Prep Football: Can Carlsbad Finally Finish the Job in 2026?

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

Location: Carlsbad, CA

League: Avocado West

Head Coach: Thadd MacNeal (16th Season)

2025 Season: 10-2 (3-1 Avocado West, T-1st)

2025 Playoffs: Lost to Cathedral in Open Division Final

For the Carlsbad Lancers, the elite Open Division bracket has been a masterclass in both excellence and agony. Carlsbad has established a dominant, winning culture in North County that guarantees them a spot in the championship conversation year in and year out, earning a spot in the section’s premier postseason bracket four times in the last six seasons. However, head coach Thadd MacNeal’s squad remains fueled by past narrow misses on the biggest stage—including a 28–21 battle against Helix in 2019, a 28–24 razor-thin loss to Lincoln in 2022, and last year’s late-game championship shocker. Entering 2026 ranked No. 3 in our Preseason Rankings, the Lancers are highly motivated to end a two-decade championship drought that dates back to their 2006 Division I title.

2025 Recap:

The hunger for redemption stems directly from the heartbreak of their 2025 campaign. After capturing a share of the Avocado West League title with a 3–1 league record (10–2 overall), the No. 3 seeded Lancers defeated rivals La Costa Canyon 27–23 in the Open Division semifinals to reach the championship game. In the final against Cathedral Catholic, Carlsbad dominated for three quarters behind a stout defense and quarterback Eli MacNeal, who threw a 27-yard touchdown strike to Ethan Meyerhoff and a 48-yard touchdown to Travis Jeffery to build a commanding 16–0 lead. However, they were unable to protect their advantage, witnessing a furious 20-point fourth-quarter comeback by the Dons to fall 20–16.