Josh Jacobson (left) & Cameron Cherry combined for seven 7 TDs and more than 500 yards rushing for No. 22 Oakdale in its 63-27 win Friday over Patterson. Photo: Mark Tennis.
There are upsets and then there’s the way that previously unbeaten and state No. 7 Upland lost to No. 23 Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals. Would you believe on a 95-yard interception return TD with 9.8 seconds left? The historical CIFSS D1 semifinals, meanwhile, weren’t nearly as dramatic as No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 2 St. John Bosco set up another huge game between themselves next week by both winning impressively on Friday. Folsom and St. Mary’s of Stockton also will have another CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I matchup.
Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Tuesday morning this week. We’ll be delayed to get out our preseason State Top 35 girls basketball rankings on Monday morning. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on more than 40 years of going to Friday night games with an overview of the state’s top teams and what’s coming up that just can’t be matched. Each new set of rankings will be for Gold Club members only. The late Friday/Weekend Scoreboards will be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more for the Top 25 teams within the Top 50.
We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To join our Gold Club to get all new state rankings, state record updates and all-state team announcements, CLICK HERE.
(Rankings based on last week’s State Top 50 released last Tuesday)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Nov. 24)
(Look for new State Top 50 on Monday evening)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 13-0
Defeated No. 4 Mission Viejo 49-21. Back breaking plays by the Monarchs included a 30-yard pick six on the fourth play of the game by LB Mase Funa. QB JT Daniels completed 10 of 18 for 199 yards and scored on 52-yard run in the second quarter. They all know they were in this exact place one year ago and did not win a rematch game the following week against league rival St. John Bosco for the CIF Southern Section Division I title. And despite all the great wins so far this season, Mater Dei still hasn’t won a CIFSS title since 1999.
Mission Viejo head coach Bob Johnson created a stir on social media after his final game when he referred to No. 1 Mater Dei as having “the best team money can buy.” He was actually talking more about having to be in the same division as the Monarchs. Johnson ends his career with 342 wins, third best on the Cal-Hi Sports all-time state list. Photo: Mark Tennis.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 11-2
Defeated No. 3 Centennial (Corona) 62-34. George Holani rushed for three TDs in the first half and then in the second it was sophomore D.J. Uigalelei scoring on runs of 44 and 77 yards and throwing a key 40-yard TD pass as the Braves pulled away from the Huskies in the CIFSS D1 semifinals. They advanced to their fifth straight CIFSS top division final.
3. Centennial (Corona) 10-2
LOST to No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 62-34. The Huskies played without All-American QB Tanner McKee (who has had concussion issues this season), fell behind 27-0 and then got to within 27-20 before falling behind again. It wasn’t a two-point loss to the Braves like last season in the CIFSS D1 semifinals.
4. Mission Viejo 12-1
LOST to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 49-21. The Diablos got to a 7-7 tie with Mater Dei on a TD pass from Joey Yellen to Austin Osborne, but couldn’t continue to match scores with the Monarch offense. With the loss, the legendary career of Mission Viejo head coach Bob Johnson also is over. He announced earlier this season that he’ll be retiring.
5. De La Salle (Concord) 10-1
Did not play. Spartans are facing No. 13 Pittsburg next Saturday in CIF North Coast Section Open Division championship. They have won 26 straight section titles. Will they move up to No. 4 or No. 3 in next rankings?
6. Folsom 13-0
Defeated Jesuit (Carmichael) 27-14. Kaiden Bennett accounted for all four touchdowns as Jesuit played the Bulldogs much tougher than earlier in the season (55-9 loss). Still, Folsom moves on to is eighth straight section final and will play St. Mary’s of Stockton in the Sac-Joaquin Section D1 final next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sacramento State. This is the third straight year those two have played in the SJS finals.
7. Upland 12-1
LOST to No. 23 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 31-24. The stunner of the night in the state wasn’t that the Highlanders lost to the Lions in the CIFSS D2 semifinals but how the game ended. Upland was in a 24-24 tie with less than 15 seconds left and was attempting to get into chip shot field goal range, but a pass was intercepted at the 5-yard line and returned 95 yards for an Oaks Christian touchdown. There were only nine seconds left.
8. Central (Fresno) 11-1
Defeated Bakersfield 35-27. The defending champion Drillers gave the top-seeded Grizzlies all they could handle in the CIF Central Section D1 semifinals. Central will now play Buchanan of Clovis (10-2) in the final and it should be a toss up. The Grizzlies only beat Buchanan 28-27 earlier in the season.
