Reigning San Diego Open Division champion and state 1-AA runner-up Cathedral Catholic finally got its season underway Friday night, but the No. 11 Dons couldn’t hold a halftime lead against No. 9 Orange Lutheran, falling 38-24 at Manchester Stadium.
Cathedral’s season-opening matchup came a week later than planned after the Dons had difficulty finding a Week 1 opponent. Orange Lutheran entered the game having already played, coming off a narrow 23-22 loss to Central of Florida. The teams hadn’t met since Cathedral’s 71-62 victory over the Lancers in the 2021 Division 1-AA Southern California Regional playoffs.
The biggest subplot surrounding the matchup centered on Dons standout linebacker and bell-cow running back Honor Fa’alave-Johnson. Earlier this year, Fa’alave-Johnson, then a junior, said every school in the Trinity League had offered him housing, tuition and other expenses to transfer for his senior season. Orange Lutheran is one of the league’s six schools.
Had the offers Fa’alave-Johnson described been made by a CIF member school, they could have constituted “undue influence,” the CIF’s term for recruiting athletes through financial or material inducements. CIF Bylaw 510 prohibits such inducements when used to influence a student’s enrollment, transfer or decision to remain at a school for athletic purposes.
At the time, Orange Lutheran’s administration denied having any contact with Fa’alave-Johnson or his family, saying: “Orange Lutheran has not had any communication with this student or his family. We wish him well. As a CIF member school we follow its bylaws to the letter and do not offer athletes incentives or scholarships at Orange Lutheran.”
In March, Fa’alave-Johnson committed to USC.
“I’m going to work hard my senior year, but everyone expects me to be at a higher standard after [the commitment],” Fa’alave-Johnson said. “I want to start strong and show what I’m going to do in college. I also want to take that leadership role, be a better player and teammate. Hopefully, we go all the way and win a championship.”
On Friday night, Fa’alave-Johnson found the end zone twice, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, as the Dons took a 14-10 lead into halftime.
Cathedral nearly carried an even bigger advantage into the locker room. Wide receiver and San Diego State commit Isaac Cook took a pass from quarterback Koa Smith-Mayall and raced down the left sideline before being ruled out at the 1-yard line.
A review of the footage appeared to show Cook staying inbounds, but the ruling stood. With Cathedral having already used its timeouts, Orange Lutheran stopped the Dons on three consecutive plays and escaped the half trailing by only four.
The Lancers made that escape matter immediately. Orange Lutheran scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 17-14 lead, and although Cathedral answered with a touchdown, the Lancers continued to trade punches with the Dons.
Orange Lutheran regained the lead in the fourth quarter, Cathedral tied it with a field goal, and the Lancers went back in front on a short touchdown run with 66 seconds remaining. Cathedral’s final chance ended with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown, sealing the 38-24 Orange Lutheran victory.
Despite the loss, senior running back Willie Flores remains confident in the Dons’ ability to make another run at the Open Division title. Flores, who forms a potent backfield combination with Fa’alave-Johnson, pointed to the team’s leadership and work ethic heading into the season.
“I’m feeling really good about the season at the moment,” Flores told The Coast News. “We’ve got a lot of great leadership on this team this year, a lot of guys who are ready to compete. We have some new faces on the offensive line, but overall, these guys have been working hard throughout the summer and year-round. We’re ready to defend our title.”
Flores said his own role is simple: be ready whenever the Dons call his number.
“When I have the ball in my hand, when I’m running the ball, just try to make the best of it,” Flores said. “When I need to make a good block, make a good block. But overall, when my number is called, I just need to be ready.”
Cathedral will have little time to dwell on the loss. The Dons travel to Chandler, Arizona, next Friday, Sept. 4, for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Chandler High School.
North County Scoreboard
- Carlsbad 35, Oceanside 0
- Santa Fe Christian 42, Steele Canyon 14
- Mission Hills 35, Quartz Hill 0
- Great Oak 27, San Marcos 21
- Olympian 33, Vista 20
- Rancho Buena Vista 35, Sweetwater 14
- Classical Academy 42, Escondido 0
- Torrey Pines 42, San Pasqual 13
- Chino Hills 23, El Camino 10
- Clovis West 44, La Costa Canyon 28
- Army Navy Academy 30, South San Diego 27
