Players from St. Vincent de Paul of Petaluma were all smiles after they stepped up to take down unbeaten Hughson in CIF NorCal D4-AA title game on Friday. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Thrillers in D1-AA see wins in the final seconds for Lincoln of San Diego over Newbury Park and Pittsburg over Folsom. Newbury Park also wasn’t the only undefeated team to fall as both Hughson and Coalinga in D4-AA both lost and Winters lost as well. Plus, Grant of Sacramento and Pacifica of Oxnard get it done in D2-AA.
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CIF State Championship games will be played next week at sites in Southern California — Saddleback College (Mission Viejo), Veterans Stadium (Long Beach) & Fullerton District Stadium.
The Open Division championship (in which there are no regional games beforehand) will be next Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. at Saddleback between state No. 1 Mater Dei of Santa Ana (12-0) and state No. 4 De La Salle of Concord (12-0). Saddleback also will be hosting the CIF state title games for D2-AA and D1-AA on Friday, Dec. 13 and then D2-A and D1-A on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Divisions 3-AA, 3-A, 4-AA, 4-A and 5-A will be at Veterans Stadium. Just as at Saddleback, the AA games are Friday withe the A games on Saturday.
Divisions 5-AA, 6-AA, 6-A, 7-AA and 7-A will be at Fullerton. Again, all AA games are Friday, all A games are Saturday.
DIVISION 1–AA
North: Pittsburg (NCS D1) 28, Folsom (SJS D1) 27
After a poor start helped the visiting Bulldogs post a 21-0 lead, the Pirates came all the way back, pulled in front and then had to hold on for the historic win. They have reached the CIF state championships before, but not in the second highest division (0-2 in previous games) and this time they topped the same team they lost to in the 2023 NorCal D1-A final.
Pitt (No. 8 in this week’s State TOP 50) improved to 11-2. Its losses are to higher ranked St. John Bosco and De La Salle. Folsom (No. 7 in state) fell to 11-2 (not counting one win by forfeit).
In a matchup of two teams that had definite plans to go for the NorCal Open Division berth this season that went to De La Salle of Concord (12-0), the Pittsburg defense made plays at the end that decided the outcome.
The first came after Folsom junior QB Ryder Lyons, last season’s State Sophomore Player of the Year, scored on a 2-yard run late in the game. The Bulldogs went for a two-point conversion to take the lead, but Lyons was tackled short. Folsom then earned another series in the final minute to potentially take the lead but on a desperation 4th-and-20 play Lyons had a fumble that was recovered by Jamar Searcy.
The Bay Area News Group reported that Pitt QB Marley Alcantara completed 19 of 28 passes for 255 yards and four TDs. Two of those went to Ralph Mosley, who tied the game in the third quarter with a 25-yard catch. The Pirates took a 28-21 lead on a TD catch by Truly Bell.
South: Lincoln of San Diego (SD Open) 34, Newbury Park (CIFSS D2) 27
Two incredible catches lifted the Hornets to their second SoCal D1-AA title in the last three years and now they will try to match the 2022 team’s accomplishment of winning a D1-AA state title next Friday vs Pittsburg.
With the team trailing the Panthers 27-21 and facing a fourth down and goal from the 15-yard line, QB Akili Smith had to get the ball into the end zone and he did. Four players were around the ball and Newbury Park’s Shane Rosenthal couldn’t quite get the interception but he thought he had knocked the ball out of play. Instead, the ball fell into the hands of Lincoln’s Joshua Newbern, who was laying on the ground. He caught the ball for the touchdown. The PAT, however, was blocked so with 2:31 left in the game the score was tied 27-27.
Newbury Park still had two timeouts and plenty of time to get down the field for a winning field goal or touchdown. Instead, the Panthers were hit by a pair of 15-yard penalties and were forced to punt.
