San Diego Section Football Teams Enter Southern California Regionals
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At 13-0, Santa Fe Christian High School boasts the best record of any football team in the San Diego Section. Yet the Eagles will open the Southern California regionals against a team with an even better record.
Open Division champion Cathedral Catholic is ranked higher than its SoCal Regional draw, yet the Dons have been told to hit the road.
And no-huddle, pedal-to-the-metal Division 1 champion Granite Hills meets a pass-happy team whose quarterback has tossed 49 touchdown passes.
Pairings for the Southern California Regional playoffs were announced Sunday afternoon and hereS a look at the six San Diego Section teams with dreams of being fitted for state championship rings.
The SoCal Regional winners advance to play for state titles on Dec. 12 and 13. Here’s a look at the teams in the Regionals:
Cathedral Catholic: The Dons (10-2) face Los Alamitos (12-2) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Long Beach City College in the Division 1-AA regional. While Cathedral is ranked 10th in the state by Maxpreps.com and Los Al is ranked 13th, it’s the Dons who’ll play the role of visitors, which bothers Cathedral coach Sean Doyle not in the least.
“Even if every San Diego school was ranked higher in each division, they’re going to split them up,” he said. “you’ve got to beat them. It doesn’t matter where you play.”
Los Alamitos is led by dual-threat quarterback Colin Creason. The Griffins outscored Granite Hills 49-42 in September.
“Up front, in the offensive line,” said Granite Hills coach Kellen Cobbs, “I think Cathedral has the advantage.”
Granite Hills: The Division 1 champion Eagles (10-3) play host to Oxnard pacifica (14-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Division 1-A matchup.
Given how much both teams like to throw the ball, this one may not end until midnight. Pacifica quarterback Taylor Lee, a junior, has thrown for 3,557 yards and 49 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Pacifica features three pass catchers with 10 or more receiving touchdowns.
The game will pit two of the state’s best junior QBs. Granite’s Zac Benitez, a three-year starter, has thrown for 3,674 yards and 39 TDs with nine interceptions.
Sunday afternoon, Cobbs was still reveling in Granite Hills’ 41-29 San Diego Section Division 1 comeback win against Lincoln. Less than three minutes into the game, Granite trailed 14-0.
“I’m not going to lie: I looked and said, ‘Oh (darn), this could get out of hand pretty quickly,'” Cobbs said. “But I told the guys if we got within a score by halftime, we’d win the football game.”
Granite Hills pulled to within 21-20 of Lincoln at the half.
santa Fe Christian: The Eagles will match their 13-0 record against Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep (14-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Carlsbad High in the Division 2-A regional.
It’s a captivating matchup of s
CIF State Football Championship Playoff Schedule: Divisions 5-7 announced
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has announced the schedule for the state football championship playoff games in Divisions 5-A, 6-AA, 6-A, 7-AA, and 7-A. These games will take place on Friday and Saturday, December 6th and 7th, 2024, pitting top teams from Northern and Southern California against each other. Here’s a complete breakdown of the matchups, dates, times, and locations:
Division 5-A
* North: Orinda miramonte (8-5) at San Andreas calaveras (11-2), 6 p.m. Saturday
* South: Bishop Union (11-3) at South Gate (11-3), 6 p.m. Saturday
Division 6-AA
* North: Gridley (13-0) at San Jose Lincoln (7-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday
* South: Moreno Valley Valley View (9-5) at Valley Center (7-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 6-A
* North: Winters (12-1) at O’Neal’s Minarets (12-1), 6 p.m. Saturday
* South: Morse vs. Simi Valley Grace (11-3) at Moorpark College, 6 p.m. Saturday
Division 7-AA
* North: Palo Cedro Redding Christian (13-0) at Middletown (11-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday
* South: San Fernando (5-8) vs. Irvine Woodbridge (6-8) at University High School, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 7-A
* North: san Jose Piedmont Hills (10-3) at San Francisco Balboa (10-2), 12:30 p.m. Saturday
* South: Los Angeles Santee (10-4) at South El Monte (10-4), 6 p.m. Saturday
Key Takeaways:
* Northern California Dominance: Several Northern California teams boast undefeated or near-undefeated records, indicating strong competition.
* southern California Challenges: Southern California teams present a formidable challenge, with several also holding notable records.
* Diverse Locations: Games will be played at high school stadiums and a college venue (Moorpark College), offering varied environments for these championship contests.
* Friday Night lights & saturday Showdowns: The schedule includes both Friday evening and Saturday afternoon/evening games, providing multiple opportunities for fans to attend.
The CIF State Football Championship playoffs represent the culmination of a season of hard work and dedication for these high school athletes. These games promise exciting matchups and showcase the talent within California’s high school football programs. Fans can follow the CIF website (https://cifstate.org/) for further updates, scores, and details regarding the championships.