El CajonEl Cajon — This spring fling of a season was played for fun and experience and love of the game.
So, when you learn the final of No. 2 Carlsbad vs. No. 5 Granite Hills — a previously unscheduled game involving two unbeaten powers — know there was no championship on the line Friday night at Valley Stadium.
It only felt that way. Especially for the Lancers.
Carlsbad used a spirited first half to race to a 63-14 victory in front of about 400 fans to lay claim to bragging rights and a lot of what-ifs — as in, what if the Lancers (5-0) could face No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (5-0).
“With a team like this, you want to keep playing,” said Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal after getting dump by a bucket of liquid from his ecstatic troops. “Great chemistry. Great bunch of kids.”
Carlsbad defeated Cathedral in the Open Division semifinals in 2019 before losing in the final, 28-21, to Helix.
“People are saying they’re the second-best team, but they beat Cathedral last time they played,” Granite Hills coach Kellan Cobbs said. “They’re big. They’re fast. They’re disciplined. They’re everything we’re striving to be, but we’re not there yet.”
Aidan Sayin, who is headed to Penn in the summer, threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. Then completed his only of the second half for a 30-yard TD to finish 13-of-16 ing for 285 yards and five TDs.
“Coach gave us a great game plan,” Sayin said. “When I had my chance I was ready.
“We think we’re a great team. In a season like this, it’s great to go out with a win.”
All in the first half, Mazlo Norwood caught TDs of 63 and 36 yards and added a 6-yard run. He finished with four catches for 103 yards. Josh Davis opened the scoring with a 23-yard reception and added a 40-yarder — both from Sayin — to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter. He had four receptions for 83 yards.
Then there was Matt Moore, a junior do-everything guy. In order, Moore recovered a fumble, and on the next play, threw a 31-yard TD to Tyler Nolte on a halfback option. He also intercepted a and returned it 44 yards, and on the next play, ran 12 yards for a TD. He also caught a 12-yard and rushed three times for 37 yards.
Nolte finished with five catches for 85 yards and two TDs.
“Kind of a complete night for Matt Moore, huh?” MacNeal stated. “Since he didn’t get the TD on the interception, we gave it to him on the next play.”
A junior, Moore was more pleased for the seniors. “It felt amazing watching them tear up and fulfil their dream of an undefeated season,” he said.
Carlsbad outscored its opponents, 233-35, four of which came from the tough Avocado League.
Granite Hills (5-1) was led by East County player of the year Justus McComb, who has signed to play at Southwest Minnesota State. McComb was 22-of-45 ing for 254 yards, including a 14-yard TD to Wyatt Henderson.
The Eagles’ problem was rushing. McComb could only manage 18 yards on 13 tries. One was a 2-yard TD to cut the lead to 35-14 late in the first half. Carlsbad scored a minute later to make it 42-14.
For the Eagles, Henderson had seven catches for 74 yards and Joaquin Thomas added seven for 77.
While Sayin’s night finished early, his brother Julian Sayin took over at QB and tossed a 37-yard TD to Bryson Wayne-Doyle.
Carlsbad, which has won six section championships and finished runner-up five times, completed its first perfect season (the 2006 title team went 10-0-2 under Bob McAllister).
“This team has exceeded my expectations,” MacNeal said. “We only had three starters back from the Open championship team a year ago. And now we have eight juniors on defense. It’s a fun team. Everyone gets along wonderfully, and they have worked so hard for so long to get here.”
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
CARLSBAD 63, GRANITE HILLS 14
Carlsbad 14 28 14 7 — 63
Granite Hills 0 14 0 0 — 14
C — Josh Davis 23 from Aidan Sayin (Aaron Harris kick)
C — Mazlo Norwood 6 run (Aaron Harris kick)
C — Josh Davis 40 from Aidan Sayin (kick blocked)
C — Tyler Nolte 31 from Matt Moore (Anthony Ferrelli from Aidan Sayin)
GH — Wyatt Henderson 14 from Justus McComb (Gavin Armstrong kick)
C — Mazlo Norwood 63 from Aidan Sayin (Aaron Harris kick)
GH — Justus McComb 2 run (Gavin Armstrong kick)
C — Mazlo Norwood 36 from Aidan Sayin (Aaron Harris kick)
C — Tyler Nolte 30 from Aidan Sayin (Aaron Harris kick)
C — Matt Moore 12 run (Aaron Harris kick)
C — Bryson Wayne-Doyle 37 from Julian Sayin (Aaron Harris kick)
