NO. 1 DONS, NO. 2 SAINTS ARE READY
Holy Bowl will be a little different this time, but intensity will remain high
No tailgating. No high-end luau. No Senior Dance. Limited seating.
If you think missing all the periphery because of COVID precautions that make the annual Holy Bowl football game between rivals Cathedral Catholic and St. Augustine special will take away from tonight’s game, guess again.
“The atmosphere will be a little different, but it will still be crazy,” said St. Augustine senior quarterback Richard Colmenero. “This is one of the best rivalries in the nation.
“All of the outside stuff is part of the tradition, and it would be nice to have a huge crowd, but it doesn’t detract in the least.”
In a series that started in 1967, Cathedral Catholic leads 35-21, including victories in the last two.
What makes this game even more special its that it pits No. 2-ranked St. Augustine (2-0) against No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (2-0).
This is only the 13th time since 1956 that San Diego’s No. 1-ranked team has played No. 2.
Cathedral has beaten preseason No. 6 Torrey Pines (41-0) and No. 9 Steele Canyon (49-0) by a combined score of 90-0. The only other time Cathedral opened the season with two shutouts was 1973 when the Dons blanked La Jolla (13-0) and Marian Catholic (20-0).
The Dons lost the third game that season to St. Augustine, 16-3.
St. Augustine shocked preseason
No. 1 Helix (21-13) and also defeated Madison (24-7).
Tonight was scheduled as a St. Augustine home game, but Mesa College — the Saints’ home field — isn’t available.
So Cathedral Catholic is hosting, giving St. Augustine 300 tickets. Cathedral will be limited to about 400.
“Sean Doyle (Cathedral Catholic) has been great about it,” said St. Augustine coach Joe Kremer.
“Since we don’t have a home field this season, it’s going to be Senior Night for both teams ... players, cheerleaders. That’s an awesome move on Cathedral’s part to let us honor our seniors.”
In addition, Doyle suggested both teams wear their home uniforms.
So the Saints will be in purple, the Dons in Red in what the players are calling a “Color Rush.”
Plus, long-time Cathedral baseball Dick Serrano, who passed away last week at 81, will be honored before the game. Serrano graduated from St. Augustine.
“The biggest thing is to control our emotions,” said Colmenero, who took over at quarterback in last year’s Holy Bowl and helped the Saints to wins over Madison and Point Loma before a playoff loss to Helix. “As the quarterback, I have to keep my composure. We have a young team, and the guys look to me for leadership.
“I always watch a lot of film. Quarterbacks study film. That’s what we do. But you study a little more this week.
“Good or bad, up 14 or down 14, it’s about the next play. I know our team can compete, and it’s up to me to put us in a position to succeed.”
Last year, Cathedral overcame a 14-0 deficit to post a 35-14 win.
“For sure last year was an experience,” said Saints junior linebacker/tight end Justin Stearns, who started as a sophomore. “It was a huge stage. I love big games. Big games are where you prove yourself. And this is a huge game. Rivalry games make things more challenging. They’re way more intense.
“Cathedral is very good, and I know they’ll come right at us. So we have to stay disciplined.”
Saints junior receiver/free safety Grant Gauthier will be starting his first Holy Bowl. And he’s totally focused. “My parents will read this and I hope they’re not upset, but this is the one week where football is the priority over school,” Gauthier said. “Absolutely, I’m more focused. I’m watching more film. I can’t let my emotions run wild. I have to dial it back a bit. I’m a little nervous, but once we start hitting, I’ll be fine.”
Cathedral senior defensive back and return specialist Dee’Shon Swafford will be starting his third Holy Bowl.
Oddly, he says he’ll miss the Saints’ student section.
“There is a different energy when we play St. Augustine,” Swafford said. “Their student section is the best. They yell and scream. They jump around. And it seems like they always break the bleachers.
“Rivalries like this bring out the best in everyone. You have to stay focused and use that energy to your advantage.”
Swafford has another motivation tonight.
He was especially close to Mario Fierro, Cathedral’s special teams coach who died earlier this year.
“This was Coach Fierro’s favorite game,” Swafford said. “I’d like to honor him with something special.”