Mater Dei is going to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.
That was easy,
The other 13 divisions are not so easy.
Here we go again, a division-by-division examination of what’s coming up in the CIF-SS football playoffs that begin this week. The Orange County angle is heavy here, because that’s what we do …
DIVISION 1
Overview: The Southern Section folks were required to follow the Calpreps.com ratings of teams, which meant that all six teams from the mighty Trinity League had to be included and thus this is a 10-team division. Everybody expects another Mater Dei (9-0) and St. John Bosco (9-1) meeting in the final, but watch out for Orange Lutheran (7-3).
Semifinals: Mater Dei vs. Mission Viejo; Orange Lutheran vs. St. John Bosco.
Champion: Mater Dei. Inevitable. The Monarchs have great players at every position on the field.
DIVISION 2
Overview: A solid group of teams in this division. As for the Orange County teams, San Clemente (5-5) and Los Alamitos (5-5) have been inconsistent, Yorba Linda can be outstanding when on its game. San Juan Hills (9-1) is the second-best public school football team in the county behind Mission Viejo.
Semifinals: Murrieta Valley vs. San Juan Hills; Serra vs. Newbury Park.
Champion: Murrieta Valley. The Nighthawks have Stanford-committed quarterback Bear Bachmeier back and were already very good when injuries kept him out.
DIVISION 3
Overview: La Habra (9-1) has won nine a row including a 5-0 run through the Epsilon League. If they beat Mira Costa in the first round the Highlanders would have to play at Simi Valley or at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in the quarterfinals. Tustin (9-1) was 10-0 last year and lost in the first round, but that early exit won’t happen this time. The Tillers can pound their way for a couple of playoff wins. Edison (6-4) will bounce back from back-to-back losses to Mission Viejo and San Clemente. Simi Valley coach Jim Benkert is one of the better coaches in California high school football history.
Semifinals: Simi Valley vs. Tustin; Edison vs. Villa Park.
Champion: Tustin. Keeping star running back Eimesse Essis healthy and fresh is important for the Tillers. His production makes it easy to overlook the Tustin defense.
DIVISION 4
Overview: Capistrano Valley (8-2) might be a team to watch out for in this division. The Cougars had won six in a row before losing to Tustin 21-10 in Week 10. Keeping Tustin to 21 points is an accomplishment. Laguna Beach (9-1) has an excellent quarterback, Jackson Kollock, and excellent head coach, John Shanahan, but the Breakers might be in over their heads in this division. El Modena (8-2) needs to rely a bit less on their great playmaker, quarterback Xzavior Guess, to keep playoff-level defenses uncomfortable.
Semifinals: St. Bonaventure vs. Capistrano Valley; Long Beach Poly vs. El Modena.
Champion: Long Beach Poly. Yes, the Jackrabbits are 5-5 but their nonleague schedule was wild.
DIVISION 5
Overview: This division has a heck of a first-round game, Western (5-5) at Huntington Beach (6-4) on Friday. Western is playing its best at the best time to do so. Huntington Beach quarterback Brady Edmunds is a sophomore who plays like a college-bound senior. I keep expecting Brea Olinda (10-0) to falter, but the Wildcats continue to win and often by big margins. It would be great for Foothill (5-5) to make a deep run for coach Doug Case, who is retiring after this season, his 25th as head coach of the Knights. Trabuco Hills (5-5) comes out of the Delta League, a fine league, so the Mustangs are ready for playoff competition. Troy (9-1) lost only to Foothill, by only one point.
Semifinals: Western vs. Ventura; Moorpark vs. Palos Verdes.
Champion: Moorpark. The Musketeers lost to Ventura by one point in a Channel League game, but in the final it beats Ventura in another close one.
DIVISION 6
Overview: No. 1-seeded Muir (7-2) of Pasadena went 7-0 in the Pacific League with an average margin of victory of 49 points. That might make Muir a tad soft for the playoffs, or it gives the Mustangs loads of momentum and confidence. Northwood (8-2) is a feisty team with a fine defense. Aliso Niguel (7-3) and Dana Hills (8-2) would make for an excellent quarterfinals matchup if they get through the first round.
Semifinals: Muir vs. Murrieta Mesa; Hart of Newhall vs. Dana Hills.
