As the sun was setting in Lompoc on Friday, players from Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo began getting ready to play. The Cougars traveled 200 miles and came home happy after winning the CIFSS D3 playoff game 24-7. Photo: @capofootball / Twitter.com.
Many of the state’s best teams had the week off with first-round byes or open dates in CIF sectional playoffs. The major exception, of course, was in the Southern Section where even some top-seeded squads had playoff tests right out of the gate. State No. 1 St. John Bosco wasn’t one of them. The highest ranked team to lose was No. 8 Bishop Amat, which fell to a Mission Viejo squad that was ahead of the Lancers until two weeks ago.
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last week)
(Through reported results of Friday, Nov. 2)
*Indicates forfeit result not included.
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 11-0
Defeated Serra (Gardena) 49-0. The Braves were up 21-0 at halftime in this CIF Southern Section Division I playoff opener and were never seriously threatened by the Cavaliers, who’ve been up-and-down all year. D.J. Uigalelei threw for four TDs for the winners, who will play at 7-4 San Clemente next Friday.
2. Centennial (Corona) 11-0
Defeated No. 18 Lutheran (Orange) 35-7. After not playing strong competition for the last month and a half, the Huskies took on a Trinity League team and kept on rolling in CIFSS D1 playoffs. They led 35-7 at halftime. OLu actually led 7-0, but a 50-yard punt return TD by Gary Bryant and then a 44-yard TD pass from Carter Freedland to Bryant broke it open. Up next is Rancho Cucamonga and after that probably will be Mater Dei in the semifinals.
De La Salle usually has a Mr. Football State Player of Year candidate and this year it’s LB/RB Henry To’oto’o. Photo: Mark Tennis.
3. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 10-1*
Defeated Valencia 44-6. Three turnovers avoided the inevitable rout by the Monarchs, who were led by four combined touchdowns by Glenn “Shakobe” Harper. The third seeded team in the CIFSS D1 playoffs goes up against Mission Viejo in next week’s quarterfinals.
4. De La Salle (Concord) 10-0
Did not play. Like the other three teams in the CIF North Coast Section Open Division, the Spartans didn’t play this week. They’ll face No. 4 seed Pittsburg next week in the semifinals and then it’s a week off before the final.
5. Folsom 9-1
Did not play. In an effort to cut down on teams playing 16 games, all top four seeds in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section (like the Bulldogs in D1), had first-round byes this week. Folsom will play No. 8 seed Edison of Stockton next Friday. Edison rolled over Gregori of Modesto on Friday 52-7.
6. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 11-0
Defeated Chaminade (West Hills) 22-7. This was a rematch from the first game of the season in which the Lions won 31-13. Oaks Christian will now have to play No. 7 JSerra next week in an all-Lions CIFSS D1 quarterfinal. The other top three seeds in that bracket — St. John Bosco, Centennial and Mater Dei — have hard games but not as tough as that.
7. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 9-2
Defeated No. 27 Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 42-9. Chris Street’s second of two TDs in the CIFSS D1 playoff contest came on one of the best spin moves we’ve ever seen. The Lions also came up with five turnovers on defense. Up next is No. 6 Oaks Christian in the semifinals.
8. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 8-3*
LOST to No. 16 Mission Viejo 24-7. It’s the third straight year the Lancers have gone out early in the CIFSS D1 playoffs, but to be fair there aren’t many top teams anywhere else in California or in the nation that would have done any better. That bracket is just that good.
9. Liberty (Brentwood) 10-0
Did not play. The Lions, who beat No. 17 Pittsburg two weeks ago and then last week wrapped up a perfect regular season, are the No. 2 seed behind De La Salle of Concord in the NCS D1 playoffs. They are facing state No. 25 Clayton Valley next week in the semifinals.
10. Central (Fresno) 10-0
Did not play. It’s not a new thing for the top seed in the CIF Central Section D1 playoffs to have a bye. The Grizzlies are that team and will play next week in the second round vs. Edison of Fresno, which won on Friday 42-33 vs. Ridgeview of Bakersfield.
11. St. Francis (Mountain View) 9-1
Defeated Serra (San Mateo) 42-7. Head coach Greg Calcagno’s squad wrapped up outright West Catholic Athletic League title and top seed for CIF Central Coast Section Open Division 2 playoffs. The Lancers only allowed 23 points in seven WCAL games, including three shutouts.