9. Mission Hills (San Marcos) 12-0
Defeated Torrey Pines (San Diego) 20-17. Jack Tuttle found Quentin Hadnot for a 16-yard TD pass with 1:12 left to give the Grizzlies the win the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals. They will play 11-1 Helix of La Mesa in next week’s championship.
10. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 7-4
Did not play. Season complete. The Eagles, who were the third-place team in the Trinity League, lost to No. 13 Murrieta Valley 59-56 two weeks ago in the CIFSS D1 playoffs.
11. Rancho Cucamonga 10-2
Did not play. Season complete. The Cougars, who were in the CIFSS D1 semifinals last season, lost in the quarterfinals one week ago to No. 2 St. John Bosco.
Demontii Peoples and teammates at Narbonne are making a mockery so far of the L.A. City Open Division playoffs. Photo: Twitter.com.
12. San Clemente 9-2
Did not play. Season complete. The Tritons, who can claim USC’s Sam Darnold as an alum, saw their season end two weeks ago in a loss to No. 11 Rancho Cucamonga.
13. Pittsburg 8-1
Did not play. Pirates are playing No. 5 De La Salle of Concord next Saturday for CIF North Coast Section Open Division title. They were the last team to beat DLS in a section final in 1991.
14. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 9-3
Did not play. Season complete. The Jackrabbits, who featured one of the nation’s most hotly recruited QB-WR combos in Matt Corral and Jalen Hall, lost in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals one week ago to No. 1 Mater Dei.
15. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 7-4
Did not play. Season complete. The Lions, who were the fourth-place team in the Trinity League, lost to No. 11 Long Beach Poly 60-44 in the CIFSS D1 playoffs.
16. Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 9-3
Did not play. Season complete. The Nighthawks, who had WR Marquis Spiker become the all-time state leader for career TD catches, lost one week ago in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals to No. 3 Corona Centennial.
17. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 11-2
LOST to No. 29 St. Mary’s (Stockton) 38-31. The Trojans were trying to get a rematch with No. 6 Folsom in the SJS D1 finals but were denied by the Rams, who are the division’s defending champions. Oak Ridge also lost to St. Mary’s in last year’s semifinals.
18. Narbonne (Harbor City) 9-3
Defeated Fairfax (Los Angeles) 71-0. The Gauchos were scoring on punt returns and on defense in their latest L.A. City Section Open Division rout. They will play Crenshaw of Los Angeles next Friday in the title game.
19. Servite (Anaheim) 6-5
Did not play. Season complete. The Friars, who posted a Trinity League win over No. 20 Orange Lutheran, lost to No. 4 Mission Viejo in the CIFSS D1 playoffs.
20. Lutheran (Orange) 6-6
Did not play. Season complete. The Lancers, who beat No. 4 seed Chaminade in the first round of the CIFSS D1 playoffs, lost to No. 4 Mission Viejo in the quarterfinals.
21. Chaminade (West Hills) 9-2
Did not play. Season complete. The Eagles, who lost to two Trinity League teams but have a win over No. 23 Oaks Christian, lost to No. 20 Orange Lutheran in the CIFSS playoffs.
22. Oakdale 12-1
Defeated Patterson 63-27. Josh Jacobson and Cameron Cherry both rushed for more than 200 yards and Jacobson scored five touchdowns as the Mustangs moved into the CIF SJS D3 final. Oakdale, which has lost only to Folsom, is playing 11-2 Manteca next week.
23. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 11-2
Defeated No. 7 Upland 31-24. Nathan Lenthall was the hero for the Lions who scored on a 95-yard interception return with 9.8 seconds left to give them the stunning upset in the CIFSS D2 semifinals. Oaks Christian, which also fought back from a 21-0 deficit in the first half, is playing Valencia in next week’s championship.
24. Heritage (Menifee) 11-2
LOST to No. 28 Valencia 52-34. None of the magic from last week’s win over Calabasas carried over for the Patriots. Valencia’s Mykael Wright hauled in two critical TD passes and had an interception on defense to seal the win.
25. Paraclete (Lancaster) 11-1
Defeated Paloma Valley (Menifee) 55-35. Brevin White racked up three TD passes and two TD runs as the Spirits marched on in the CIFSS D5 playoffs. They are facing Moorpark in the final and if they win and Helix wins in the CIF San Diego Open Division who knows how high up on the CIF SoCal bowl board that will put them.
Kendall Milton of Clovis Buchanan is one of the top soph RBs in the state and will be in next week’s CIF Central Section D1 championship. Photo: USAFootball.com.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Bishop Amat (La Puente) 5-6
Did not play. Season complete.
Buchanan (Clovis) 10-2
Defeated Clovis West (Fresno) 30-28.
