CARLSBAD — Thirty minutes before second-ranked Carlsbad High School hosted Poway High School on Friday night, the thousands of spectators at Swede Krcmar Stadium craned their necks, tilting their heads skyward and began watching four members of the Patriot Parachute Team tumble to the turf.
Four minutes after leaping from a plane, Isaiah Maring delivered the game ball.
“Thank you,” Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal told the parachutists. “Thank you. We appreciate you so much.”
The song selected to play after the parachutists landed: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.”
The production was part of Red, White & Blue Night, as Carlsbad commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11. There was a red, white and blue balloon arch in front of the student section. Students painted their bodies red, white and blue.
The Carlsbad Police and Fire Departments were recognized, along with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. To honor the military, campus supervisor Roger Casanova, a former Marine staff sergeant, was honored.
It was a moving display of patriotism by a school that creates the section’s most electric high school football atmosphere.
A VIP section is roped off behind the west end zone where teachers and family members of the coaching staff set up beach chairs. Kids run about behind the adults. Seventy band members marched onto the field to play the national anthem. Hundreds of students from two local middle schools stood in front of the band and sang the anthem.
There were 70 cheerleaders, and 19 members of the Lancers Dancers.
But the heart and soul of Carlsbad’s energetic atmosphere is the student section, nicknamed The Loud Crowd. The students stand the entire game. D.J. style hip-hop and pop music is piped in. There’s a pyrotechnic smoke machine.
Sarah Zotian is in her first season as the school’s band director. She came from Virginia.
“Energetic, electric, community,” said Zoltian, describing the atmosphere. “It’s unlike anything I’ve seen.”
Late in the first half, Carlsbad led 14-7 on Darian Webb touchdown runs of 36 and 14 yards.
Carlsbad players watch as parachutists land on the field before their game at Carlsbad High School on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Carlsbad, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Peaceful flight
Asked what it’s like to fly through the sky, Maring, a former Navy SEAL, said, “It’s one of the most peaceful things you can imagine. It’s very calm. Once you pull the parachute, you just glide.”
End near?
MacNeal is in his 16th season as Carlsbad’s head coach and 21st season overall as a high school head coach. He admits he’s thinking about retiring. He will almost certainly coach through the 2027 season. Beyond that, hedge your bets.
“It’s coming, for sure,” said the 55-year-old MacNeal, who graduated from Carlsbad in 1989 and was the starting varsity quarterback for three years. “I’m on the back nine. I just feel like it’s coming to that time. I never thought I’d do it for 30 years. For me, it’s a seven-days-a-week, 350-days- (a-year) job. I live it and breathe it.”
MacNeal said he “made a commitment to some families” and that the graduating class of 2028 “is really good,” hinting that he’ll coach through next season.
His son Eli, a second-team All-CIF quarterback last season, is a freshman at Cornell. MacNeal would like to see him play in person. And he has multiple business interests. He’s owner of a Carlsbad restaurant, That Pizza Place, and co-commissioner of Friday Night Lights, an incredibly popular co-ed flag football program.
Poway’s Rowan Marcos #9 tackles Carlsbad’s Darian Webb #3 during their game at Carlsbad High School on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Carlsbad, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Missing a title
MacNeal’s record at Carlsbad is 117-54. He was 45-15 in five seasons at Long Beach Lakewood. That’s a 162-69 overall record, a .701 winning percentage.
The one thing missing: a section title.
At Carlsbad, he’s lost the Open Division championship game in 2019 (28-21 to Helix), 2021 (48-19 to Cathedral Catholic), 2022 (28-24 to Lincoln) and 2025 (20-16 to Cathedral Catholic).
“It’s a driving force, without a doubt,” MacNeal said of his quest to win a championship. “It’s something that motivates me every season, every moment as a head coach. I feel very, very blessed with the way my career has gone. But it gives you a reason to wake up every day.”
Did you know?
MacNeal issues equipment to the varsity and JV teams and washes the uniforms.
“It’s all encompassing,” he said of the job. “I’ve put my heart and soul into high school football. I think I’ve shown some pretty good commitment.”
Flight to catch
MacNeal and his wife were scheduled to catch an 8 a.m. Saturday flight to Austin to watch No. 1-ranked Ohio State play fourth-ranked Texas.
The Buckeyes are led by 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who played at Carlsbad. Former Lancer Rocky Cummings, last year’s CIF Defensive Player of the Year, is a freshman at Texas.
MacNeal said he’ll be rooting for Ohio State.
“Rocky’s a freshman. Julian is a Heisman candidate, on the No. 1 team in the country.” said MacNeal. “I want the Buckeyes to win a national championship.”
By the numbers
19 – Quarterbacks MacNeal has coached who have gone to four-year colleges.
45 – Volunteers needed for the Carlsbad snack bar.
$13,000 – Concession sales on a typical Carlsbad home game.
Food review?
Plenty of options. Burritos, pizza, Chick-fil-A, nachos, Handel’s ice cream. Opted for a staple: a hot dog. Soft bun, warm dog, two packets of mustard and one ketchup later, hot dog comes in with four belches on the five-belch meter.