In the last 72 high school football seasons, San Diego’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams have played each other just 16 times.
Friday’s game between top-ranked Carlsbad (6-0) and No. 2 Mission Hills (5-1) is the 17th. Of the previous 16, the No. 2 team holds an 11-5 advantage.
“This most certainly won’t be your run-of-the-mill high school football game,” said Mission Hills’ Thomas Altieri, who is in his first season as a head coach.
“It’s an Avocado West League game, and both teams want to be league champs. That has been our goal since the start of practice and we’re standing in each other’s way.
“It will have a major impact on playoff seeding. And it’s Homecoming for Carlsbad with a Drone Show planned.”
Mision Hills coach Thomas Altieri looks across the field as his team warms up for last week’s game vs. La Costa Canyon. (Charlie Neuman / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Aside from all that, it’s just another game — albeit one played between the teams ranked first and second in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s high school football poll, which is voted on by 32 sportswriters, sportscasters, former coaches and administrators.
“Carlsbad has size, speed and runs a great system,” Altieri said. “They run the ball really well. We’re excited to play the No. 1 team. And believe me, there is a reason Carlsbad is No. 1.”
Veteran Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal isn’t buying all the rhetoric.
“We’re not thinking about No. 1 vs. No. 2,” MacNeal said. “Both teams know what’s at stake. This is going to be a big challenge. We’ll have our hands full. We’ve got to play well; we can’t turn the ball over. It’s going to be a battle.”
Here’s a look at the previous matchups between No. 1 and No. 2, what happened and what it meant:
1954: San Diego 7, Hoover 0
What went down: Second-ranked San Diego upset No. 1 Hoover before 15,000 fans at Balboa Stadium in Week 8. Hoover’s John Adams had a 63-yard run, but was stopped at the 2 by Leonard Kay. John Collins was then stopped inches short of the end zone. The Cavers won their next two, but lost 14-13 to Santa Monica in the playoffs (San Diego was still part of the Southern Section) and finished 9-2.
1961: Helix 28, Grossmont 27
What went down: In the last game of the regular season, No. 1 Helix edged No. 2 Grossmont 28-27 to go 8-0. Helix lost the next week to Crawford in a playoff game in Aztec Bowl, which is now the site of Viejas Arena.
1969: Castle Park 24, Morse 0
What went down: In the opening game of the season, No. 2 Castle Park dazzled Morse by becoming the first San Diego team to wear white shoes. The 1968 County champion, Castle Park beat No. 1 Morse, the 1968 City champion. Morse finished the season 3-6. Castle Park was 10-0 before losing 35-33 to Escondido in the playoffs at Aztec Bowl.
1971: Patrick Henry 17, Grossmont 0
What went down: Playing the season opener in front of 8,500 fans at Aztec Bowl, No. 2 Henry upset Grossmont 17-0. The teams met again in the CIF championship game in San Diego Stadium, with Grossmont winning 8-7. Grossmont finished the season 9-3. Henry was 11-1.
1996: Vista 21, Morse 16
What went down: The CIF San Diego Section’s Division 1 championship game was delayed a week by rain and moved from Jack Murphy Stadium to Southwestern College, where No. 2 Vista upset No. 1 Morse. Vista finished 10-3. Morse, which outscored its opponents 436-64 with six shutouts, finished 12-1.
2012: Oceanside 56, La Costa Canyon 0
What went down: Second-ranked Oceanside proved it was the best team in the county with a lopsided win over No. 1 La Costa Canyon in Week 9. Oceanside went on to beat Poway 32-10 for the San Diego Section championship. William Gulley scored three touchdowns for Oceanside; Thai Cottrell ran for two as the Pirates scored six rushing TDs. Oceanside finished the season 12-1. LCC lost its next two and finished 7-4.
2013: Mission Hills 30, Oceanside 6
What went down: Second-ranked Mission Hills stunned No. 1 Oceanside in Week 5. Mission Hills forced six turnovers, three of them coming on interceptions by DeChaun Holiday.
