San Marcos High School may have been looking past the first round of the CIF football playoffs, considering who was waiting in the Division I quarterfinals.
That wasn’t the case Friday night, as the No. 7-seeded Knights dispatched No. 10 seed Poway 23-0 behind a crisp ing game and a stout defense.
Sophomore quarterback Kreet Makihele, playing his third game after recovering from a collarbone injury sustained in a Week 4 loss at Torrey Pines, threw two touchdown es in the first half and the San Marcos defense posted its second shutout in four games as the Palomar League champions extended their current win streak to six games.
Next up: A rematch with archrival Mission Hills on Friday for the right to advance to the Division I semifinals.
“I’m excited for the Mission Hills game,” said Makihele, who completed 12-of-18 es for 202 yards with two touchdowns against Poway. “I didn’t get to play against them the first time, but our coaches have us prepared.”
With Poway concentrating its coverage on speedy wide receiver Jase Nix, Makihele turned to junior Brady Pohl, who caught five first-half es for 85 yards and a touchdown.
“I was trying to move the ball around to different players, and Brady had a big game,” said Makihele, who has 18 TD es this season.
San Marcos (9-2), ranked No. 8 in the section, handed Poway (3-8) its seventh straight loss to end the season.
Senior defensive lineman Reid O’Keefe had two sacks for the Knights, including a strip-sack of Poway quarterback Ty Hurst. The resulting fumble was recovered by lineman Gannon Stesiak. It took just one play for Makihele to find Pohl over the top in the middle of the end zone for a 31-yard score.
“I’m really proud of the way we’ve been playing, but we’ve got a lot to clean up,” said Knights coach Tom Carroll. “Mission Hills is very well-coached.”
The Grizzlies, seeded No. 2 in the Division I bracket, defeated San Marcos 35-7 in the regular-season matchup.
“The last few games we have really picked it up,” said O’Keefe. “We’re coming for revenge against Mission Hills.”
Division 1
Madison 27, Mater Dei Catholic 0: Madison (5-6) turned in a dominant defensive effort, holding Mater Dei Catholic (6-4) to minus-45 yards rushing. The defense was led by Tadori Davis, Theanniu Saulo and James Tivao. Jaylon Brown rushed for 150 yards on 10 carries and scored touchdowns from 88 and 8 yards. Madison faces top-seeded Torrey Pines in the quarterfinals. The Crusaders, last season’s 2-AA state champion, finis 6-4.
St. Augustine 37, Mira Mesa 10: St. Augustine (7-4) rushed for 205 yards and ed for 202 in the playoff win. QB Brady Palmer completed 13 of 19 es for 202 yards and two touchdown. Isaiah Hasten caught six es for 109 yards and a TD. Parker Johnson had four catches for 88 yards and a TD. Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and Willy Flores combined for 141 yards rushing on 12 carries, each scoring a TD. Bronx Letuligasenoa had four sacks. The fifth-seeded Saints meet fourth-seeded La Costa Canyon in the quarterfinals. Mira Mesa finishes 4-7.
Cathedral Catholic 49, Ramona 7: QB Jack Stephens led Cathedral Catholic (4-7) with 181 ing yards and three touchdowns. Hunter Harrington had six catches for 116 yards and two TDs. Ethan Ford had 15 carries for 102 yards and two TDs. Matt Hammond had four carries for 102 yards and two scores. The Dons play at No. 3-seeded El Camino. Ramona finishes 5-5.
Division 2
Point Loma 43, San Pasqual 35: Point Loma (7-4) quarterback Brady Allen threw for three TD es and rushed for three scores and a two-point conversion, figuring in all 43 points. Leo Sahd intercepted two es and Canon Ogden caught two TD es. Fifth-seeded Point Loma faces fourth-seeded Scripps Ranch in the quarterfinals. San Pasqual finishes 6-5.
Oceanside 28, Steele Canyon 7: Oceanside (7-4) quarterback Joe Vinup threw TD es to Da’Mariay Vivian and Ayden Goodwin while David Daniels and Vivian had rushing TDs. Oceanside plays No. 1-seeded Del Norte. Steele Canyon finishes 5-6.
Central Union 14, Eastlake 13: The Central Union defense thwarted a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to down Eastlake (4-7) and advance to play third-seeded La Jolla. Nico Viesca rushed for 156 yards and a TD while Arty Estrada caught three es for 62 yards and Emiliano Morales had 45 receiving yards. Josiel Rodriguez had 11 tackles, a blocked punt, a blocked kick and caused a fumble. Malachi Ocon had eight tackles and a sack.
Bishop’s 23, Brawley 21: Brawley (8-3) quarterback Matthew Gutierrez connected for two TDs to WR Brandon Porras and ran in a two-point conversion to give the Wildcats a 21-20 lead that was erased with a last-second FG. Bishop’s (8-3) advances to play second-seeded Rancho Bernardo.
Division 3
La Jolla Country Day 36, Morse 8: LJCD (8-3) quarterback Jaden Mangini threw a pair of touchdown es and rushed for two more, one for 62 yards. The TD es went to Quentin Cesaire and Jordan Hockberg. Will Sach had three FGs, one from 42 yards. Jack Circuit had an interception. The Torreys advance to play No. 3-seeded West Hills. Morse finishes 4-7.
Imperial 16, Valley Center 14: Jaden Wilson caught a 40-yard touchdown from Giovanni Robles and Joel Robles booted three FGs to lead Imperial (8-3) past Valley Center (5-6). Braylon Mitchell threw 17-yard TD es to Lincoln Zetmeir and Ealy Conteras. Imperial advances to play at third-seeded West Hills.
