To the victor go the spoils.

Cathedral Catholic High School, the CIF San Diego Section Open Division champion, swept all 30 first-place ballots in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s final football poll of the 2025 season.

The Dons, who came from 16 points down to edge Carlsbad 20-16 in the Open Division title game, were No. 2 at the start of the playoffs.

This season, only two other teams — Lincoln and Mission Hills — were voted No. 1. Lincoln held the top spot for 10 weeks, receiving all 30 first-place votes twice. Mission Hills was No. 1 twice.

Carlsbad finishes the season 10-2 and No. 2 in the county. The Lancers were No. 5 at the start of the playoffs.

Granite Hills, the San Diego Section Division 1 champion, is 10-3 and No. 3. The Eagles host Oxnard Pacifica on Saturday. Granite Hills was No. 6 at the start of the playoffs.

Mission Hills (9-2), the No. 1 team at the start of the playoffs, falls to No. 4, with La Costa Canyon finishing No. 5.

Lincoln (10-3) is No. 6 after losing to Granite Hills in the San Diego Section Division 1 championship game.

Santa Fe Christian (13-0), the San Diego Section Division 2 champion, is the only new team to the Top 10, placing No. 8.

San Diego Union-Tribune High School Football Poll

(First-place votes in parentheses; points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)

Team/Record/Points/Last 

1. Cathedral Catholic (30); 10-2; 300; 2

2. Carlsbad; 10-2; 259; 5

3. Granite Hills; 10-3; 226;6

4. Mission Hills; 9-2; 201;1

5. La Costa Canyon; 9-2; 187; 3

6. Lincoln; 10-3; 158;4

7. San Marcos; 7-5; 102; 8

8. Santa Fe Christian;13-0;64;NR

9. Point Loma;11-1;63;7

10. Mount Miguel; 8-4; 61;10

Others receiving votes: Christian (7-7, 9 points), Oceanside (7-5, 8 points), Valley Center (7-6, 5 points), Steele Canyon (9-4, 3 points), Holtville (9-2, 1 point), Mission Bay (11-1, 1 point), Morse (9-4, 1 point), Rancho Bernardo (8-3, 1 point).

Voters: 30 sportswriters, sportscasters and administrators from throughout the San Diego Section: John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune), Don Norcross, Kevin Farmer, Rick Hoff, Steve Brand (Union-Tribune freelance writers), Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez (CIF Office), Brandon Stone, Allison Edmonds, John Carroll, Chase Izidoro (KUSI-TV), Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com), Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan), Mike Dolan (Coaching Legends Committee), Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference Advisor), Joe Evangelist, Rex Johnson and Bruce Ward (CIF Advisory Committee), Raymond Brown (sdfootball.net), Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association), Bodie DeSilva, John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve Dolan, Eric Williams, Thomas Gutierrez, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors), MaxPreps.