Central Catholic of Modesto head coach Roger Canepa holds up a sign indicating the new coaching record for all-time wins in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section on Friday after team defeated Edison of Stockton in a D1 section quarterfinal. Photo: Mark Tennis.
(Saturday score added) There were a lot of teams that lost on Thursday and Friday, but the only ones who did to lower ranked teams were No. 7 Carlsbad, No. 12 Long Beach Poly and No. 22 Rancho Cucamonga. The CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals (one played Thursday, the other Friday) were about as great as any high school football game could be. Both went into overtime. Rancho Cucamonga also lost in overtime, 53-52, to Murrieta Valley on a controversial call on a game-winning two-point try.
Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Monday night. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on 45 years of going to Friday night games with an overview of the state’s top teams and what’s coming up that just can’t be matched. Each new set of rankings will be for Gold Club members only. The late Friday/Weekend Scoreboards will continue to be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more.
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(Rankings based on previous State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Friday, Nov. 10)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 10-1
Defeated No. 20 San Clemente, 35-10, on Friday in CIF Southern Section D1 quarterfinals. The Braves were only ahead 14-10 at halftime, but quickly went up 28-10 in the third quarter on a 49-yard TD run by Chauncey Sylvester and then a 7-yard interception return TD by Tamal Johnson. Bosco is hosting No. 3 Centennial next Friday in the semifinals.
2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 10-1
Defeated No. 9 JSerra of SJ Capistrano, 38-0, on Friday in CIF Southern Section D1 quarterfinals. Ajon Bryant ran for three TDs for the MD offense. The defense pitched a shutout and was much better than in the final regular season game vs Santa Margarita. MD is playing No. 4 Sierra Canyon next Friday in the semifinals.
The JSerra offense is looking to try to create some room near the end zone against the Mater Dei defense during Friday’s game at the Santa Ana Bowl. Photo: @MDFootball / Twitter.com.
3. Centennial (Corona) 9-2
Defeated No. 10 Orange Lutheran, 63-39, on Friday in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals. It was 35-20 at halftime, but the final two scores of the game were by OLu. The fourth of five TDs scored on the night by senior RB Cornell Hatcher Jr. was on a 80-yard sprint that made the score 42-27. The Huskies put it away after that.
4. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 11-0
Defeated No. 15 Santa Margarita of Rancho SM, 37-20, on Friday in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals. Dane Dunn and Terrell Cooks Jr. both rushed for two TDs. It is the first ever win for the Trailblazers in the top division of the CIFSS playoffs. It also is the 11th time in the last 13 years that Sierra Canyon has advanced to the CIFSS semifinals. The team is playing Mater Dei next.
5. Serra (San Mateo) 11-0
Defeated Salinas 47-7 on Saturday in CIF Central Coast Section Open/D1 playoffs. Interception return TDs by Jaden Green and Kyon Loud helped Serra to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter and 47-0 at halftime. The Padres will play Wilcox of Santa Clara for the CCS Open title on Friday. Wilcox (a team that has a loss to Edison of Huntington Beach) upset No. 2 seed St. Francis of Mountain View and in the split bracket format it’s not the No. 3 seed that moves up for a chance to upset No. 1 but the No. 7 seed. With a seemingly weaker CCS pool of teams than usual, Serra has been a heavy favorite to go all the way to the CIF Open Division final since its first two wins over Folsom and De La Salle.
6. Lincoln (San Diego) 11-0
Defeated No. 16 Helix of La Mesa, 45-38, in two overtimes on Friday in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals. All season long, it has seemed like a march for the Lincoln-Carlsbad final but it’ll be just as good with Lincoln playing Granite Hills next week. The Hornets survived in their game on a 36-yard field goal by Felix Radilla Benavidez on the last play in regulation that tied the score 31-31. They won it in the second overtime on a 13-yard TD run by Donald Reed and then the defense stopped Helix one yard short of a first down on a fourth down play to end the game.
7. Carlsbad 10-1
LOST to No. 12 Granite Hills of El Cajon, 46-45, in overtime on Thursday in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals. Mason Walsh rushed for three TDs and Julian Sayin threw for two scores but Granite Hills went for a two-pointer at the end of the overtime and made it to win the game.
