Isaiah Foskey (18) and Jhasi Wilson (10) get pretty pumped up after De La Salle of Concord received its title trophy on Saturday night at Dublin High. Photo: Mark Tennis.
No. 3 De La Salle does its part to set up next week’s CIF Open Division state title showdown vs. No. 1 Mater Dei with 42-7 win over No. 8 and unbeaten Liberty (Brentwood) in North Coast Section Open Division championship. Highest ranked team to lose during the weekend was No. 10 St. Francis (Mountain View), which fell in two overtimes to league rival Valley Christian (San Jose) that decided CCS Open 2 crown. Sierra Canyon and Del Oro also notch major triumphs.
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last week)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Dec. 1)
*Indicates forfeit result not included.
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 13-1*
Did not play. Head coach Bruce Rollinson’s squad knew it would always have one week off in between the CIF Southern Section Division I final (if it won) and the CIF Open Division state final. This year, though, since Northern California section playoffs were all impacted by unhealthy air for several weeks after the devastating Camp Fire, the Monarchs didn’t know who they’d be playing until one week before the game. They found out just like everyone else expected when No. 3 De La Salle (Concord) captured its 28th straight section title on Saturday night with a 42-7 triumph over previously unbeaten and state-ranked Liberty (Brentwood).
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 13-1
Did not play. The Braves were No. 2 in the final state rankings last year after they lost to Mater Dei and saw their season end in the CIFSS D1 championship. That happened once again a week ago on Friday with a 17-14 loss to the Monarchs.
3. De La Salle (Concord) 12-0
Defeated No. 8 Liberty (Brentwood) 42-7 on Saturday in CIF North Coast Section Open Division title game. The Spartans hadn’t played in three weeks since a 38-0 win over Pittsburg in the semis that was played on a Friday night, one night before the air got really awful in Northern California for nearly two weeks. Regardless, they won their 27th straight section title and will no doubt be named on Sunday opposite Mater Dei for the CIF Open Division state final. This will be the 13th straight year DLS has been in the CIF state football finals and the 10th in a row in the Open Division.
One of the big winners of the night was Folsom and head coach Kris Richardson. Photo: Willie Eashman.
4. Centennial (Corona) 12-1
Season complete. Head coach Matt Logan’s club lost in the CIFSS D1 semifinals two weeks ago 48-14 to Mater Dei. In Saturday’s Arizona Class 6A state final at Sun Devil Stadium, 12-1 Chandler defeated Perry of Chandler xxx. Chandler’s only loss was to the Huskies last August.
5. Folsom 12-1
Defeated No. 20 Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 63-25. Folsom won its second straight CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 title and sixth section title in seven years. With a head-to-head loss to De La Salle, Folsom will almost for sure be in the CIF D1-AA NorCal bowl game once again and probably will be playing state No. 9 and unbeaten Central (Fresno) once again as well. The Bulldogs scored 42 points n the third quarter after Monterey Trail kept it close in first half. QB Kaiden Bennett had 368 yards passing with 4 TDs and 147 yards rushing and three scores.
6. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 12-1
Season complete. Lions lost in CIFSS D1 semifinals 56-10 to No. 1 St. John Bosco two weeks ago. The biggest news surrounding them is where All-American DE Kayvon Thibodeaux is going to go to college.
7. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 9-3
Season complete. These Lions lost in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals three weeks ago to the Lions of Oaks Christian. Any downward movement heading toward the final rankings would be due to Central of Fresno potentially winning CIF D1-AA state title.
8. Liberty (Brentwood) 11-1
LOST to De La Salle (Concord) 42-7 on Saturday in NCS Open Division championship. A TD pass from Jay Butterfield to Cody Muth gave the Lions an early 7-0 lead, but De La Salle started making more breakaway plays on both sides of the ball. It was 21-7 half and went to 28-7 on a 59-yard TD run by DLS QB Dorian Hale in the third quarter. With the loss, although somewhat expected, the Lions likely are going to be placed into the CIF NorCal D1-A regional bowl for next week instead of staying in front of Fresno Central.
9. Central (Fresno) 13-0
Did not play. Head coach Kyle Biggs’ team won the CIF Central Section D1 title two weekends ago with a 58-34 triumph vs. Liberty of Bakersfield. Since the Grizzlies are unbeaten and won their second straight section title, they are expected to be named on Sunday as the opponent for defending D1-AA state champ Folsom in that same division for this year. The site for that game also may be at Central since Folsom had the game at its home field last season.
10. St. Francis (Mountain View) 11-2
LOST to No. 33 Valley Christian (San Jose) 31-30 in two OTs. CIF Central Coast Section Open 2 championship. It was a similar game as to when the Lancers beat VC 7-3 earlier in the season. This time, a late turnover contributed to the Warriors tying the score at 17-17 in regulation. After St. Francis scored in the second overtime, the PAT was blocked. The Warriors then made their PAT and in the process also shook up the CIF NorCal bowl game selections.
11. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 11-1*
Defeated No. 12 Narbonne (Harbor City) 24-21 on Friday. CIF D1-AA SoCal regional final. It’s the second D1-AA regional title in three years and sets the Dons up to also try to make it two state titles in three years in two weeks at Cerritos College. Based on Saturday scores in the north, the opponent probably will be the winner of a game next week between Folsom and Central of Fresno.
12. Narbonne (Harbor City) 10-4
LOST TO No. 11 Cathedral Catholic 24-21 in Friday’s SoCal D1-AA regional bowl game. The Gauchos came back from a poor first half and tied it up 21-21 on a 1-yard TD run by Brionne Penny with 6:05 left. They had a chance at the end, but sophomore QB Jake Garcia was intercepted at the 1-yard line with 19 seconds remaining. Garcia still had a strong outing: 36 of 47 for 334 yards and two TDs.
