PRE-GAME INTRO: In the first round of the Western Division CIF-ss Ford Championships, Cathedral travels to Santa Barbara High for tonight’s game.
The Dons get the home game as a reward for winning the Channel League. Their opponent is not a walkover by any means, compiling an equal season record to Santa Barbara’s at 8-2.
The Phantoms are know for their passing attack, led by LSU committ Hayden Rettig at quarterback.
The two teams did not play any common opponents during the regular season.
FOURTH QUARTER
0:00 – Hayden Retigg takes a knee near the Santa Barbara 20 yard line to end the game. Final score: Cathedral 28 Santa Barbara 23.
2:39 – Cathedral receives the kick and constructs a time consuming drive towards the Santa Barbara end zone. Despite the late boost from an impressive drive by Paez, Santa Barbara’s defense cannot stop the Phantoms and the clock ticks closer to zero.
6:44 – Brent Paez replaces James Hale at quarterback, and shows he can move the ball. He completes a 10 yard pass to Cunningham pushing the ball to the 50 yard line. On the next play Paez throws deep to James Stevens for a huge touchdown. The Dons go for 2 but cannot convert. Cathedral leads 28 – 23.
8:43 – A short kick gives the Phantoms good field position, but the Dons stifle a run by Holliday in the backfield and Rettig throws 2 incompletions. Cathedral punts the ball back to the Santa Barbara 23.
9:47 – Cunningham returns the ball to the 50 yard line for Santa Barbara and bulldozes his way to the 32 on five consecutive runs, but can get no farther. Hernandez sets up for a 49 yard field goal and easily sends the ball sailing through the uprights. Santa Barbara starts to close the gap. Cathedral leads 28 – 17.
11:39 – Cathedral uses their passing game to drive to the 37, but Retigg can’t find a receiver on third or fourth down. The Phantom’s choice to risk a turnover of fourth down pays off when Retigg throws for 37 yard touchdown to Scott. Cathedral extends their lead to 28 – 14.
THIRD QUARTER
1:52 – Santa Barbara takes the ball at their own 20, but can’t move the ball forward. The Phantom defense pushes the Dons back to the 15 and force a punt. Cathedral takes of with 50 seconds left in the quarter at their 42.
3:50 – Cathedral manages to incur 3 illegal procedure penalties and a sack in 3 downs, but Retigg is able to pass for another touchdown from the 21 yard line. The Phantoms are conservative and successfully kick the extra point. Cathedral is beginning to look stronger despite their penalties, taking their first lead of the game 21 – 14.
5:04 – Cathedral takes over at their own 35. Retigg gets to work quickly and passes to Jerry Martin for 15 yards. On second down Retigg connects with Cameron Akins who makes a spectacular one handed catch at the 10 yard line.
7:24 – The Dons’ golden uniforms are not able to help them get a first down and they are forced to punt after 3 failed plays and 2 penalties.
8:10 – Jalen Commadore stops a screen play at the line of scrimmage but Rettig makes a 15 yard pass to Cameron Akins on 3rd down. Two plays later Rettig completes a pass, but Jason Jimenez strips the ball away from the receiver and gives the ball back to Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara and Cathedral still tied 14 -14.
10:30 – Cunningham is stopped near the line twice, before Hale throws an incomplete pass. Hernandez punts into the end zone, giving Cathedral possession at their own 20.
11:50 – James Stevens returns the kick-off for the Dons to the 50 yard line, setting up good field position for the beginning of the second half. A Cathedral player is down near the visitor’s sideline.
SECOND QUARTER
00:03 – The Santa Barbara defense manages to stop the Phantoms from advancing, but a late hit following an incomplete pass gives the Cathedral offense a chance for a hail mary, though they are unable to score again before the half ends. Santa Barbara and Cathedral are tied 14 -14.
00:56 – Three failed plays by Santa Barbara leave them out of reach of a first down and the Dons punt from mid field.
2:36 – Another good punt by Hernandez leaves Cathedral in poor field position. Martaveous Holliday runs 12 yards on a counter, but a coach from Cathedral gets involved in an altercation with the referee leading to a penalty and a loss of downs. The dispute with the referee pushes the offense behind their own 10 yard line and Cathedral is forced to punt.
4:57 – A short run by Cheroke Cunningham, a 4 yard pass to Rudy Corrales and a direct snap to Polo Torres leaves Santa Barbara 9 yards short of the first down and they are forced to punt. leaves Cathedral in poor field position.
6:53 – The Santa Barbara defense responds well and, with the help of 2 consecutive penalties against the Phantoms, push Cathedral to their own 1. Cathedral punts the ball back to mid-feild.
9:31 – James Hale makes an impressive run for a first down, but the Phantom defense is able to force the Dons to punt the ball away. Santa Barbara punter Alberto Hernandez pins Cathedral behind their own 10 yard line.
FIRST QUARTER
00:21 – Hayden Rettig leads another time consuming scoring drive for Cathedral. The Dons nearly stop the drive early, forcing the Phantoms to try for a fourth down, but Rettig completes a 5 yard pass to Da’Mari Scott for a first down. Another short pass to Scott results in a touchdown for Cathedral. They choose to go for 2 again but this time Rettig is able to get to the corner and tie the score 14 -14.
4:51 – Cheroke Cunningham returns the ball to the Cathedral 40 yard line. An incomplete pass and a delay of game penalty put the Dons at 3rd and 16, but Hale runs for to the sideline for a first down. The Phantoms are able to hold Santa Barbara for three more plays and Santa Barbara misses a 40 yard field goal.
7:42 – The Phantoms score after a long drive from their own 20 yard line. Two penalties against SB save Cathedral from difficult third down situations. Rettig capitalizes on Santa Barbara’s mistakes and completes a 17 yard pass to Jerry Martin. Martaveous Holliday takes the ball 30 yards and nearly scores, but a holding penalty brings them back to the 25. The phantoms are able to regroup from the penalty and Rettig throws a 24 yard touchdown to Da’Mari Scott. Surprisingly Cathedral chooses to go for 2 but fails. Santa Barbara maintains their lead 14 – 6.
10:21 – Santa Barbara gets its offense on the field after forcing a three and out. Quarterback James Hale skips to the outside for a 4 yard gain, followed by a 54 TD yard run by Rudy Corrales. Santa Barbara leads 14 – 0.
11:54 – Cathedral wins the coin toss and elects to receive. Alberto Hernandez kicks for Santa Barbara. After an incomplete pass Hayden Rettig hands off to Tory McTyer but the Dons force a fumble in the backfield. Jalen Commadore scoops the ball and runs easily into the end zone. Santa Barbara takes the lead 7-0.