2013: San Pasqual 13, Mission Hills 12 (2 OT)
What went down: Three weeks after playing No. 1 Oceanside, Mission Hills — now ranked No. 1 — lost to No. 2 San Pasqual when Cameron Miller made a 22-yard field goal. San Pasqual went to play in the Division 1 title game, losing 37-31 to Cathedral Catholic in Qualcomm Stadium and finishing 11-2.
2013: Mission Hills 36, Oceanside 14
What went down: For the second time in the season, No. 2 Mission Hills beat No. 1 Oceanside, this time in the Open Division championship game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mission Hills lost 35-28 the next week to Bakersfield in a Southern California Regional playoff game, finishing 12-2.
2014: Oceanside 42, Mission Hills 16
What went down: For the third time in two seasons, Oceanside and Mission Hills met as No. 1 vs. No. 2. This time, No. 2 Oceanside upset No. 1 Mission Hills in a Week 6 game. Matt Romero threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns. The teams in that year’s playoffs, with Oceanside winning 38-31 on the way to a 14-1 season. Mission Hills finished 9-3.
2017: Helix 26, Mission Hills 19
What went down: Second-ranked Helix upset No. 1 Mission Hills in the Open Division championship game. Quarterback Jack Tuttle, who went on to play at Michigan, and receiver Chris Olave, who played at Ohio State, led Mission Hills. Quarterback Carson Baker, who played at San Diego State and Morgan State, linebacker Michael Shawcorft, who played at San Diego State, and running back Elelyon Noa, who played at Boise State, were Helix’s headliners. Helix went on to beat Oaks Christian 28-13 in the Southern California Regionals, but lost 49-42 to Folsom in the state championship game at Sacramento State. Helix finished 13-2, scoring 621 points. Mission Hills finished 12-1.
2018: Cathedral Catholic 28, Torrey Pines 17
What went down: Second-ranked Cathedral Catholic upset No. 1 Torrey Pines in the Open Division title game. Shawn Poma rushed 28 times for 178 yards for Cathedral Catholic. The Dons went on to win a SoCal championship before losing to Folsom 24-21 in the state title game at Cerritos College. Cathedral Catholic finished 12-2. Torrey Pines was 10-1.
2019: Helix 44, St. Augustine 38
What went down: Top-ranked Helix edged No. 2 St. Augustine in Week 4 of the 2019 season. Elelyon Noa led Helix with 29 carries for 273 yards. The teams met in the San Diego Section Open Division semifinals, with Helix scoring 12 fourth-quarter points for a 12-7 win. Helix finished 11-2 after losing 38-20 to Sierra Canyon in the SoCal Regionals. St. Augustine finished 10-4.
2020: Cathedral Catholic 41, St. Augustine 14
What went down: In the COVID-19 tainted season, No. 1 Cathedral Catholic beat No. 2 St. Augustine in a showdown between the Catholic school rivals. Lucky Sutton carried 18 times for 192 yards for the Dons. Cathedral Catholic went on to go 5-0. The Saints were 2-2.
2022: Lincoln 28, Carlsbad 24
What went down: In one of the best Open Division championship games in San Diego history, No. 1 Lincoln rallied to beat No. 2 Carlsbad at Snapdragon Stadium. Lincoln won the game when KJ Chatham found Corey Thompson-Miller in the right flat for a pass. Thompson-Miller shook off a tackle, was spun around, broke free and ran 65 yards for a score. The Hornets beat Chatsworth Sierra Canyon to win the SoCal Regional title and topped Concord De La Salle to capture the 1-AA state championship. Lincoln finished 13-1. Carlsbad’s season ended at 10-2.
2024: Lincoln 27, Cathedral Catholic 7
What went down: Second-ranked Lincoln ran all over No. 1 Cathedral Catholic, rushing 51 times for 394 yards on the way to a Western League win. Junior Curtis carried 17 times for 173 yards and Aden Jackson carried 24 times for 154 yards. Lincoln limited Cathedral Catholic to 27 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Dons’ longest rush was seven yards. The teams met again five weeks later, with Lincoln prevailing 31-13 in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title game. Lincoln went on to beat Pittsburg for the Division 1-AA state title, and finished the season 12-2. Cathedral Catholic finished 9-3.