Jaulon Clavo was an effective cornerback on the Grant of Sacramento football team, which has been in the State Top 25 this season. He died on Friday from a gunshot wound to the neck, according to the Sacramento Bee. He and four others in a car were shot at while heading back to the school. Grant’s scheduled playoff game vs. Beyer of Modesto was postponed and rescheduled for Monday. Photo: @CarlReedGHS (Twitter.com).
After collecting the results of these teams, it begs the question of what’s better in first-round section playoff games: playing and slaughtering a mismatched opponent or just taking a bye. The only ranked team to play and lose was No. 23 Chaminade, but its loss was to No. 2 Corona Centennial.
Here is a look at scores through Saturday night, Nov. 14. Check back on Monday for new State Top 25 on CalHiSports.com.
Note: Next week’s updated rankings plus one-of-a-kind analysis and breakdowns will be a post for Gold Club members only. The only free rankings content this season will be the weekend scoreboard. This is the best time to sign up not just because the season is beginning but because price is going up very soon. Join our team today. For details, CLICK HERE.
1. De La Salle (Concord) 9-1
Did not play. Head coach Justin Alumbaugh’s club had a bye in the opening round of the CIF North Coast Section Division I playoffs. Seeking a sixth CIF Open Division state bowl game title in seven years, De La Salle gets California of San Ramon in quarterfinals. California (7-4) edged James Logan of Union City 15-14 on Friday.
J.J. Taylor is heating up for Centennial in CIFSS playoffs. He’s making up for lost time when he was injured in the playoffs last season.
2. Centennial (Corona) 11-0
Defeated No. 23 Chaminade (West Hills) 70-29. Senior RB J.J. Taylor nearly tied the school record for TDs in a game with seven (the record is eight) as Huskies moved on in CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division bracket.
3. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 11-0
Defeated Corona 72-7. That’s 10 running clock games for the Braves in 11 outings. Next up in CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs is state-ranked Loyola of Los Angeles.
4. Folsom 11-0
Defeated Kennedy (Sacramento) 63-0. Jake Jeffrey spread the ball around very effectively to different receivers as the Bulldogs began quest for fourth straight CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I crown.
5. Mission Viejo 11-0
Defeated Hart (Newhall) 49-14. From a historical standpoint, Hart has played some classics against the Diablos. But this CIFSS West Valley Division matchup wasn’t close.
6. Elk Grove 11-0
Defeated Gregori (Modesto) 55-0. The Thundering Herd moved on in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 playoffs behind Ryan Robards, who rushed for a score, passed for a score and caught a TD pass.
7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 9-2
Defeated Lakewood 66-14. Due to Long Beach Poly’s forfeit losses and subsequent exclusion from the CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs, the Moore League was worse than usual in this year’s first round. Xavier Bell, a player who came to our Cal-Hi Sports’Gold Medal Excellence Speed Camp last January, had an 85-yard interception return for the MD defense.
Mater Dei’s Xavier Bell is part of a fast family. Older brother Quinton (who went to Costa Mesa) finished third in the CIF 100-meter dash state final in 2014. Photo: Mark Tennis.
8. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 9-2
Defeated Norco 72-36. Next up for the Lancers in the CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs will be No. 11 Oaks Christian. Norco is same team that won 71-70 in overtime vs. St. Bonaventure in last year’s first round.
9. Clayton Valley (Concord) 9-1
Did not play. Like De La Salle in D1, the Ugly Eagles also had a bye in the first round of the NCS playoffs in D2. Their quarterfinal foe will be 7-4 Windsor (which defeated Pinole Valley 44-9 on Friday).
10. Mission Hills (San Marcos) 10-0
Did not play. Since the CIF San Diego Open Division is an eight-team bracket, the first playoff game for the Grizzlies and everyone in it is next week. They are hosting La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad.
11. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 11-0
Defeated Jordan (Long Beach) 56-8. The third seed in the Pac-5 Division also got an easier first round game than No. 1 seed Centennial. Oaks Christian faces No. 8 Bishop Amat next.
12. Helix (La Mesa) 8-1
Did not play. Like Mission Hills, the Highlanders are a CIF San Diego Section Open Division team that doesn’t start until next week. They are the top seed and host San Diego Madison.
13. Serra (Gardena) 9-2
Defeated Westlake (Westlake Village) 38-20. Despite four turnovers and falling behind 14-0, the Cavs unleashed their playmakers for 31 unanswered points to win the CIFSS Pac-5 opener. They host No. 7 Mater Dei in next week’s quarterfinals.
14. Foothill (Pleasanton) 10-0
Did not play. Like DLS and Clayton Valley, the Falcons had a first round bye in the NCS playoffs. They are the No. 3 seed in D1 (behind DLS and Antioch) and will meet Freedom of Oakley next week. Freedom (7-4) beat Dublin 37-12 on Friday.
15. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-2*
Did not play. The Jackrabbits’ season is complete due to four forfeit losses and not getting into the CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs. We will continue to rank them in front of Narbonne due to head-to-head win on the field.
16. Narbonne (Harbor City) 9-2
Defeated Eagle Rock 54-0. This was a first-round game in the CIF L.A. City Section Division I bracket. The Gauchos are big favorites to win fourth title in five years.