Champion: Hart. Hawks junior quarterback Jacob Paisano comes in hot, having thrown for 316 yards and five touchdowns in the regular-season finale win over Saugus.
DIVISION 7
Overview: El Toro (5-5) and Marina (9-1) are the Orange County entries in this division. El Toro’s offense is good, the defense is suspect. Marina’s defense is good, the offense is suspect. West Torrance (8-2) takes a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs after going 5-0 in the Ocean League.
Semifinals: West Torrance vs. Vista del Lago of Moreno Valley; Warren vs. Yucaipa.
Champion: West Torrance. The Warriors are averaging 44 points a game.
DIVISION 8
Overview: Beckman (9-1) and Segerstrom (7-3) are seeded 1-2 in this division. Beckman’s loss was to Marina 27-24 in a Lambda League game in Week 10. Esperanza (6-4) might be better than the record suggests. Cypress got in as a 2-8 team and plays at 1-9 St. Pius X-St. Matthias in the first round.
Semifinals: Beckman vs. Hemet; Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga vs. Segerstrom.
Champion: Beckman. This is a very good all-around team.
DIVISION 9
Overview: Kennedy (7-3) and Sonora (5-5) did not seem so grand during the nonleague part of the season. Both scored big wins in league. Kennedy beat Marina 28-14 in the Lambda League to get a share of the league championship. Sonora beat Irvine 28-20 on the final Friday of the regular season to get the Raiders into the playoffs.
Semifinals: Highland vs. Quartz Hill; Long Beach Wilson vs. Norwalk.
Champion: Highland. The Bulldogs played a very ambitious nonleague schedule, including a game against Mission Viejo, then went 6-1 in the Golden League to gather plenty of momentum and confidence for the playoffs.
DIVISION 10
Overview: Pacifica (5-5) is the only Orange County team in this group. The Mariners beat Portola 28-0 in the final game of the regular season to win the Omicron League championship.
Semifinals: St. Anthony vs. Brentwood; Moreno Valley vs. Chino.
Champion: St. Anthony. The Saints took on a challenging nonleague schedule that included a 13-9 loss to 9-1 Summit of Fontana, and they finished second in the very good Del Rey League.
DIVISION 11
Overview: Orange County’s representatives here are Capistrano Valley Christian (5-5) and Los Amigos (10-0). The Lobos joined Brea Olinda, Mater Dei and Mission Viejo as the only Orange County teams to go undefeated in the regular season. Los Amigos, led by senior running back Isaac Galindo, averages 266 rushing yards a game. That will work just fine in the lower divisions. Capistrano Valley Christian has to make a long trip to Big Bear for its first-round game.
Semifinals: Don Lugo vs. Baldwin Park; Los Amigos vs. Santa Fe.
Champion: Los Amigos. Getting past Santa Fe in the semis is not going to be easy, because that team runs it very well, too.
DIVISION 12
Overview: Woodbridge (4-6) and Estancia (8-2) are the county teams in this division. Woodbridge went 1-5 against playoff teams. Estancia finished second to Los Amigos in the Sigma League.
Semifinals: Mary Star of San Pedro vs. Palmdale; Canyon Springs of Moreno Valley vs. Hacienda Heights Wilson.
Champion: Mary Star. Mary Star quarterback Tanner Rollins, who has thrown 29 touchdown passes, is a major advantage in Division 12.
DIVISION 13
Overview: Anaheim (8-2) was placed in the Tango League, a league that offered a chance at success, and the Colonists won the league championship. Calvary Chapel lost to undefeated Los Amigos by one one point, 17-16, in the final week of the regular season.
Semifinals: Gahr vs. Anaheim; Calvary Chapel vs. San Marino.
Champion: San Marino. The Titans scored 90 points over their final two regular-season games.
DIVISION 14
Overview: Costa Mesa (7-3), Bolsa Grande (5-5), La Quinta (7-3) and Saddleback (6-4) represent Orange County in this division. Costa Mesa was 0-2 in the Tango League before winning three in a row to get into the playoffs. Saddleback went from 0-10 last season to winning the Zeta League championship this season.
Semifinals: Duarte vs. Costa Mesa; Arroyo of El Monte vs. Saddleback.
Champion: Duarte. The Falcons started 0-1 in the Miramonte League before going 4-0 the rest of the way, including a clutch 28-27 win over La Puente to get a league co-championship with La Puente.
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