8. Clovis North (Fresno) 11-0
Defeated Clovis West (Fresno) 34-0 on Thursday in the CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals. All of the CIF Central Section playoff games this week were played on Thursday (due to the Veterans Day holiday being celebrated as a day off from school on Friday). The LA City Section (which doesn’t have any top 25 or top 50 overall teams) also had its games on Thursday. Clovis North beat Clovis West this week by a much larger margin (34-27) than in the regular season. Clovis East will be next for the Broncos in next week’s semifinals.
9. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 5-6
LOST to No. 2 Mater Dei of Santa Ana, 38-0, on Friday. There wasn’t much that went right on offense for the Lions in the CIFSS D1 quarterfinal loss but their defense did get a few stops.
10. Lutheran (Orange) 5-6
LOST to No. 3 Corona Centennial, 63-39, on Friday. Steve Chavez had two rushing TDs in the first half of the CIFSS D1 quarterfinal that helped to make the score 35-20 and in the third quarter T.J. Lateef had a 13-yard TD run that trimmed the lead to 35-27. It was all Huskies after that.
11. De La Salle (Concord) 9-2
Defeated James Logan (Union City) 48-20 on Friday evening in the opening round of the North Coast Section Open/Division 1 playoffs. The Spartans never trailed in the 48-20 romp of the Colts, but it was surprising to see De La Salle surrender 13 points in the first half. No. 17 San Ramon Valley (Danville) escaped with a 38-31 overtime victory over Campolindo (Moraga) to set up the NCS Open title game against the Wolves.
12. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 10-2
LOST to No. 24 Servite of Anaheim on Friday, 27-20 in overtime, in CIFSS D2 quarterfinals. The Jackrabbits missed a 37-yard field goal with seconds left that could have won the game. They lost on a bad snap that resulted in a lost fumble that Servite recovered in the overtime that did win the same. The Friars had scored on their first series of the extra time. Despite having a head-to-head wins over Mission Viejo and Serra (Gardena), those teams are still going in the CIFSS D2 playoffs while Poly is done.
13. Folsom 9-2
Defeated Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 49-7 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs. Ryder Lyons connected with Jameson Powell three times for scores in the first half, as the sophomore quarterback finished with four passing touchdowns. Chris Warren finished off the win with a 72-yard interception return for a pick six.
14. Granite Hills (El Cajon) 11-0
Defeated No. 7 Carlsbad, 46-45 in overtime, on Thursday in CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals. The Eagles are experts in these overtime games with wins last season over Helix and San Ramon Valley and now wins this season over Helix and Carlsbad. In this one, Carlsbad went first in the OT, scored and kicked a PAT before the Eagles scored and went for a two-pointer. They got it on a run by Pablo Jackson and stretched their win streak to 20 games. Their opponent in the title game, Lincoln of San Diego, has won 24 in a row and those are the two longest current win streaks in the state.
Senior RB Cornell Hatcher had another huge night for Corona Centennial in win vs Orange Lutheran in CIFSS D1 playoffs. Photo: Mark Tennis.
15. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 5-6
LOST to No. 4 Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, 37-20, on Friday in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals. On a cold and windy night, the Eagles had some chances against the unbeaten Trailblazers but didn’t make enough plays. Trent Mosley rushed for one TD while John Gazzaniga ran for one TD and threw for one to Kyle Brody.
16. Helix (La Mesa) 9-2
LOST to No. 6 Lincoln of San Diego, 45-38 in overtime, on Friday in CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals. Ryland Jessee threw four TD passes for the Highlanders, who also got a strong outing from RB Kevin Allen III. Allen was stopped short by one yard, however, on a fourth down play in overtime that won the game for Lincoln.
17. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 10-1
Defeated Campolindo (Moraga) 38-31 in overtime on Friday in NCS Open/D1 playoffs. Survive and advance for the Wolves, as San Ramon Valley stormed back and held on for the victory. Campolindo missed a 44-yard field goal with under nine seconds remaining that would have won the game in regulation. San Ramon Valley will have another crack at No. 12 De La Salle (Concord) in the North Coast Section Open Finals.