Incredible catch No. 2 came when Lincoln had enough time for its own possible game-winning score. It happened on another throw into the end zone by the Oregon-bound Smith. This time, he went to teammate Courtney Miller-Thompson streaking across the back of the zone toward the far right corner pylon. Thompson-Miller made the catch diving out-of-bounds, and after a very brief meet-up between two officials, they both signaled touchdown and Lincoln had the lead at 34-27 after the PAT with just 21 seconds left.
Newbury Park got into position for a Hail-Mary play with one second left, but QB Brady Smigiel couldn’t get the throw off and was sacked. Smigiel, the junior QB who has committed to Florida State, was reported 11 of 25 for 210 yards and three TDs by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He was under pressure all night and was sacked seven times.
Smith’s escapability and trust in throwing it to his teammates’ in tough spots helped him go 18 of 29 for 272 yards and three TDs. He also had 63 yards rushing.
Lincoln (11-2) was the lowest ranked of the four CIF D1-AA regional finalists at No. 12, but that’s because the Hornets have had to be behind JSerra of San Juan Capistrano due to a head-to-head loss. The Panthers’ magical season was halted at 14-1.
San Diego Lincoln players were dancing in the streets probably until the wee hours of Saturday morning after their win on Friday against Newbury Park in the CIF SoCal D1-AA championship game in Chula Vista. Photo: @THEHIVEFB / X.com.
DIVISION 2–AA
North: Grant of Sacramento (SJS D2) 32, St. Francis of Mountain View (CCS D1) 30
In Grant’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section title game, kicker Jose Romero missed three PATs. He didn’t miss the biggest kick of the Pacers’ season so far, however, with a 25-yard field goal with 5.7 seconds left that gave them their second straight NorCal D2-AA title. Grant (11-3) will now try to win its third CIF state title next week down south after losing in the D2-AA final last season to La Serna of Whittier.
St. Francis (10-4) had taken a 30-29 lead with 1:23 left on a two-point conversion by Motu Keanaaina after QB Aaron Knapp tossed a 17-yard TD pass to Grant Righellis. Motu’s older brother, Kingston, the Lancers’ standout RB, played all night despite an injured shoulder. The teams were tied 22-22 when Grant scored on a 60-yard fumble return by Ezekiel Castex. Koby “Cheese” Shabazz had two TD catches from QB Luke Alexander, who also calmly moved the Pacers down the the field to get them in range for Romero’s kick.
South: Pacifica of Oxnard (CIFSS D5) 37, Narbonne of Harbor City (LA City Open) 20
Special teams play was the big difference in this game without question as the Tritons were credited with three blocked punts and two blocked field goals that set up their own scores and prevented points for the Gauchos. Budder Aina scored off of a blocked punt in the second half to break a 20-20 tie. Narbonne (7-3 on the field this season) had tied the game on a 7-yard run by Mark Iheanachor. QB Jaden O’Neal only had one TD pass after getting six last week. Pacifica (11-4) also had a TD on a blocked punt by Max Magana. Sophomore Isaiah Phelps also had a big night with 18 tackles on defense plus 22 carries for 96 yards on offense. The Tritons will now look to win their second CIF state title. The first came in 2019.
DIVISION 3–AA
North: Amador Valley of Pleasanton (NCS D2) 43, McClymonds of Oakland (Oakland) 33
Ismael Duenas ran for an 8-yard TD in the fourth quarter to give Amador the lead and then scored again on a 12-yard run for insurance points as the Dons advanced to their first-ever CIF state football final. Head coach Danny Jones’ team actually scored the final 21 points in the game as McClymonds had a 33-22 lead. San Diego State-bound QB Tristan Tia also had two TD passes and one TD run for Amador, which is now 9-5 (not counting a forfeit win) but has gone on a postseason run after a wild 54-48 overtime loss to end the regular season vs California of San Ramon. McClymonds, which has won five CIF state titles in its history, fell in a regional final for the second straight season. The Warriors (8-4) lost in the D3-A regional final last season to Marin Catholic of Kentfield.