12. Torrey Pines (San Diego) 9-0
Did not play. The Falcons and the rest of the four-team CIF San Diego Section Open Division field don’t play until next week. They are the top seed and are facing 8-1 San Marcos, the fourth seed, in that semifinal contest.
13. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 8-1*
Did not play. This would be the second seed behind Torrey Pines in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division. The Dons’ play next in the semifinals next Friday vs. 6-3 Carlsbad.
14. Narbonne (Harbor City) 7-3
Did not play. Last year’s CIF Division 1-A state champs are the top seed in the L.A. City Section Open Division. The first game in the 16-team bracket is next Friday vs. Venice.
15. Calabasas 9-2
Defeated St. Francis (La Canada) 49-7. It was an easy win for the Coyotes in their CIFSS D2 playoff opener. They beat a team that was in the finals of D3 last season. Calabasas plays San Juan Hills (SJ Capistrano) in next week’s second round.
Running back Jamari Ferrell is one of several players for Mission Viejo who shined in win at Bishop Amat. Photo: Twitter.com.
16. Mission Viejo 10-1*
Defeated No. 8 Bishop Amat (La Puente) 24-7. Joey Yellen had two TD passes while Jamari Ferrell had a TD run as Diablos advanced in CIFSS D1 playoffs and will now get a crack at Mater Dei, which ended their season in 2017.
17. Pittsburg 7-3
Did not play. The Pirates made a pitch to get the No. 3 seed for the NCS Open Division after their win last Saturday vs. Antioch, but were given the No. 4 due to a head-to-head loss and therefore must play state No. 4 De La Salle in next week’s semifinals.
18. Lutheran (Orange) 5-6
LOST to No. 2 Centennial (Corona) 35-7. In the final game (CIFSS D1 playoffs) for all-state QB Ryan Hilinski, the host Huskies were just too much for the Lancers. Of their six losses this season, two were to Centennial with one each to St. John Bosco and Mater Dei.
18. Pittsburg 7-3
Did not play. The Pirates made a pitch to get the No. 3 seed for the NCS Open Division after their win last Saturday vs. Antioch, but were given the No. 4 due to a head-to-head loss and therefore must play state No. 4 De La Salle in next week’s semifinals.
19. Villa Park 10-1*
Defeated Yucaipa 34-12. This was in a first round game of the CIFSS D4 playoffs. The top seed is Corona del Mar, which we don’t have as high as the Spartans in our rankings.
20. Buchanan (Clovis) 9-2
Defeated Clovis West (Fresno) 31-0. The second-seeded Bears did play in the CIF Central Section Division I playoffs. They will now face Arroyo Grande in the quarterfinals. The Eagles beat Sanger 59-10 in their first round game.
21. Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 11-0
Defeated Tesoro (Las Flores) 40-28. It was 26-7 at the half for the Mustangs, but the Titans got it down to 26-21 before some big plays ended the threat. Rancho Verde is the top seed in the CIFSS D2 playoffs. Calabasas is the No. 2 seed.
22. Norco 9-2
Defeated Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 52-22. One of the biggest plays of the CIFSS D2 playoff game for the Cougars was head coach Chuck Chastain going for it on 4th and 2 from their own 39. Freshman Jadyn Ott not only converted but went for a 61-yard TD.
23. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 8-3
LOST to No. 43 Rancho Cucamonga 42-40 in OT. Terrific CIFD1 first-round playoff game ended up seeing the season for the Broncos. It came down to the Cougars getting their two-point conversion in the overtime while Vista Murrieta’s was stopped.
24. Central Catholic (Modesto) 9-1
Did not play. The Raiders are the No. 2 seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D2 playoffs (our No. 30 state-ranked Del Oro is top seed) and had a bye. They face Elk Grove in the second round next week.
25. Clayton Valley (Concord) 9-1
Did not play. Head coach Tim Murphy’s club is the third seed in the NCS Open Division (with a win vs. Pitt and just a one-point loss to Antioch) and plays No. 2 seed and state No. 9 Liberty of Brentwood in next week’s semifinals.
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TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Cajon (San Bernardino) 9-1
Defeated Paloma Valley (Menifee) 39-7. CIFSS D3 playoffs.