18. Serra (Gardena) 9-3
Defeated Los Alamitos 38-28 on Friday in Southern Section D2 playoffs. Serra and Los Alamitos went back and forth all evening, but it was a Jimmy Butler 41-yard pass to Zacharyus Williams to start the fourth quarter that was the eventual winning score for Serra. Camron Harris-Willcot put Serra up 10 points on a two-yard rushing touchdown with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Up next will be taking on Servite (Anaheim).
19. Pittsburg 11-0
Defeated Amador Valley of Pleasanton 41-14 on Friday in NCS Open/D1 playoffs. The Pirates continued their undefeated season in a contest that was only a 14-0 lead for Pitt at the halftime break. Pittsburg will host California (San Ramon) next after the Grizzlies upended Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) also in the opening round. The winner will take on the loser of No. 12 De La Salle (Concord) and No. 17 San Ramon Valley (Danville) for the NCS D2 title.
20. San Clemente 9-2
LOST to No. 1 St. John Bosco, 35-10, on Friday in CIFSS D1 quarterfinals. The Tritons got a great sendoff when they left school in their busses for the long ride up to Bellflower. They also led 10-0 in the first half on a TD pass by Dylan Mills and a field goal by Max Gonzales. It was the Braves dominating, however, after that.
21 St. Mary’s (Stockton) 10-1
Defeated Vacaville 38-0 in SJS D2 quarterfinals. Asante Carter had three rushing touchdowns, as the Rams waltz into the semifinals in a loaded Division 2. St. Mary’s will host fourth seeded Manteca next week, as the Buffaloes pushed past Granite Bay, 21-14, in their game.
22. Rancho Cucamonga 10-2
LOST to bubble team Murrieta Valley of Murrieta, 53-52 in two overtimes, on Friday in CIFSS D2 quarterfinals. There were four lead changes in this shootout in the fourth quarter alone. Trey Wilson rushed for five TDs for the Cougars but they lost it when a player from Murrieta Valley was ruled to have crossed the goal line on a game-winning two-point attempt. It’s hard to tell on replays whether the play should have counted as the Rancho defense seemed to have plugged up its gaps.
23. Mission Viejo 9-3
Defeated No. 26 Oaks Christian 39-14 in CIFSS D2 playoffs. It appeared that Mission Viejo would take a 19-6 lead into the halftime break, but Jeron Jones broke the game open for good with a 19-yard pick-six in the final minute of the first half. Hinesward Lilomaiava had three rushing touchdowns for the Diablos. Murrieta Valley up next for Mission Viejo.
24. Servite (Anaheim) 7-5
Defeated No. 12 Long Beach Poly, 27-20 in overtime, on Friday in CIFSS D2 quarterfinals. Gavin Gutierrez scoring a 4-yard run with 1:30 left that tied the score, Quaid Carr had an 18-yard run for a score in overtime and Brando MosQueda recovered a fumble on Poly’s overtime possession to give Servite the win. The Friars are playing next at Serra (Gardena).
25. Los Alamitos 9-3
LOST to No. 18 Serra (Gardena), 38-28, on Friday in CIFSS D2 playoffs. The road came to an end for the Griffins, who will be satisfied with winning a Sunset League title this season but came up short in the playoffs and in losses to Mission Viejo and Servite.
Tyus Miller of Clovis East has his team in the Central Section D1 semifinals. Photo: Mark Tennis.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Central (Fresno) 9-3
Defeated previously unbeaten and No. 2 seed Frontier (Bakersfield) 36-32 on Thursday in CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals. David Marquez passed for 335 yards and five TDs in his fifth game since taking over as No. 1 QB. Team that lost 27-20 to Clovis North will look to avenge an earlier loss to Liberty (Bakersfield) in next week’s semifinals.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 9-2
Defeated Edison (Stockton), 34-20, on Friday in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 playoffs. After Edison scored to make it a 21-20 game in the third quarter, the Raiders ran the ball for 11 straight plays (all runs by Joey Alcutt) for a 10-yard TD. They later went on a 81-yard scoring drive on seven straight runs (Alcutt ended it with a 21-yard score) that extended the lead. Head coach Roger Canepa won the 283rd game of his career to set a new CIF Sac-Joaquin Section record. He surpassed the previous record of 282 held by one of his best friends, former Escalon head coach Mark Loureiro. Central Catholic is hosting Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in next week’s semifinals.