South: Frontier of Bakersfield (Central Sec D1-A) 39, Murrieta Mesa of Murrieta (SS D6) 7
Not much went right for the visiting Rams in their loss in Bakersfield. The Titans, who will try to win their first CIF state title next week, clicked in their passing game as Brady Campbell threw to talented junior Kobie Watson for three TDs, including one catch in the end zone that was one-handed. Brandon Thomas also helped Frontier (10-4) get out to a 39-0 halftime lead by returning a fumble for a score. Murrieta Mesa ended 10-5 overall.
DIVISION 4–AA
North: St. Vincent de Paul of Petaluma (NCS D5) 42, Hughson (SJS D5) 14
In the early going of this matchup, the Hughson fans and media on the its side of the field were admonishing their team with shouts similar to “let’s get going” and “c’mon, let’s wake up.” A little past halftime, however, after the Mustangs had expanded a 21-7 lead to 28-7, reality had set in. The Huskies were just being outclassed by a better team.
Hughson QB Robert McDaniel gained attention earlier in the week for flipping on a commitment to Arizona and signing with UCLA. He talked to reporters after his team’s loss on Friday in the CIF NorCal D4-AA title game. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Three turnovers helped increase the margin and an injury in the first half that limited brand new UCLA signed QB Robert McDaniel (he played but with a noticeable limp in his left leg) hurt Hughson as well, but St. Vincent (13-1) had all the answers. It will now look to win a D4-AA state crown after winning it in D6-AA last season.
Such a jump was hard to ignore when the CIF announced its pairings last Sunday and even St. Vincent head coach Trent Herzog said afterward that he agreed with doubts about whether his team could do what it did. Remember, Hughson has played traditionally at a higher level of small school football for many years than the Mustangs. Herzog’s team not only broke through but showed it could be the top small school team in California this season.
“This is the biggest win of my career,” said Herzog, who was previously head coach at Casa Grande of Petaluma before going to St. Vincent. “Yeah, not a lot of people gave us a shot and most picked against us. But we got it. We were playing against a Power 5 QB on the road. We did it because all of the coaches came up with a great game plan and the kids executed it unbelievably.”
Mason Caturegli raced through holes in the Hughson defense all night and rushed for four touchdowns as one of the offensive standouts. QB Gabe Casanovas threw a swing pass on the team’s first play for a 61-yard scamper down the sidelines by Joseph Edwards Phillips and later had a 26-yard TD to tight end Jack Ellis, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior who also was a menace deflecting passes and making plays on defense.
Hughson ended the season at 13-1 and will drop from the No. 2 spot in the state small schools rankings it was in this week. It also marked the second straight season that the Huskies (who won a CIF state title in 2022) had lost in a NorCal regional final. They fell last season to Palma of Salinas.
South: Highland of Lancaster (CIFSS D8) 33, Coalinga (Central Sec D4) 31
TV footage from Fresno showed almost all of the stands at Coalinga packed to see the host team try to get to 15-0 and win its first-ever CIF regional title. It didn’t happen. Highland blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds to send everyone home sad. The Bulldogs (11-4) will now look to win their first-ever CIF state title after losing in the D4-AA title game in 2019 to Ripon. Head coach Justin Wyatt Sr. scheduled games against Oak Hills (Hesperia) and even Mission Viejo to get ready for the league, section and potentially state contests. His son, Justin Wyatt Jr. (signed by Nevada as an athlete), threw a go-ahead 68-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and had a 60-yard TD run.
