Division 1-AA: San Diego Cathedral 38, Stockton St. Mary’s 35 (OT)
A week after taking down SoCal favorite Narbonne with a flurry of early points, the Dons did it again in the state final. Two quick touchdowns — an 8-yard reception from Jack Thompson and a 77-yard catch by Shawn Poma — in the fourth quarter erased St. Mary’s 14-point lead and Morrison Mirer’s interception return 46 yards for a score gave Cathedral a seven-point lead with 1:25 to play. St. Mary countered with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jake Dunniway to Aaron Jenkins to knot the game back up at 35-35, sending the title contest to overtime. But it was the Dons who came away with the last laugh and the state title, thanks to Liam King’s 20-yard field goal in the extra period to lift Cathedral to California glory after the Dons had stuffed St. Mary’s short of the end zone on the first overtime possession. Mirer joined father and former NFLer Rick and grandfather Ken as the third in the family to win a state title, and Dons quarterback Tate Haynes completed 18 of 28 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns in the triumph.
Division 2-AA: San Diego Madison 21, San Jose Valley Christian 17
Drama was aplenty in the Friday contests, as another squad from San Diego proved it had the mettle necessary to emerge victorious. A Hail Mary heave from Valley Christian’s Miles Kendrick was incomplete, saving Madison from heartbreak and securing the hardware. Running back Erick Buchanan rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, while quarterback Terrell Carter completed 14 of 24 passes for 195 yards and another score in the close contest. Buchanan’s early touchdown gave Madison a seven-point lead and the Warhawks leaned on their defense, which kept the Warriors at bay in the fourth quarter, twice forcing Valley Christian to punt and stymying their comeback attempt.
