For only the second time in 2006 when California began its State Bowl Championship Series, a state title game needed overtime. Cathedral Catholic, ranked #5 in the latest High School Football America California Top 25, beat #6 St. Mary’s of Stockton 38-35 in overtime Friday in the CIF Division 1-AA title game to cap a perfect 15-0 season.
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC WINS CALIFORNIA STATE TITLE!! #D1Bound SALUTE! Dons are State Champs! 38-35 over St. Mary’shttps://t.co/IcjOEkazff pic.twitter.com/POOZvZt4c1
— #D1Bound Nation. (@SportsRecruits) December 17, 2016
St. Mary’s (14-2) appeared to have the championship under wraps with a 14-point fourth quarter lead, but the Dons stormed back and actually took a 35-28 lead when Tate Haynes tossed a 77-yard TD pass to Jack Thompson with 1:25 to go in the game. St. Mary’s only needed 40-seconds to tie it up at 35-35 when Jake Dunniway threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Jenkins.
After Cathedral Catholic stuffed St. Mary’s at the goal in overtime, the Dons won it when Liam King connected on a 20-yard field goal.
Haynes completed 18 of 28 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns for Cathedral, while St. Mary’s Dunniway completed 31 of 46 passes for 411 yards with four touchdowns.
In 2008, Cathedral Catholic beat St. Mary’s 37-34 in the Division II state championship.
