Mater Dei’s Bryce Young and Shakobe Harper (3) are in the middle of celebrating after one of the Monarchs’ TDs during 17-13 win against St. John Bosco in Friday’s CIF Southern Section D1 final. Photo: Mark Bausman @thebaus (SoCalSidelines.com).
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last week)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Nov. 24)
*Indicates forfeit result not included.
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 13-1
LOST to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 17-13. CIF Southern Section Division I championship. This reversed an impressive 41-18 win by the Braves during the regular season and will prevent them from making it two CIF state titles in the three years. They had a much harder time in this game scoring against the MD defense. A 75-yard touchdown on a blocked field goal return by Trent McDuffie gave Bosco a lot of momentum late in the third quarter, but the Braves missed the PAT and still trailed 14-13.
2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 13-1*
Defeated No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 17-13. It’s not the first time the Monarchs have taken down a national No. 1 team in their history but it’s the first time against a team they had lost to previously during the season. Mater Dei broke a 7-7 tie at halftime with a 19-yard TD pass from Bryce Young to Bru McCoy with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Following the blocked field goal TD by Bosco, the Monarchs extended the lead to 17-14 on a 42-yard field goal by Nick Lopez. An interception by junior Elias Ricks with 6:06 left in the game also was a huge play in denying the Braves a possible go-ahead score. Unlike previous years, the CIFSS D1 champion will have to wait one week to see which opponent it will face in the upcoming CIF Open Division state final. It likely will be De La Salle for the 10th straight year in that game but the Spartans and the rest of their section have had delays due to poor air quality from the NorCal wildfires.
3. De La Salle (Concord) 11-0
Did not play. Spartans found out on Saturday they will play unbeaten Liberty of Brentwood in the delayed CIF North Coast Section Open Division championship. That game will be next week and then if they win would be playing in the CIF Open Division state final the following week at Cerritos College.
4. Centennial (Corona) 12-1
Season complete. Head coach Matt Logan’s club lost in last week’s CIFSS D1 semifinals 48-14 to Mater Dei. Team’s biggest win ended up being the first one against Arizona powerhouse Chandler.
5. Folsom 11-1
Defeated St. Mary’s (Stockton) 52-7. CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 semifinals. All of the Bulldogs’ stars — QB Kaiden Bennett, WR Joe Ngata, WR Elijhah Badger and RB Daniyel Ngata — all had their moments in another easy win. Team will now play No. 22 Monterey Trail (12-0) next week in SJS D1 final.
6. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 12-1
Season complete. Lions lost in CIFSS D1 semifinals 56-10 to No. 1 St. John Bosco last week. They beat JSerra in the quarterfinals 35-34 and weren’t dropped in the rankings after the loss to the Braves.
7. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 9-3
Season complete. Head coach Pat Harlow’s team lost in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals two weeks ago No. 6 Oaks Christian. We still didn’t move up any of the teams from lower in the rankings last week since they didn’t play or didn’t have an impressive enough win.
8. Liberty (Brentwood) 11-0
Defeated No. 23 Clayton Valley (Concord) 42-14 on Saturday. Head coach Ryan Partridge’s squad will now play No. 3 De La Salle in next week’s NCS Open Division championship. DLS has won 21 straight NCS titles in that section’s highest division. The Lions were sloppy in the first half, but broke the game open in the third quarter on TD passes by Jay Butterfield of 65 yards to Adrik Lamar and 71 yards to Sione Vaki.
Three players from Central of Fresno, including QB Trent Tompkins (on the right) hold up two fingers after Friday’s CIF Central Section D1 championship since they’ve now won that title two years in a row. Photo: Twitter.com.
9. Central (Fresno) 13-0
Defeated No. 25 Liberty (Bakersfield) 58-34. It was another second half explosion for the Grizzlies, who repeated as CIF Central Section D1 champions. QB Trent Tompkins passed for 424 yards and five TDs and became the section’s all-time single-season yardage leader at 4,507 yards and broke section record for total offense TDs. He now has 67. By all indications, Central will be in the CIF NorCal regional bowls and will at least find out about that for sure on Sunday. Assuming no upsets in the still to be played Sac-Joaquin and NCS finals, it will be Folsom once again in D1-AA.
10. St. Francis (Mountain View) 11-1
Defeated Serra (San Mateo) 38-8. CIF Central Coast Section Open 2 semifinals. Opeti Fangupo rushed for 142 yards and three TDs for team that will now face No. 35 Valley Christian (San Jose) in next week’s final.
11. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 10-1*
Did not play. The Dons won the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship last Saturday 28-17 over Torrey Pines and will find out on Sunday which team they are playing in the CIF SoCal regional finals. We’re almost certain it will be in D1-AA but opponent could be either Upland or Narbonne.
12. Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 13-1
LOST to No. 16 Upland 24-13 on Saturday in CIFSS D2 championship. Rancho Verde was hampered without starting QB A.J. Duffy (the freshman) and several other starters. Still, the Mustangs led at halftime 7-6 on a TD run by Jaxen Turner, who played QB.
13. Narbonne (Harbor City) 10-3
Defeated Garfield (Los Angeles) 55-7. CIF L.A. City Open Division championship. Although the Bulldogs were undefeated, this result was expected. Gauchos would have been in CIF D1-A state bracket if Rancho Verde had won CIFSS D2 final on Saturday. Upland won, so they may go up to D1-AA. Brionne Penny’s return of the second half kickoff for a TD put the icing on the cake. Narbonne won its fifth straight section title.
14. Mission Viejo 10-2*
Season complete. Diablos lost to Mater Dei in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals 56-17. Before that, they beat Bishop Amat in the first round and had key wins during the season against Orange Lutheran, Upland and Liberty (Bakersfield) with a loss to San Clemente.
15. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 8-3*
Season complete. This team’s playoff loss was to Mission Viejo 24-7 in CIFSS D1 first round. Before that, Lancers won Mission League title, lost by just one point to JSerra, lost to Mater Dei (later turned into forfeit win) and had a win against Rancho Cucamonga.
QB Dalton Durossette from Central Catholic of Modesto made plays during 31-30 win on Friday over previously unbeaten Inderkum. Photo: Mark Tennis.
16. Upland 12-2
Defeated No. 12 and previously unbeaten Rancho Verde 24-13 on Saturday for CIFSS D2 title. Upland’s losses are to Mission Viejo & Rancho Cucamonga. In the playoffs, Highlanders had previously gotten past Heritage (Menifee), Norco and Calabasas.
17. Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 11-2-1
LOST to No. 34 Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 26-14 on Saturday for CIFSS D4 crown. The Sea Kings’ passing attack was shut down by a stingy Lancers’ defense.
18. Torrey Pines (San Diego) 10-1
Season complete. The Falcons were No. 11 before they lost to current No. 11 Cathedral Catholic last Saturday in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship.
19. Calabasas 10-3
Season complete. Current No. 16 Upland handed the Coyotes a 30-23 loss in the CIFSS D2 semifinals. Calabasas has a win over CIFSS D2 champion Sierra Canyon.
20. Lutheran (Orange) 5-6**
Season complete. The Lancers were the fourth-place team in the Trinity League behind St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and JSerra. They lost in the first round of the CIFSS D1 playoffs to No. 4 Corona Centennial.
21. Central Catholic (Modesto) 11-1
Defeated No. 43 Inderkum (Sacramento) 31-30. Head coach Roger Canepa’s squad came back from a 24-12 halftime deficit, but had to survive a two-point conversion attempt by the Tigers with 1″35 left that would have given them a 32-31 lead. Central Catholic advanced to its first CIFSS D2 title game where it will meet state No. 28 Del Oro of Loomis next week.
22. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 12-0
Defeated Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 48-20 on Saturday in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 semifinals. That game determined the other finalist in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 championship opposite state No. 5 Folsom.
23. Clayton Valley (Concord) 9-2
LOST to No. 8 Liberty (Brentwood) 42-14 in NCS Open Division semifinals. The Ugly Eagles had the early lead at 7-0 and were down by only 14-7 at halftime, but it got away from them in the second half.
24. Cajon (San Bernardino) 12-2
LOST to No. 33 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 34-30. CIFSS D3 championship. Jayden Daniels threw for two TDs and ran for a score in the second half to bring back the Cowboys from an early 17-0 hole. Once they got the lead at 30-27, however, they couldn’t hold on. Daniels’ prep career ends with him as the all-time CIFSS leader for career passing yards and career TD passes.
25. Liberty (Bakersfield) 10-2*
LOST to No. 9 Central (Fresno) 58-34. CIF Central Section D1 championship. Hector Gonzalez passed for 216 yards and two TDs as the Patriots forged a 34-25 lead in the second half. They never scored again, however, while the Grizzlies found their grove and won going away.
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TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Buchanan (Clovis) 9-3
Season complete. CIF Central Section D1 semifinals (lost to Liberty of Bakersfield).
Capital Christian (Sacramento) 12-0
Defeated Antelope 31-12. SJS D3 semifinals.
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 10-1
Defeated Encinal (Alameda) 56-21 on Saturday. NCS D3 playoffs.
Del Oro (Loomis) 10-1
Did not play. Advanced to SJS D2 final due to removement of Carmichael Jesuit for illegal use of a play.
Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 12-2
Defeated No. 17 Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 26-14 on Saturday in CIFSS D4 title game. Lancers were CIFSS D8 winners in 2017.
