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 here’s 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 fascinating matchup of small-school programs. SFC has an enrollment of nearly 420, about half of them boys. Rio Hondo Prep is even smaller with an enrollment of about 135, including 80-plus boys, more than half of whom play football.
Said SFC coach Jon Wallace: “Our kids will battle.”
Christian: The Patriots (7-7) visit Cerritos Valley Christian (11-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Division 5-AA regional.
Christian gets a break with Valley Christian quarterback Graham Lunzer out with an injury suffered in the playoffs. Lunzer passed for 2,065 yards and 23 TDs, plus rushed for 519 yards and 14 scores.
“I feel for ’em,” said Christian coach Patrick Bugg. “I hate that for the kid. But for us, it’ll definitely be an advantage.”
Valley Center: In the Division 6-AA regional, Valley Center (7-6) hosts Moreno Valley Valley View (9-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Jaguars must find a way to contain Valley View quarterback Jesse Vega. A senior, Vega has passed for 1,570 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 1,273 yards and 18 scores.
Morse: In the Division 6-A regional, Morse (9-4) faces Simi Valley Grace (11-3) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Moorpark College.
Morse’s defense will be put to the test against a three-headed monster. Grace’s Riley Williams has thrown for 3,295 yards and 43 TDs, running back Jake Williams has rushed for 1,947 yards and 20 TDs, while Landon Cooper has caught 21 touchdown passes.
CIF State Football Championships
Open Division
Concord De La Salle (12-0) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3), at Saddleback College, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.
Division 1-AA
North: San Francisco Archbishop Riordan (12-0) at Folsom (12-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday
South: Cathedral Catholic (10-2) vs. Los Alamitos (12-2) at Long Beach Community College, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 1-A
North: Fresno Central East (11-1) at Pittsburg (12-1), 6 p.m. Saturday
South: Oxnard Pacifica (14-0) at Granite Hills (10-3), 7 p.m. Saturday
Division 2-AA
North: San Mateo Serra (8-5) at Stockton St. Mary’s (11-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday
South: La Habra (11-3) at Bakersfield Christian (12-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 2-A
North: Roseville Woodcreek (12-1) at Sonora (13-0), 6 p.m. Saturday
South: Rio Hondo Prep (14-0) vs. Santa Fe Christian (13-0) at Carlsbad High School, 6 p.m. Saturday
Division 3-AA
North: Danville Monte Vista (8-5) at San Francisco St. Ignatius (7-6), 7 p.m. Friday
South: Ventura (11-2) at Arroyo Grande (9-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 3-A
North: Roseville (11-2) at McClymonds (10-2), 6 p.m. Saturday
South: Delano Robert F. Kennedy (11-3) at Carson (10-3), 6 p.m. Saturday
Division 4-AA
North: Sutter (12-1) vs. Ferndale (13-0) at Cal Poly Humboldt, 7:30 p.m. Friday
South: Reedley Immanuel (13-0) at Barstow (10-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Division 4-A
North: El Cerrito (11-2) at Menlo-Atherton (7-6), 6 p.m. Saturday
South: Riverside Hillcrest (8-5) vs. Irvine Beckman (9-4) at Tustin High School, 6 p.m. Saturday
Division 5-AA
North: Oakland Bishop O’Dowd (9-4) at Chico (11-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday
South: Christian at Cerritos Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m. Friday
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