Mater Dei Catholic once again tops Metro Conference football rankings in search of third consecutive state title With back-to-back state championships under their cleats, it will be interesting to see what the Mater Dei Catholic football team has planned for an encore this season. The Crusaders kick off the new season Friday with a non-league spectacular at Cathedral Catholic High School, annually a measuring stick in the San Diego Section. The defending Metro-Mesa League champions remain on the road for an Aug. 26 elite match-up against the Carlsbad Lancers before playing their home opener Sept. 7 against the Lincoln Hornets. Lincoln defeated Carlsbad to win last year’s Open Division championship before going on to capture the Division 1-AA state championship. The Crusaders claimed last year’s Division 2-AA state title. Following the opening three-game foray, Mater Dei Catholic head coach John Joyner will have a very good idea if his team has what it takes to challenge for another section title and beyond. The Crusaders started last season 0-4 before finishing the season in dominating fashion with an 11-0 rush that included a thrilling 34-29 win over Mission Hills for the Division I championship and final 11-4 record. Lincoln kicks off the 2023 season as the section’s top-ranked team, followed by No. 2 Carlsbad, No. 3 Granite Hills and No. 4 Mater Dei Catholic. Rounding out the top 10 are No. 5 Madison, No. 6 Mission Hills, No. 7 Cathedral Catholic, No. 8 Helix, No. 9 El Camino, No. 10 Poway. Eastlake is the only other Metro Conference team in the top 25 section rankings to start the season at No. 22. Defending Metro-South Bay League champion Montgomery enters the season at No. 44, followed by Otay Ranch at No. 52, defending Metro-Pacific League champion Chula Vista at No. 57, Bonita Vista at No. 62, Hilltop at No. 63, Mar Vista at No. 65, Sweetwater at No. 68, Olympian at No. 69, Castle Park at No. 71, San Ysidro at No. 78 and Southwest at No. 80. A total