Helix (La Mesa) 8-5
LOST to St. Augustine (San Diego) 21-20 (OT) on Saturday in CIFSD D1 final.
Heritage (Menifee) 7-4
Season complete. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-1
LOST to No. 21 Central Catholic (Modesto) 31-30. SJS D2 semifinals.
Lawndale 11-2
Defeated Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 34-20. CIFSS D5 championship. First CIFSS title for school in 52 years.
Los Alamitos 8-2-1
Season complete. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-3
Season complete. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
Norco 9-3
Season complete. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 9-4
Season complete. CIFSS D2 semifinals.
Pittsburg 7-4
Season complete. NCS Open Division semifinals.
Placer (Auburn) 12-0
Defeated River Valley (Yuba City) 7-6. SJS D3 semifinals.
Rancho Cucamonga 7-5
Season complete. CIFSS D1 quarterfinals.
San Clemente 7-5
Season complete. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) 13-0
Defeated Bakersfield Christian 48-7. Central Sec D3 final.
Servite (Anaheim) 4-5
Season complete. Fifth-place Trinity League.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 11-3
Defeated No. 24 Cajon (San Bernardino) 34-30. CIFSS D3 title game. Fourth CIFSS title in last seven years.
South Hills (West Covina) 14-0
Defeated Oxnard 23-14 on Saturday in CIFSS D6 championship. Standout RB Joaquin Elliott & QB Khalil Ali both juniors.
St. Augustine (San Diego) 10-3
Defeated No. 38 Helix (La Mesa) 21-20 in OT for San Diego Sec D1 title.
Tulare 13-0
Defeated Righetti (Santa Maria) 42-30. Central Sec D2 final.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 10-2
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 42-14. CCS Open 2 semifinals.
Villa Park 10-2*
Season complete. CIFSS D4 semifinals. Loss to Grace Brethren.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 12-0
Defeated Salinas 45-27. CCS Open 1 semifinals. Salinas was defending champion in that division.
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:
8 Comments
Great season of football all around! Can’t wait for all the bowl stuff on tv, cuz its so hard to catch the top teams regularly. I had a feeling Mater Dei wasn’t gonna go out like last time…that’s why we play the games.
Congratulations to Central of Fresno for back to back section titles against very tough odds. Now they really have to strap it up cuz Folsom is no joke.
And will a POWER 5 school please recruit Tompkins?! All the dude does is win and score.
No, Valley Christian has not clinched a RGB berth yet… not yet. Sacred Heart Prep has higher CCS points than VC and if they beat Sacred Heart Cathedral today, they will be chosen over VC even if they lose to Aptos. There is only three ways VC can garner a RGB spot. SHC beats SHP in the CCS Open DIII semi-final today or SHP beats Aptos in the CCS Open DIII final or, most definitive of all, VC beats St. Francis in the CCS Open DII final.
Sorry. I thought only one of the two scenarios would work in favor for VC and not that both of them would have to happen. CCS would deserve to have Sacred Heart Prep go to a bowl game over Valley Christian so their sucky, suck system looks so obviously flawed they’d have no choice but to fix it.
Mark and Randy;
The real problem that I see isn’t so much CCS’s formula for points but that a section can send a runner up from a so-called (at least in CCS) “open division” in place of another division champion that was “dead-ended” from the CIF playoffs. At least SDS has enough restraint to not send on their Open runner up in place of another division champion.
The 3 so-called “open” divisions in CCS are truly not real “open” divisions anyway, since they’re mostly determined by school enrollment.
In every state but ours in all sports, not just football, playoff teams win in the playoff game or go home.
We’re the only state with separate sections too, which is why runner-ups in all sports (basketball especially) have advanced to regional/state playoffs from section level. If the CCS is going to have a format to send five teams to state bowls, at least that format should make at least a little sense.
Our local tv station did a beautiful piece on Trent Tompkins. Take a look at what other coaches had to say.
It really gets to the heart of the issue about why a dude this good is not being chased. Boosters and money and straight up ignorance.
https://kmph.com/sports/local-sports/central-qb-trent-tompkins-will-go-down-in-history-as-one-of-valleys-greatest?fbclid=IwAR0k_GDqXScmqZEMvofVgab0OdguOCudcOcfA30ErnzEPTUgekscAxT_KB4
Pittsburg coach was right should have been rated higher then Clayton as Pittsburg was told if we beat Antioch by 30 which we beat them by 32 then should be higher then Clayton as they played a weaker schedule Pittsburg played no 3 no 4 no 8 also beat Antioch, Freedom who is still in, St. Mary’s and Sierra high Schools who did Clayton beat as they lost to Pittsburg.
Yes, Pitt should have been seeded third and Clayton 4th but wouldn’t have made a difference. Without the QB, Pitt clearly isn’t as strong as Liberty and we’d have had DLS-Liberty final regardless.