San Diego, CA
‘Ridiculously outstanding’ defense pushes Cathedral Catholic to shutout win over Helix
Losing at home is never a good feeling.
Last year, No. 2 Cathedral Catholic lost to Helix by two touchdowns at the Dons’ stadium on Del Mar Heights Road.
Nearly 12 months to the day later, Cathedral had different plans on the way to a 28-0 home victory Friday night.
“Our defense played ridiculously outstanding,” Dons coach Sean Doyle said after the game. “They play so hard and they’re starting to believe in each other across the board. They’re doing their jobs really well and our defensive front is tremendous. We have six guys up there that can play and put pressure on the quarterback.”
Senior Luke Westfall had the team’s lone sack on the second defensive set, while junior cornerback Aidan Smith-McGlynn intercepted a pass on Helix’s first drive of the second half.
The Dons took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, when quarterback Brady Palmer found fellow junior Hunter Harrington for a 67-yard touchdown.
In the second half, Palmer found Harrington two more times in the end zone.
After a Helix targeting penalty that got the Dons into the red zone, Palmer found Harrington for a 14-yard score to make it 14-0.
Six minutes later, the two hooked up again. This time, it was a 12-yard touchdown pass that made it 21-0.
“Me and Brady have been working hard ever since he stepped on the field for us,” Harrington said. “We’re working hard in practice, working on our routes, working on staying crisp.
“Tonight, it all paid off.”
Palmer completed 12 of 24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball four times for 62 yards.
Harrington caught five passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
Doyle said the connection between Palmer and Harrington began long before Week 1.
“It’s 7-on-7 in the summer,” Doyle said. “We’ve had a handful of games of them together to get that timing down and the belief and all that stuff. So, it’s starting to happen like we thought it would happen.”
Cathedral sealed the game with four minutes left, when senior Jake Funderburg scored a 64-yard touchdown run.
Funderburg had 12 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Solomon added seven carries for 34 yards as a fullback.
“Jake Funderberg, Jonathan Solomon, they run the ball hard, which made (Helix) condense, and they put everybody in the box,” Doyle said. “That put Hunter and our other receivers in a one-on-one situation most of the time.”
Helix was led by senior running back Isaiah Jackson, who had 21 carries for 86 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Braylen Ross led the way with four receptions for 40 yards.
Both teams are idle next week. On Oct. 4, Helix hosts Huntington Beach Edison while Cathedral opens Western League play against rival St. Augustine at Mesa College.
No. 2 Cathedral Catholic 28, Helix 0
Helix 0 0 0 0 — 0
Cathedral Catholic 7 0 7 14 — 28
C — Harrington 67 pass from Palmer (Eastlack kick)
C — Harrington 14 pass from Palmer (Eastlack kick)
C — Harrington 12 pass from Palmer (Eastlack kick)
C — Funderburg 64 run (Eastlack kick)
RAMONA (CNS) – Four rare western spotted skunks were released back in the wild after weeks of rehabilitation and socialization at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, officials announced Wednesday.
The successful release marks a major milestone for a species rarely seen in wildlife rehabilitation. The group included one orphaned skunk that was flown more than 400 miles by Flying Tails Animal Rescue from Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Northern California to join an orphaned group in Ramona, according to the SDHS.
The four skunks were returned to a carefully selected, remote habitat in Valley Center after reaching the necessary weight and developmental milestones to thrive on their own.
Western spotted skunks are a rare sight for the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team. While the wildlife center typically handles hundreds of striped skunks each year, admitting six spotted skunks from different litters in one season is unusual. Spotted skunks are generally found in remote forested areas and are not as common in urban neighborhoods, officials said.
“We have never seen this many western spotted skunks in a single season before,” said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Because they are more reclusive than striped skunks, they require very specific care and even more secluded release sites to ensure they can stay wild.”
Socialization is critical for orphaned spotted skunks. During their stay at the Ramona Wildlife Center, the group became a bonded unit — exploring, digging and sleeping together, according to SDHS officials. Experts say these social cues prevent habituation to humans and teach the orphans natural skunk behaviors.