Cajon (San Bernardino) 12-1
Defeated Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta) 56-28.
Calabasas 10-2
Did not play. Season complete.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 10-2
LOST to Del Oro (Loomis) 23-12.
Charter Oak (Covina) 12-1
LOST to Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 41-22.
Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 12-1
LOST to Granite Bay 9-7.
Del Oro (Loomis) 8-5
Defeated No. Central Catholic (Modesto) 23-12.
Granite Bay 11-2
Defeated Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 9-7.
Helix (La Mesa) 11-1
Defeated San Marcos 62-41.
Heritage (Menifee) 11-2
LOST to Valencia 52-34.
Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 11-0
Defeated Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 25-20 on Saturday in NCS D3 semifinals.
Milpitas 11-0*
Defeated Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) 33-20.
Moorpark 11-2
Defeated Paramount 27-21.
Norco 8-4
Did not play. Season complete.
Paramount 11-2
LOST to Moorpark 27-21.
Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 11-2
Defeated Charter Oak (Covina) 41-22.
San Ramon Valley (Danville) 9-2
Did not play. Season complete.
Serra (Gardena) 6-5
Did not play. Season complete.
Serra (San Mateo) 10-2
Defeated Valley Christian (San Jose) 31-14 Saturday in CCS Open 2 semifinals.
St. Francis (La Canada) 12-1
Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest) 52-17.
St. Francis (Mountain View) 9-3
Defeated Aragon (San Mateo) 42-7.
St. Mary’s (Stockton) 11-2
Defeated No. 17 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 38-31.
Tulare 13-0
Defeated Dinuba 49-21. CIF Central Sec D2 championship.
Valencia 12-1
Defeated No. 24 Heritage (Menifee) 52-34.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 9-2
Did not play. Meets Serra (San Mateo) Saturday in CCS Open 2 semifinals.
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:
24 Comments
So while their future opponent plays a four week gauntlet against 4 consecutive top 20 teams, De La Salle gets to play two games against mediocre opponents with TWO bye games in middle. There is no reason for NCS to have weak 4 team brackets and not go 8 team let alone 16. Probably the freshest team playing in a state championship game in country. Not DLS fault as they don’t control playoff schedule but if SS is prideful of D1 then NCS should feel shameful of their Open 1.
What we have to figure out with section and state Open Divisions is for there to be a process in which a first-round loser in an Open Division can drop back down into D1 or its enrollment divisions or whatever and then continue on with its season not concluded. The NCS doesn’t want to put teams like Marin Catholic into an Open Division where DLS lurks. But if an Open Division first-round loser could still somehow go on, that would partly eliminate that problem.
Great point but that still gets to the difference between sectionals. Your example is perfect for how NCS, CCS and San Diego are trying to protect their best teams to move on to state bowls through small Open sections that don’t play each other (ex. protecting Marin Catholic from DLS) while SJS and SS promote their best teams being beat through large division Section brackets that allow less visible (but not as strong) teams the opportunity to move on. There needs to be equity among the process to make the bowls legitimate.
I agree 100%. The idea of a team losing a section championship game, and being promoted over a section winner to play in a regional game is down right shameful. It’s unfortunate that the 2 best teams in SJS can’t move on but you have to win it on the field. How it should be. In my humble opinion.
Another year of the SS D1 champ blowing out teams by 4Td’s or more until the champ game.
That is some gauntlet!
Let’s compare – DLS plays one game then championship against Pittsburgh for open final where both teams automatically move on for winning one playoff game. St. John Bosco goes to playoffs has to beat two top 15 teams then beat #3 team Centennial (who btw beat NCS finalist Pittsburgh by 42 pts) just for the opportunity to play #1 in nation. You are correct, not gauntlet at all…
I specifically mentioned the#1 seed. They have been all blow outs. Which is the case every year.
Never did understand how getting so many byes at this time of year is an advantage. Makes no sense.
CA has 3, sometimes 4 elite teams in the entire state in recent years. This year is no different.
True but the teams #1 beat soundly could beat anyone in NorCal. Mission Viejo, Centennial, St. John Bosco, Etc. would all beat De La Salle or be very close so to compare it’s not even a question. Folsom may not get past 2nd round of D1 SS and De La Salle wouldn’t make it to finals is what I mean by gauntlet.
I have been hearing how DLS would lose to socal teams for 25 years. Actual games have completely debunked that lame myth.
The only elite teams in 2017 are DLS, MD, SJB and CC. SJB, CC and MD all cruise in the playoffs until they play each other. That aint a gauntlet.
