Football | 9/1/2025 2:17:00 PM

Just one week after starting the season with a 52 - 7 victory over Mater Dei Catholic, Cathedral Catholic football delivered another impressive performance on the road Friday night, defeating St. Francis of Mountain View 35 - 7. What was expected to be a more challenging test for the Dons turned into yet another display of balance, depth, and explosive playmaking.

The Dons started strong as quarterback Brady Palmer '25 connected with Honor Faalave '27 on a 44-yard swing pass, which the junior turned into a spectacular touchdown down the sideline. Palmer and Faalave teamed up again on the team's second possession, culminating in an 80-yard drive. This time, Palmer found Parker Johnson '25 for a six-yard touchdown pass, giving Cathedral a 14 - 0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

St. Francis momentarily gained momentum with a touchdown in the second quarter after recovering an onside kick, but the Dons quickly answered back. Johnson electrified the crowd with a spectacular 98-yard kickoff return, weaving through defenders for a crushing score. Just minutes later, Palmer and Johnson connected once more, this time for an impressive 80-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead to 28 - 7 before halftime.

Cathedral's defense and special teams remained strong in the second half, while Palmer added a final highlight with a 19-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to secure a 35 - 7 victory.

Palmer, a Cal commit and one of several Division I bound quarterbacks in San Diego this year, showcased an impressive performance, finishing with 260 passing yards and three touchdown passes, along with a rushing touchdown. Johnson was a standout player for the game, accumulating 216 all-purpose yards, two touchdown receptions, and a 98-yard kickoff return. Faalave contributed with 111 total yards and a receiving touchdown, while Willie Flores, a junior, added balance to the offense with 100 rushing yards on 19 carries.

On the defensive side, the Dons were led by Kevin Clark '27, who recorded 10 tackles, and Bronx Letuligasenoa '26, who made eight stops. They effectively held the Lancers scoreless after the early part of the second quarter.

For head coach Sean Doyle, the victory marked career win No. 241, tying legendary Point Loma coach Bennie Edens on the all-time California wins list. "There's a lot to work on, but I really like all aspects of this team," Doyle said. "The special teams had four touchdowns last week, and we had another one tonight. I'm super happy about that."

Palmer, who has led Cathedral to back-to-back dominant wins to open the season, pointed to the team's new offensive system and renewed motivation after last year's championship loss to Lincoln. "We just want to keep up the momentum every week," Palmer said. "We've been installing a new offense and it's been great. We have all the bits and pieces to go all the way."

Johnson, Palmer, Faalave, and Letuligasenoa share a long history, having all started together as freshmen at St. Augustine before transferring to Cathedral Catholic. That bond has become central to the Dons' success. "PJ has been my best friend since freshman year, and we have a special connection," Palmer added. "This was a test for our O-line because they are a really physical squad. We're going to need that same kind of play later against Lincoln and De La Salle."

The Dons' path ahead is loaded with marquee matchups. Next week, they host Arizona powerhouse Chandler High, followed by a Bay Area showdown with De La Salle on October 3, and a late-season clash against defending state champion Lincoln on October 24.

For now, Cathedral Catholic has proven it belongs among California's elite once again, pairing explosive talent with discipline and toughness across all three phases. As Johnson put it, "If we keep our heads down, we can keep our competitive level high. This week showed what we're capable of."