Carlsbad and La Costa Canyon face their toughest opponents of the young season Friday, Sept. 11, when both programs host ranked teams in non-league play.
The Lancers (3-0), ranked No. 1 in the CIF San Diego Section and No. 15 in California by MaxPreps, welcome Poway (2-1, No. 12 CIF San Diego Section) at 7 p.m. Across town, La Costa Canyon (2-1, No. 34 in California) hosts No. 11 San Clemente (3-0) at 7 p.m.
Carlsbad vs. Poway
Carlsbad has outscored opponents 99-20 through three games, per MaxPreps. Senior running back Darian Webb is the engine. Webb ranks No. 17 in California in rushing yards with 477 through three games, according to the MaxPreps statewide leaderboard.
Webb's 263 rushing yards against El Camino topped his first two outings. He carried 15 times and scored three touchdowns in a 40-3 win on Friday, Sept. 4, earning San Diego Union-Tribune Athlete of the Week honors.
Quarterback Antonio D'Alessandro averages 164.5 passing yards per game, giving the Lancers balance behind Webb's ground attack. The defense has been just as dominant. Safety Thorne Parker leads the unit with 9.5 tackles per game, and linebacker Dylan Sims averages 2.0 sacks per game, per MaxPreps.
Poway brings a capable offense averaging 20.0 points and 309.0 total yards per game. Running back Carson Williams leads the Titans' ground game at 83.5 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Trenton Schrecker averages 109.5 passing yards per game.
La Costa Canyon vs. San Clemente
The Mavericks bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Clovis West (44-28 on Saturday, Aug. 29) with a 41-24 win over Del Norte on Friday, Sept. 4.
Junior linebacker George Collins drove that turnaround. Collins recorded 13 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown against Del Norte, according to the Union-Tribune. San Diego Football named him Defensive Player of the Week on X, listing 12 tackles in its post. The Union-Tribune reported 13.
@Daygofootball: "Collins was flying around the field, finishing with 12 tackles and 2 interceptions one which he returned for a Touchdown as the Mavericks defeated Del Norte."
San Clemente presents a different challenge. The Tritons are 3-0, ranked No. 11 in California by MaxPreps and No. 8 in the CIF Southern Section by Sports Illustrated. Quarterback Preston Beck scored three touchdowns in a 35-20 win over Chaparral on Friday, Sept. 4.
San Clemente linebacker Jack Weller signaled the Tritons' focus after that win.
@Jack_Weller42: "Eyes forward to La Costa Canyon this week."
Both games kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.