El Capitan 30, Patrick Henry 14: QB Brandt Barker ed for four touchdowns to lead El Capitan (7-4) past Patrick Henry (5-6). Barker was 13 of 28 for 244 yards, with nine es going to Julian May for 142 yards and a TD. The Vaqueros also got 139 yards rushing and a TD from Brady Joralemon. El Capitan advances to play No. 1 seed Mission Bay.
Santa Fe Christian 35, San Diego High 9: SFC (6-5) quarterback Andrew Hidy threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Sawyer had three catches for 87 yards and a score and had six tackles, a TFL and a sack on defense. PJ Rogers scored touchdowns rushing and receiving. Nate Clifford rushed for a score and had 11 tackles and a TFL. Britain Kwalcheck had eight tackles, five TFL and kicked five PATs. SFC advances to play No. 4-seeded Grossmont. San Diego High finishes 4-7.
Division 4
Escondido 34, Calexico 21: Escondido (3-8) quarterback Caden Thompson threw for 300 yards and three TDs — two to Josh Gonzales, who had three scoring catches. Ezekiel McIntyre scored touchdowns rushing and receiving and threw a TD to Gonzales. Friday Pollard had a rushing TD. Jake Fleming and Kevin Kelly had interceptions and Kaden Hermsen had a sack. The Cougars next play No. 1-seeded Mount Miguel. Calexico finishes 5-6.
Olympian 31, Escondido Charter 15: Isiah Grissom scored on an interception and the Olympian (7-4) offense, led by quarterback Jaden Fuentes, did the rest in the victory over Escondido Charter (4-7). Fuentes ed for more than 300 yards while scoring both rushing and receiving touchdowns. Receiver A.J. Cadriel scored on a long . The defense was led by Riley Baloy and Aidan Flores. Charter was led by Nick Patterson, who rushed for a TD; Travis Grayson ed to Manoah Paschall for the other score. Olympian advances to face No. 1 seeded Chula Vista.
Bonita Vista 35, Coronado 0: Caden Ada-Tannehill rushed for three touchdowns and ed for another as Bonita Vista (7-4) beat Coronado (3-8). Ada-Tannehill rushed for 162 yards on 22 carries. Carlos Ochoa ran for a TD. The defense, led by Austin Snook’s interception and Diego Lopez’s fumble recovery, pitched its second shutout of the season. Bonita advances to play at No. 3 Westview.
Crawford 2, Orange Glen 0 (forfeit): Orange Glen forfeited the game and issued this statement through the Escondido District Office: “Late this week we became aware of an ineligible player based on grades. We will forfeit tonight’s game and all regular-season games.” Crawford (8-3) advances to play No. 4-seeded Santana. Because of the ineligible player, Orange Glen ends 0-11.
Division 5
Hoover 48, Monte Vista 41: Kristian Noreiga completed 12 of 22 for 400 yards and four TDs for Hoover (7-4). Exavier Williams caught six es for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Sir Autry gained 101 yards on 17 carries and three scores and caught two es for 45 yards. Jaidyn Ellison of Monte Vista (3-8) gained 192 yards on 33 carries, scoring three times. Adrian Gonzalez rushed for 39 yards, ed for 76 including and had a 28-yard interception TD. Hoover faces top-seeded Vincent Memorial in the semifinals.
Vincent Memorial 42, Valhalla 15: Behind QB Jacobo Elias, Vincent Memorial (8-3) jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead against Valhalla (3-8). Elias was 16 of 25 for 245 yards and five TDs as well as 67 yards on six rushes. Jacobo went over the 10,000 yard mark in combined offensive yards over the last three seasons. Vincent Memorial hosts Hoover in the semifinals.
Sweetwater 44, Southwest-El Centro 20: Rushing for 494 yards and six TDs, Sweetwater (5-6) rolled past Southwest-El Centro (3-8) and will play El Cajon Valley in the semifinals. Carlos Delgado rushed for 187 yards on eight carries, scoring three times. Izell Wright added 125 yards on 12 carries, scoring once, while Xzavier Crews scored twice, rushing for 64 yards on eight carries. QB Zaryan Crews added another 83 yards rushing.
El Cajon Valley 49, Kearny 6: Darick Dubose threw for one touchdown, rushed for another one and recovered a fumble for six points to lead El Cajon Valley (6-5) to the victory over Kearny (7-4) and into the semifinals at Sweetwater. Dubose was 6 of 12 for 112 yards ing and gained 42 yards rushing. He also had an interception on defense. The Braves’ Massih Ehsan gained 131 yards on 29 carries and two TDs, while Paris Dixon had three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Division 5AA
Maranatha Christian 35, Rock Academy 14: Maranatha (4-7) quarterback Karl Drake threw for 122 yards and rushed for 71 and three TDs. Grayson Kennedy had a rushing TD, and JD Class had six receptions for 106 yards. Aaron Tasin had eight tackles and three tackles-for-loss, while Nathan Niguidula had five tackles and three TFLs, forced a fumble and recovered one. Rock finishes 5-5. Maranatha faces No. 1-seeded Holtville in the semifinals.
Tri-City Christian 35, Calipatria 6: TCC (10-1) led 35-0 at the half. It will play at No. 2-seeded Army-Navy. Calipatria finishes 3-8.
Division 6 – 8-man
Coastal Academy 48, San Pasqual Academy 44: Coastal (6-5) advances to play No. 1-seeded Foothills Christian. San Pasqual Academy finishes 7-4.
Calvin Christian 48, San Diego Jewish Academy 6: Calvin (7-3) advances to play No. 2-seeded St. Joseph Academy. San Diego Jewish Academy finishes 1-7.
Staff writer John Maffei and freelance writers Don Norcross, Steve Brand and Kevin Farmer contributed to this story.