While four members of the group have returned to the wild, two spotted skunks remain in care at the facility. The smallest skunk was moved to an outside pre-release habitat and introduced to a slightly older skunk in late June.
Wildlife officials said by keeping the pair together, the wildlife team ensures the younger skunk will have a companion to learn from until they are both ready to be released, likely within the next month or two.
Anyone who finds an injured, sick or orphaned wild animal is encouraged to visit sdhumane.org/wildlifehelp or call 619-299-7012.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 33-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 325 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two 6-year-old girls, in addition to a slew of other felony sex abuse charges, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Christopher T. Gardner was convicted of 15 felony sex abuse charges, which included molesting the two girls, who were relatives of his, over a five-year period.
The abuse reportedly first came to light when one of the victims told a friend in confidence during a sleepover that she had been touched inappropriately. The friend then told her mother, who contacted law enforcement.
After Gardner was arrested, a third victim came forward, who was also a relative. Now a young adult, the victim said that when she was 7-8 years old, Gardner sexually assaulted her.
During the nine-day trial, the first two victims reportedly testified to multiple vulgar acts of sexual abuse by Gardner.
“Predators who rob children of their innocence and inflict lifelong trauma do not belong in our communities,” DA Summer Stephan said. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message to abusers: you will be held accountable. I am deeply grateful to our specialized sexual abuse prosecution team for their dedication in bringing a measure of justice to the survivors.”
Thursday, July 9
• La Jolla Town Council: 6 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. lajollatowncouncil.org
Friday, July 10
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
• Kiwanis Club of La Jolla: noon, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. kiwanisclublajolla.org
Sunday, July 12
• La Jolla Open Aire Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Girard Avenue at Genter Street. (858) 454-1699. lajollamarket.com
Monday, July 13
• La Jolla Library Book Club: 1:30 p.m., Community Room, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The July book is “Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valérie Perrin. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=316631
• La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
• Laughmasters Toastmasters: 6:30 p.m., online. Email jrmmt@cox.net.
Tuesday, July 14
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Hensel Phelps Construction Co., 9404 Genesee Ave. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• Rotary Club of La Jolla: noon, La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St. rotarycluboflajolla.org
• Co-op Toastmasters Club: noon, online at bit.ly/46W13bx (meeting ID: 849 4320 0407, passcode: cccu2020). (669) 900-6833. toastmasters.org/find-a-club/00001125-coop-club
• La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Wednesday, July 15
• Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club: noon, online. torreypinesrotary.org
• La Jolla Shores Association: 6 p.m., Martin Johnson House, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. lajollashoresassociation.org
Thursday, July 16
• La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club: 6:58 a.m., La Jolla Shores Hotel, 8110 Camino del Oro. Call Cheryl Collins at (760) 936-3272 or Steve Cross at (619) 992-9449.
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sanford Burnham Prebys (patio outside Buildings 6 and 7), 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Friday, July 17
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
Did we miss listing your community event? Email calendar information to Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Thursday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦
-
Utah2 minutes agoTurn your miles into meals
-
Vermont5 minutes agoPoll: Most young Vermonters say they’re likely to leave state amid affordability concerns – VTDigger
-
Virginia10 minutes agoMEOC Organization hosts annual summer picnic for Southwest Virginia seniors
-
Washington17 minutes agoFuture uncertain for site of former Mount Washington church destroyed in massive fire
-
Wisconsin20 minutes agoSouth Milwaukee, Wisconsin, officials in standoff with homeowner over year-round skeleton display
-
West Virginia25 minutes agoWest Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez wants to save college football. Here’s his pitch:
-
Wyoming32 minutes agoCathy Holman named 2026 Mick & Susie McMurry Cowboy Code Try Award recipient
-
Crypto35 minutes agoLAB Token Crashes 80% to $1.25 as $5B Market Cap Vanishes in 48 Hours