DIVISION 5–AA
North: Carmel (CCS D3) 42, Acalanes of Lafayette (NCS D3) 41
One undefeated team on Friday that didn’t lose was the Padres in this game. They moved to 13-0 in dramatic fashion by stopping a two-point conversion attempt with no time left on the clock. Acalanes (10-4) was looking to return to the CIF state finals in a lower division after winning it all in D3-AA last season and came up short when Carmel’s Simeon Brown tackled QB Tyler Winkles short of the goal line. Winkles gave the Dons a shot to win it by throwing a 25-yard TD pass to Niko White with no time left. Instead of kicking the PAT and overtime, longtime head coach Floyd Burnsed went for the win. Carmel earlier had scored a TD with no time left before halftime on a 16-yard TD pass from Hudson Rutherford to Ty Arnold. Ashton Rees also led the Padres with four TDs. Carmel has never won a CIF state football title.
South: El Capitan of Lakeside (SD D4) 33, Silverado of Victorville (CIFSS D10) 19
The Vaqueros (11-3) won their 10th straight game by getting their passing game going in the second half. Head coach Ron Burner’s team only led 7-0 on a 6-yard run by QB Brandt Barker. After that, though, El Cap got going behind Barker’s 56-yard TD pass to Michael Valencia and 20-yard TD pass to Ayden Benegas. Barker also had a 60-yard pass that set up a short run that made the score 33-13. Jace Weiss passed for two TDs for Silverado (9-6) and went past 3,000 yards passing for the season. El Cap is returning to the CIF state finals for the first time since 2014 in D3 when it couldn’t hold a 28-7 lead in the final 12 minutes and were stunned 35-28 by Campolindo of Moraga. Campo’s final TD came on a 89-yard fumble return as the Vaqueros were getting in position to perhaps win the game on a field goal.
DIVISION 6–AA
North: Arcata (NCS D6) 35, Winters (Northern Sec D3) 14
It was hard to get a guage on just how strong Winters was this season, but the Warriors had a hard time with the Tigers and lost for the first time this season. They finished 11-1 (10-1 on the field). Arcata improved to 13-1 with its only loss coming to a Ferndale squad that it also defeated. Luke Lemke had two TD passes and one TD run for the Tigers. Arcata has never won a CIF state football title in its history.
South: Portola of Irvine (CIFSS D11) 35, King/Drew of Los Angeles (LA City D1) 34 (OT)
Jahmir Torres of King/Drew had the top stat line of the night in the state with three TD catches, a fumble return touchdown and two interceptions in this game. He couldn’t convert a two-point conversion attempt in overtime, though, as Reggie Thorn was credited with the tackle that clinched the win for the Bulldogs. Portola (9-6) will now aim to win its first-ever CIF state title next week. The game went to overtime at 28-28 as the Bulldogs blocked a field goal with seconds remaining. It also was tied at 14-14 and 21-21 before a fumble return TD by Torres gave King/Drew the lead. Timothy Grettenberg scored on a 3-yard TD for the Bulldogs with two minutes left in the game that tied the score again. He also scored on a 5-yard TD on their first series of overtime. King/Drew ended its season at 11-4.
DIVISION 7–AA
North: Moreau Catholic of Hayward (NCS D7) 42, Leland of San Jose (CCS D5) 11
Head coach Keith Minor’s quest to bring a CIF state title to Hayward continued with a dominant win over the Chargers. Jeremiah Charles was reported 9-of-9 passing for 278 yards and four TDs, two of those going to the reliable Jalen Arnold. Moreau (10-4) has never won a CIF state title and neither has any team from Hayward. Leland finished 9-4. The win also helped the CIF North Coast Section go 5-1 in regional title games on the night with the only loss by one point.
South: Lindsay (Central Sec D6) 35, Chatsworth (LA City D2) 20
It was a long haul for the Cardinals (10-5) down to the San Fernando Valley, but they came home happy and will now have to head back down to SoCal again next week to try to win their first-ever state title. Our NorCal Special Teams/Multi-Purpose Player of the Week, Jose Cortes, rushed for two TDs for Lindsay, QB Uriah Guerrero had a TD pass and TD run. Ethan Cortes had a TD catch and a TD run. The Chancellors ended 9-6 overall.
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.