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 8-1-1
Defeated Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) 49-14. CIFSS D4 playoffs.
Del Oro (Loomis) 9-1
Did not play. Sac-Joaquin Sec D2 playoffs first-round bye.
Eastlake (Chula Vista) 9-1
Did not play. San Diego Sec D1 playoff bye.
Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 9-2
Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 52-14. CIFSS D4 playoffs.
Heritage (Menifee) 7-4
LOST to Upland 17-16 in CIFSS D2 playoff game played Saturday. Patriots scored with one second left, went for two to win and were stopped short.
Player collapsed on field during warm-ups. Later report said he was “breathing on his own.”
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 6-3
Did not play. San Diego Sec D1 playoff bye.
Lawndale 8-2
Defeated Dos Pueblos (Goleta) 35-0. CIFSS D5 playoffs.
Los Alamitos 8-1-1
Defeated Westlake (Westlake Village) 19-14. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-3
LOST to No. 7 JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 42-9. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 10-0
Did not play. Sac-Joaquin Section D1 first-round bye.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 6-5
LOST to San Clemente 49-26. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 8-3
Defeated La Habra 41-34. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Rancho Cucamonga 7-4
Defeated No. 23 Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 42-40 in OT (CIFSS D1 playoffs).
San Clemente 7-4
Defeated Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 49-26. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 8-3
Defeated Roosevelt (Eastvale) 55-27. CIFSS D3 playoffs.
South Hills (West Covina) 11-0
Defeated Tustin 27-7. CIFSS D6 playoffs.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 8-2
Defeated Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 53-7 on Saturday.
Upland 9-2
Defeated Heritage (Menifee) 17-16 in CIFSS D2 playoff played Saturday.
Westlake (Westlake Village) 6-4
LOST to Los Alamitos 19-14. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 10-0
Defeated Cupertino 34-0.
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:
9 Comments
So SSD1 schools play four weeks straight against top competition in state while DLS gets to rest for two of those for weeks and then play winner in top bowl? I know DLS is underdog and not their fault but maybe time for NCS to put on big boy pants and join with CCS for football? Wouldn’t be about same size (population) as SS. And distance isn’t that much crazier, try driving from Santa Margarita to Oxnard or Calabasas to San Clemente or Valencia to Vista Murrieta…
Mark,
1st, my 2 bits worth. I thought a lot of the section playoffs seedings were quite screwy this year, especially in SJS. They didn’t seem to follow season records nor Freeman’s computer ratings. (CS was an exception: their seedings seemed “right on” for the most part.) Don’t know whether the seeding commitees used some criteria I could not fathom or they did it the “old fashioned way” of just “haggling it out”.
Speaking of SJS, do you know why they went to a number of 1st round empty brackets for their 4 round playoffs? Was it to save money from game and transportation costs when few people. show up to watch a lot of 1st round games?
SJS went to those byes for first four seeds in an effort to cut down on teams playing 16 games. While one could say certain teams should have been higher here and there, mainly that was due to No. 2 teams being higher than No. 1 teams and in those cases I don’t think it matters since they don’t play title games in SJS at home sites. Sections should follow and look at the computer rankings (probably should have gone more by them in some divisions of the CIFSS) but not blindly go by them, either (like in San Diego).
The SJS didn’t follow the Freeman computer ratings? It’s actually in the section’s bylaws to do just that. How else do you explain St. Mary’s getting a higher seed than Sheldon?
St. Marys had a higher rating than Sheldon and deserved the 3rd seed based on rating and strength of schedule. The problem is, the section gave 3rd place Oak Ridge the 3 seed over SM, Sheldon & Turlock, all league winners. And what is even more messed up, is that there is a rumor that Sheldon asked the section to opt out of the top 4 seeds to be the 5th seed so they could let some suspended players sit against an inferior 1st round opponent. What kind of BS is that. SJS is ridiculous at best.
You need to read the SJS bylaws. It’s spelled out pretty clearly.
Where in the by laws does it state teams can tell the section where they want to be seeded? Please enlighten me. Because if that is the case, why go through the seeding process?
If Pittsburg beats Dela Salle and Liberty will they play the winner in Los Angeles in Open division or will play in division 1
In that scenario, with three losses, even with a win over DLS, Pitt wouldn’t be put in the Open Division. Folsom would be better choice and better matchup. Pitt would be in D1-AA.