing record with 3,006 yards. The victory was especially remarkable considering Monte Vista only made the playoffs after another team opted out of their spot.
The Monarchs' Cinderella story included victories over the 4th, 5th, 1st, and 2nd seeds en route to their program's four championship, with their defense matching their offense's intensity by holding Bonita Vista to just seven rushing yards. Under head coach Ron Hamamoto's leadership, Monte Vista (9-5) transformed from a team that barely made the playoffs to champions who will now compete for a state championship, proving that being underrated only fueled their determination to succeed.
Division V-AA Champions
Calipatria Hornets
Def. Coastal Academy 44-25
Calipatria captured their first-ever CIF football championship with a convincing win over Coastal Academy at Palomar College, led by senior quarterback Dominic Hawk's outstanding performance of four rushing touchdowns and 129 yards on 24 carries. The Hornets' defense set the tone early with two interceptions, including Caleb Spence's 41-yard pick-six, helping build a commanding 24-0 lead in the first half.
The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for Calipatria (9-2), who went from a 3-7 record last season to champions under second-year head coach Tony Leon, while also ending a streak of losing seasons dating back to 2016. Despite a strong effort from Coastal Academy (10-3) receiver Cedric Smith, who caught seven passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in their first season of 11-man football after transitioning from 8-man, the Hornets' balanced attack and early defensive dominance proved decisive in the historic victory.
Division VI (8-Man) Champions
St. Joseph Academy Crusaders
Def. Calvin Christian 60-22
The St. Joseph Academy captured their first-ever CIF football crown with a commanding victory over Calvin Christian at Palomar College, finally breaking through after two consecutive runner-up finishes. The Crusaders (10-1) dominated with their ground game, amassing 373 rushing yards, led by Mathew Adams' 147 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries. The game turned decisively in the first quarter when Asher Larkin returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and followed with a 52-yard scoring run, giving St. Joseph a lead they would never relinquish.
The top-seeded Crusaders built a 38-14 halftime advantage and continued their dominance in the third quarter, where Adams scored three times, including a 47-yard interception return. Despite Calvin Christian (7-4) quarterback Cole Souders throwing for 225 yards and connecting with Caleb Brower 13 times for 152 yards, St. Joseph's physical rushing attack and opportunistic defense proved too much to overcome, securing the championship that had eluded them the previous two seasons.
2024 CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Games:
DIVISION 1–AA
LINCOLN vs. Newbury Park
at Southwestern College – Friday, Dec. 6 at 8:00 p.m.
DIVISION 1–A
GRANITE HILLS vs. Edison
at Huntington Beach HS – Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
DIVISION 3–A
POWAY vs. Rio Hondo Prep
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
DIVISION 4–A
ST. AUGUSTINE at St. Pius X - St. Matthias
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
DIVISION 5–AA
EL CAPITAN vs. Silverado
Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION 6–A
MONTE VISTA vs. Pasadena
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
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