CHULA VISTA — Sweetwater and Eastlake at one time dominated high school football in the South Bay. But across the last decade, there’s no debating the king of the south:

It’s Mater Dei Catholic.

The Crusaders won section titles in 2016, 2021 and 2022, capping those last two seasons with state championships.

Which made Mater Dei Catholic’s 0-6 start to this season stunning. The schedule was difficult, but still, it was the first time since 1991, when the school was Marian Catholic, that the Crusaders opened 0-6.

“The cool thing about the kids,” said Mater Dei Catholic head coach Rashard Cook, “is they’re super resilient. They just kind of keep on going.”

The Crusaders won two straight and at 2-6, 2-0 in the Metro Mesa League, faced 8-0, 2-0 Eastlake in a showdown at home Friday night.

There’s another number that illustrates Mater Dei Catholic South Bay dominance: 24. The Crusaders went into the game having won 24 straight games against South Bay teams.

“We’re kind of the underdog. It feels like we’re the underdog,” said Mater Dei defensive back/wide receiver Diego Mendoza. “The whole city’s counting us out. People at school are counting us out.”

But the Crusaders had one bit factor in their favor.

“South Bay football runs through Mater Dei Catholic,” said Cook. “We believe that.”

Early in the third quarter, Mater Dei led Eastlake 21-7.

Climbing the mountain

For years, before the team’s first summer practice, Eastlake football players have gathered at the base of San Miguel Mountain at 6 a.m., then trekked up the steep hill. It takes the players about 30 minutes to complete the climb. Coach Jose Mendoza admits the hike is taking him longer every year.

“This year, it took me 90 minutes,” he said.

Mendoza starts before the players. The players walk straight up the hill. Mendoza takes a zig-zag course.

“If I tried to walk straight up, they’d have to Life Flight me out of there,” joked Mendoza. “When the linemen pass me, I know I’m in trouble.”

Tight team

The mountain climb represents a bonding experience for the Titans. And Mendoza, in his seventh year as Eastlake’s coach, said this year’s team is particularly close.

“There’s a brotherhood, a sense of strong community,” Mendoza said. “They play for each other. You can preach togetherness, but they do actually hang out together.”

Another team-bonding experience for the Titans? On Thursday nights, the team gathers at a player’s home and shares dinner.

“It just brings us together,” said outside linebacker Jovani Ceja. “We’re not a team; we’re a family.”

Pilot, farmer

It was Senior Night at Mater Dei. The Crusaders’ 14 seniors were introduced and escorted to midfield by family members. The players recorded moving messages of thanks to their family and coaches, plus talked about lifelong goals.

Lineman, deep snapper Maddox Faiivae was one of the most creative seniors. He talked about playing football in college and professionally. Then his script read: “He also dreams of becoming a commercial pilot and one day retire and live on a farm.”

Limping and bummed

Eastlake was averaging 29.4 points through five games, and the team’s offensive identity was rugged senior running back David Bronco. Branco rushed for 973 yards, averaging 11.4 yards per carry and 194.6 yards per game. At 6 feet, 220 pounds, his style was punishing.

But Bronco suffered a left leg injury in the fifth game and hasn’t played since. He was on the sideline Friday, walking with a noticeable limp.

“It sucks,” said Bronco. “I’m glad my team’s still dominating, but I want to be out there, helping them out and finish my senior year.”

Bronco is hoping to be back for the playoffs.

Andy Reid influence

Cook is a Morse High product. He played four years at USC, starting three years at safety. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He was signed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles in September of 1999 and played four seasons with the Eagles.

Andy Reid was the Eagles’ coach, and Cook remembers the man now known as an offensive genius keeping a long list of rules. Some were standard: don’t be late, keep your locker clean, respect teammates.

One rule was a bit unusual. When the Eagles entered the cafeteria, they had to wear long-sleeved shirts.

Said Cook, “He didn’t want any armpit hairs in the food.”

Cook said he adopted the same kitchen-table rule for his family, which features four sons and a daughter. Short-sleeved shirts, though, are permitted in the Cook household.

By the numbers

5 — Coming into the game, Mater Dei Catholic had won five straight in the series against Eastlake.

10-10 — Despite Mater Dei’s streak, the teams split the first 20 games.

29.3 — Average margin of victory in the last 13 games in the rivalry.

Food review

We opted for the California Pizza Kitchen barbecue chicken pie. We’re gonzo CPK fans, but Friday night, the pizza needed to be left in the oven longer. Crust was too gooey, resulting in barbecue sauce dripping all over the place. Fortunately, we grabbed plenty of napkins. Three belches on five-belch scale.