13. Mission Viejo 10-2*
Season complete. Head coach Chad Johnson’s club lost to Mater Dei in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinals 56-17. Some of the Diablos’ wins were over Upland, Liberty (Bakersfield), Orange Lutheran and Bishop Amat.
Players from Sierra Canyon gather around CIF D2-A title game trophy after win over San Mateo Serra in 2016. Photo: Mark Tennis.
14. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 8-3*
Season complete. The Lancers had a playoff loss to Mission Viejo 24-7 in CIFSS D1 first round. One of their losses before that was by just one point to JSerra and they had a forfeit win against Mater Dei.
15. Upland 12-3
LOST to No. 23 Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth 7-3. CIF SoCal D1-A regional final. The Highlanders couldn’t score against the Trailblazers’ defense but were great on defense themselves. It was a case of the CIFSS D2 champs from Upland falling to the CIFSS D3 winners.
16. Torrey Pines (San Diego) 10-1
Season complete. The Falcons were No. 11 before they lost to current No. 11 Cathedral Catholic two weeks ago in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship.
18. Calabasas 10-3
Season complete. Having wins over Lawndale and Sierra Canyon with losses to JSerra, Oaks Christian and Upland should keep the Coyotes firmly inside the state top 20 cutoff line.
19. Lutheran (Orange) 5-6**
Season complete. Two of the Lancers’ losses were to No. 4 Corona Centennial. The others were to St. John Bosco, Mater Dei, JSerra and Mission Viejo. Not all of them were blowouts, either.
20. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 12-1
LOST to No. 5 Folsom 63-25 on Saturday. CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 final. Still one of the greatest seasons in school history, the Mustangs were only down 14-13 and generally were in it until early in the third quarter.
21. Central Catholic (Modesto) 11-2
LOST to No. 25 Del Oro (Loomis) 20-17 on Saturday in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D2 final. The Raiders, who lost their only game previously to De La Salle, were seemingly in the process of running out the clock, but gave up a fumble return TD with 1:42 left and lost to the Golden Eagles.
22. Lawndale 12-2
Defeated South Hills (West Covina) 42-14 on Friday. CIF SoCal D2-A regional championship. Jordan Wilmore flashed his moves for 244 yards rushing and three TDs as the Cardinals advanced to their first CIF state title game.
23. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 12-3
Defeated No. 15 Upland 7-3 in CIF SoCal D1-A regional bowl game. The wins keep getting bigger for the Trailblazers, who will now play for a state title in two weeks against the NorCal D1-A winner.
24. Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 13-2
Defeated St. Augustine (San Diego) 28-14 on Friday. CIF SoCal D2-AA regional bowl game. Josh Henderson rushed for 150 yards and three TDs for the Lancers. That’s the son of Grace Brethren’s head coach with same name.
25. Del Oro (Loomis) 12-1
Defeated No. 21 Central Catholic (Modesto) 20-17 for SJS D2 title. Matt Smart’s 42-yard fumble return TD with 1:42 left was the game-winner. Ryan Whalley also booted a pair of field goals.
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TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Buchanan (Clovis) 9-3
Season complete. CIF Central Section D1 semifinals (lost to Liberty of Bakersfield).
Cajon (San Bernardino) 12-2
Season complete. CIFSS D3 finalist (lost to Sierra Canyon).
Capital Christian (Sacramento) 13-0
Defeated Placer (Auburn) 25-22. SJS D3 finals.
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 11-1
Defeated El Cerrito 38-0 on Friday. NCS D3 semifinals.
Clayton Valley (Concord) 9-2
Season complete. NCS Open Division semifinalist (lost to Liberty of Brentwood).
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 11-2-1
Season complete. CIFSS D4 finalist (lost to Grace Brethren).
Heritage (Menifee) 7-4
Season complete. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-1
Season complete. Loss to No. 21 Central Catholic (Modesto) 31-30. SJS D2 semifinals.
Liberty (Bakersfield) 10-3
Season complete. CIF Central Section D1 finalist.
Los Alamitos 9-2-1
Season complete. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-3
Season complete. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) 10-2
Defeated Wilcox (Santa Clara) 33-28. CCS Open Division 1 championship. 2nd section title in 3 years.
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) 12-1
LOST to Capital Christian (Sacramento) 25-22. SJS D3 finals.
Rancho Cucamonga 7-5
Season complete. CIFSS D1 quarterfinals.
San Clemente 7-5
Season complete. CIFSS D1 playoffs.
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) 13-0
Did not play. Waiting for NorCal bowl assignment. Central Sec D3 champion.
Servite (Anaheim) 4-5
Season complete. Fifth-place Trinity League.
South Hills (West Covina) 14-1
LOST to No. 22 Lawndale 42-14 on Friday in SoCal D2-A regional final.
St. Augustine (San Diego) 10-4
LOST to No. 24 Grace Brethren 28-14 in SoCal D2-AA regional final.
Tulare 13-0
Did not play. Waiting for NorCal bowl assignment. Central Sec D2 champion.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 11-2
Defeated No. 10 St. Francis (Mountain View) 31-30 in 2 OTs on Saturday. CCS Open 2 final.
Villa Park 10-2*
Season complete. CIFSS D4 semifinals. Loss to Grace Brethren.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 12-1
LOSS to Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) 33-28. CCS Open 1 championship.
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2 Comments
Narbonne does not belong. The city was just that bad this year. They should have lost to Poly and Los Al handled Poly.
They did lose to Poly but beat Serra and then Serra beat Poly. Narbonne also best Lawndale and barely just lost to Cathedral Catholic. Yes, the L.A. City was that bad, but Narbonne proved it should be at the minimum top 25 in state by how it played last Friday.