You are correct. After playing Trinity League schedule vs. local public schools these are exactly the same:
1st round – Bishop Amat
2nd round – Rancho Cucamonga
Semi – Centennial
Final – Mater Dei
1st round – Nobody
2nd round – Clayton Valley Charter
Semi – Nobody
Final – Pittsburgh
Makes sense. Because teams like Bishop Amat and Rancho Cucamonga are such pushovers that fatigue and slight injuries are the same as playing nobody.
Not a gauntlet at all in comparison.
Even if you lop off having to play the extra two games- path to final for SJB
Centennial & Mater Dei
Path to final for DLS
Clayton Valley & Pittsburgh
Sorry that is probably better example of what I mean by gauntlet.
who said the NCS was a gauntlet? Pay attention.
The top 2 seeds in the SSD1 playoffs have won their games by an avg margin of 30 points. 30!!!
Thant aint no gauntlet son.
According to Mark’s rankings 13 of the 16 teams in D1SS currently are top 25 in state. Of those 13 teams in top 25, 12 will be knocked out (no consolation/participation for #2). So for a team like Mission Viejo, Centennial, Long Beach Poly, etc. you are going to say it’s not a gauntlet? To give validity to those teams pleas see what Mission Viejo did in D1 state bowl before being put into this division where they have virtually no chance of moving on.
Based on Mark’s rankings a similar playoff schedule to SJB for DLS would look something in NorCal like:
1. Milpitas
2. Oak Ridge or Central (Fresno)
3. St. Mary’s
4. Folsom
5. Mater Dei or SJB
Folsom vs St. Mary’s will be second year in a row for the SJS D1 section championship. 2 years ago it was these 2 teams in the semi-finals. Folsom would come from behind in that game for the victory and faced Elk Grove in the section championship game before losing to Bellarmine in the regional game.
Thanks for clarification.
a few scenarios I am wondering about..the last two being highly unlikely but it is fun to think about… assuming Folsom wins next week
1) and DLS beats Pitt, would it be Folsom vs. Pitt in Nor Cal regional or say a Folsom vs. GB (assumimg GB wins) or some other Nor Cal team
2) Should Pitt beat DLS (highly unlikely), would Pitt get the nod to go to Open (with crushing loss to Centennial and unimpressive schedule), or Folsom go?
3) Should Folsom crush St. Mary’s (highly unlikely) and win in similar fashion as MD did against SM, although DLS has not lost to Nor Cal in 26 years, would such a dominant win similar to that of the best team in the nation, be enough to push Folsom into the Open?
The Central Section D1 champion is also likely headed to the north and if it’s Central of Fresno (only loss 45-30 to DLS) and DLS beats Pitt by a lot, then good chance Central of Fresno is the one playing Folsom in D1-AA.
If Pitt gets upset, think they do go up to Open because the next two teams on NorCal board if Folsom were to go up would be DLS and Pitt and we’re not going to have a rematch the very next week. Besides, if you’re Folsom, playing DLS at home would be pretty cool anyway.
Doesn’t matter what score is for Folsom vs. St. Mary’s, if DLS wins, it’s in the Open. It makes complete sense that the only way DLS is not the NorCal team in the Open is for a NorCal team to actually beat them on the field. Hasn’t happened in 26 years.
None of these scenarios has St Mary’s winning and in any game. LoL good thing the games are played on the field right? Because if we strictly went off of prognostications, SM would have been out of it a long time ago. At any rate, good luck to all the remaining teams fighting for titles and I’ll see you on Saturday Mr Tennis.
I agree with you Ken! You cannot overlook St Mary’s and their rushing offense. I can see it causing some problems for Folsom. I do think the Bulldogs will win in an extremely tight game. As far as DLS, until someone from the north knocks them off their perch, they will always be the choice for the “Open” division. I think Folsom could have done it in 2014 and I think St Mary’s could have done it last year (at full strength), but we will never know. Both the Bulldogs and the Rams deserve to be where they are.
I agree Bob, it’s going to be a GREAT game. Both schools have have had some good ones the past 2 seasons and his one should be no different. It I’ll be too bad that one of us will be going home and open LOSERS from CCS and NCS will move on. DLS 1000% deserves the open bid until SM, Folsom or whoever beats them. LoL until then… I don’t think it is fair that their bracket is only 4 teams compared to our 16 team bracket. I mean really Folsom or SM would have LOVED a couple of bye weeks during the playoffs. I know SM could have used um. LoL
*Jim
St. Mary’s was only projected to go out last week vs. Oak Ridge and won on the strength of a pick six and a 100-yard KO return. Those things happen and it’s a credit to the Rams for winning the game. Projections are just listing the ranked team higher. That’s it. Predictions are picking which team you think is going to win. It should indeed be a great game.