17. Bellarmine (San Jose) 9-1
Defeated St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 42-6. This was actually a final regular season game for the Bells in the CIF Central Coast Section. They should be the top seed in the CCS Open Division top bracket of eight teams based on enrollment.
18. Loyola (Los Angeles) 9-2
Defeated Wilson (Long Beach) 48-16. The Cubs went up against the Moore League’s No. 1 team on the road and had no difficulty in the CIFSS Pac-5 contest. With even more competitive equity probably coming to the CIFSS next year, this was the last night of Moore League teams (other than LB Poly) getting crushed in the top division. Those teams will be in lower divisions next season.
Camarillo’s Westin Graczyk (24) and Jake Constantine (8) get goofy after recent game. Photo: #D1BoundNation.com.
Defeated Highland (Palmdale) 42-7. After Mission Viejo (West Valley Division), this is the highest-ranked team in the CIFSS outside of the Pac-5. The Scorpions are top seed in the Northern Division and have an impressive win over St. Bonaventure on their resume and a one-point win over 10-1 Calabasas (which may get into the State Top 25 next week).
20. Tesoro (Las Flores) 9-2
Defeated Great Oak (Temecula) 49-3. The Titans seem headed for a matchup vs. No. 24 Vista Murrieta in the CIFSS West Valley Division semifinals.
21. La Habra 10-1
Defeated Kennedy (La Palma) 49-0. Head coach Frank Mazzota’s team had no trouble in CIFSS Southwest Division first-round outing. La Habra is top seed and its only loss is 24-14 to No. 5 Mission Viejo.
22. Ridgeview (Bakersfield) 10-0
Did not play. The Wolf Pack were on a bye as the top seed in the CIF Central Section Division II playoffs. They also are regarded as the best overall team in the section. Their quarterfinal game next week will be against West of Bakersfield, which won Friday 17-0 vs. Independence.
23. Chaminade (West Hills) 7-4
LOST to No. 2 Centennial (Corona) 70-29. While the Eagles probably will drop out next week to make room for a team still playing, their win to end the regular season over Serra of Gardena probably will eventually get them a State Top 25 final ranking.
24. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 10-1
Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest) 31-23. This was not the usual first-round breather for the Broncos in the CIFSS West Valley Division. El Toro, though, almost beat Tesoro in the South Coast League so close score not a surprise.
25. Antioch 10-0
Did not play. The Panthers had a first-round bye in the NCS D1 bracket. They are the second seed behind DLS and ahead of No. 14 Foothill (Pleasanton). We’ll probably get the two closer to each other in two weeks before they are projected to meet in the semis. Antioch plays Amador Valley of Pleasanton next, which won Friday 50-21 over San Leandro.
QB Cal Bard and unbeaten Napa Indians will host 9-2 St. Mary’s of Stockton next week in Sac-Joaquin Section D1 quarterfinals. Winner probably will have to face No. 4 Folsom next. Photo: Rick Manahan/NapaValleySports.com.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 7-3
LOST on Saturday St. Francis (Mountain View) 36-27.
Arroyo Grande 10-1
Defeated Royal (Simi Valley) 45-21.
Calabasas 10-1
Defeated Rio Mesa (Oxnard) 56-17.
Campolindo (Moraga) 10-1
Defeated Ygnacio Valley (Concord) 70-44 on Saturday.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 6-4
Did not play. San Diego Section Open Division starts next week.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 11-0
Defeated El Camino (Sacramento) 42-0.
Chino Hills 9-2
Defeated Los Alamitos 38-30.
Clovis 9-1
Did not play. Central Section D1 bye.
Del Oro (Loomis) 5-6
Defeated Whitney (Rocklin) 34-28.
Grant (Sacramento) 9-1
Did not play. SJS D2 game vs. Beyer (Modesto) postponed until Monday due to death of Grant player.
Heritage (Menifee) 11-0
Defeated Hemet 42-0.
Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-0
Defeated Lincoln 82-32.
JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 7-3*
Season complete.
Liberty (Bakersfield) 6-3
Did not play. Central Section D1 bye.
Lutheran (Orange) 6-5
Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 54-44.
Napa 11-0
Defeated Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 26-0.
Norco 8-3
Lost to Bishop Amat (La Puente) 72-36.
Oakdale 10-1
Defeated El Dorado (Placerville) 63-33.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 9-2
Defeated Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 35-14.
Palm Springs 11-0
Defeated Hillcrest (Riverside) 62-7.
Pittsburg 9-2
Defeated Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) 56-20.
San Clemente 9-2
Defeated Sunny Hills (Fullerton) 52-0.
San Juan Hills (SJ Capistrano) 8-3
Lost to Valencia 38-28.
Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 5-5*
Season complete.
Serra (San Mateo) 6-4
Defeated Valley Christian (San Jose) on Saturday 42-21.
Servite (Anaheim) 4-6*
Season complete.
St. Augustine (San Diego) 8-2
Did not play. San Diego Section Open Division starts next week.
St. Francis (Mountain View) 9-1
Defeated Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 36-27 on Saturday.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 7-3
LOST on Saturday to Serra (San Mateo) 42-21.
Westlake (Westlake Village) 7-4
Lost to Serra (Gardena) 38-20.
Thanks to Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens for contributions to this item. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
One Comment
No love for Murrieta Valley at least in the bubble section.