CHULA VISTA — Everyone around San Diego County is familiar with the load of talented transfers on the Cathedral Catholic roster this season.
The Dons seem to need them very much in the season opener.
With most of Cathedral Catholic’s dozen transfers out of uniform because of CIF eligibility rulings, the returning Dons looked unstoppable by themselves. They ran out to a 21-point lead and held on for a 56-28 non-league victory over host Mater Dei Catholic Friday night.
“Maybe we don’t need them that much,” joked senior running back Jake Funderburg, who exploded for 180 yards on 24 carries. “No, really, we’re going to be really awesome when we get them back; we already are.”
Cathedral opened the game by driving 80 yards in eight plays, with Funderburg carrying it in on a pitch left for the 7-0 lead with 7:06 left in the first quarter.
“I’m sure this is it,” said Funderburg if this was his best game as a running back. “Last year I was more the designated blocker in the backfield. so this felt really good.”
The Dons held Mater Dei without a first down on their first possession, then matched back for another score. A 30-yard Funderburg run set up a 27-yard Tyler Duong to Hunter Harrington touchdown pass with 1:49 left in the quarter.
Cathedral, ranked No. 2 in the county and coming off a disappointing 4-8 season, upped the lead to 21-0 as senior Jonothan Solomon powered in from the 13.
Solomon added 116 yards rushing to the Dons’ attack on just 10 carries. He scored a pair of touchdowns.
With the half running out, Mater Dei Catholic exploded behind talented quarterback Kartell Purvis. In the last 2:21 of the half, Purvis hit Noah Ellingson and Larell Parker for TD passes of 28 and 38 yards, respectively, to cut Cathedral’s lead to 21-14 at the half.
Purvis finished the night completing 9-of-11, for 173 yards the three TDs.
Mater Dei Catholic’s Matthew Carr shocked everyone to start the second half, returning the kickoff 100 yards to tie the game. Carr, who runs an 11.3-second 100 in track, went the length of the field after looking like he was going to stopped inside the 20.
Cathedral responded impressively, scoring 35 straight points to clinch the victory.
“Everything you heard about us this season so far was all about the transfers,” said Cathedral coach Sean Doyle. “Our kids came out to play. Our strength will be on our O-line and D-lines, and they did the job.”
Among those waiting on the sideline for CIF approval included St. Augustine transfer Brady Palmer, who a year ago threw for 2,499 yards and 23 touchdowns. Duong filled in quite admirably, completing 8 of 9 passes for 203 yards and a pair of TDs, both to Harrington.
Purvis ended his night by completing a 28-yard TD to Isaiah Cook with 5:20 left on the running clock.
Cathedral Catholic 56, Mater Dei Catholic 28
Cathedral Catholic — 14 7 21 0 – 0Mater Dei Catholic — 0 14 7 7 — 28
CC — Funderburg 1 run (Eastlack kick)
CC — Harrington 27 pass from Duong (Eastlack kick)
CC — Solomon 13 run (Eastlack kick)
MD — Ellington 28 pass from Purvis (Medonza kick)
MD — Parker 38 pass from Purvis (Medonza kick)
MD — Carr 100-yard kick-off return (Medonza kick)
CC — Letuligasenoa 2 run (Eastlack kick)
CC — Solomon 9 run (Eastlack kick)
CC — Harrington 68 pass from Duong (Eastlack kick)
CC — Duong 9 run (Eastlack kick)
CC — Westfall 5-yard blocked punt return (Eastlack kick)
MD — Cook 28 pass from Purvis (Medonza kick)
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