Chaminade (West Hills) 7-5
Defeated Villa Park, 30-16, in the CIFSS D3 quarterfinals. Chaminade will have a game next week in the semifinals vs Warren of Downey.
Clovis East (Clovis) 9-2
Defeated Sanger on Thursday 17-14 in CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals. The No. 4 seed Timberwolves had a goal-line stand in the final seconds to escape with the win. They play No. 1 seed Clovis North in next week’s semifinals.
Frontier (Bakersfield) 10-1
LOST on Thursday to Central (Fresno) 36-32 in CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals. Team that knocked off two-time defending champion Liberty (Bakersfield) in regular season to win Southwest Yosemite League title was No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Grant (Sacramento) 9-2
Defeated Linden 82-7 on Friday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 playoffs. The throwback purple uniforms weren’t the only thing that were sharp, as the Pacers cruised to a blowout victory. Grant is the heavy favorite in Division 3 and will host Oakdale next. The Mustangs held off Merced 56-35 in their game.
Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-1
Defeated previous bubble team Monterey Trail of Elk Grove, 50-21, on Friday in CIF SJS D1 quarterfinals. Monterey Trail is a team that recently moved up in the rankings with a one-point win over Grant of Sacramento. The Tigers, who are averaging more than 50 ppg, opened some eyes by getting past the Mustangs by such a solid margin. They are at Folsom next.
Liberty (Bakersfield) 9-2
Defeated Clovis 33-30 on Thursday in CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals. The Patriots advanced to the semifinals where they will play Central (Fresno), a rematch of a game they won 35-14 in regular season although Central has a different starting QB now. Liberty QB Cole O’Brien has had recent injury issues, but was okay this week with three TD passes.
Los Gatos 9-2
Defeated Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), 28-14, on Friday in CCS Open/D1 playoffs. The Wildcats knocked out a WCAL team in the first round after losing the last two seasons in the top CCS bracket to WCAL teams. Plus, a team they recently defeated, Wilcox of Santa Clara, upset No. 2 seed St. Francis of Mountain View.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 9-3
Defeated No. 22 Rancho Cucamonga, 53-52 in two overtimes, on Friday in CIFSS D2 playoffs. The Nighthawks won it on a two-point conversion run by Dorian Haze. Camden Cooper’s 70-yard kickoff return was another big play. MV is playing MV (Mission Viejo) next week in the semifinals.
Oak Hills (Hesperia) 10-2
LOST to Warren (Downey) 34-33 in overtime on Friday in the CIFSS D3 playoffs. Oak Hills scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but Warren went for two after converting in overtime and Madden Iamaleava found his way into the end zone after a brotherly shove attempt.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 9-2
Defeated Turlock 45-6 on Friday in Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs. No worry of upset this week, as Oak Ridge breezed to a quarterfinal victory. The Trojans went into the halftime break up 24-0 and never trailed. THe road will be bumper this week, as Oak Ridge heads to Central Catholic (Modesto) next Friday for the semifinals.
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 8-4
LOST 39-14 to Mission Viejo on Friday in CIFSS D2 playoffs. The season comes to an end for the Lions, as Mission Viejo snapped Oaks Christian’s seven game winning streak in the quarterfinals. The Lions were only down 12-6 with two minutes remaining, but a Hinesward Lilomaiava rushing touchdown and a Jeron Jones pick-6 sealed the victory for the Diablos.
Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 10-1*
*Season complete. Lost to Mission Viejo in CIFSS D2 playoffs. Had regular season wins vs Edison (Huntington Beach) & Corona del Mar (Newport Beach).
Rocklin 10-1
Defeated Downey (Modesto) 42-7 in SJS D2 playoffs on Friday evening. Derek Keeley had three rushing touchdowns and the Thunder had little issues in a 42-7 victory over Downey. The Thunder will host the winner of Saturday’s game between Jesuit (Carmichael) and Del Oro (Loomis) in next week’s quarterfinals.
St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 9-3
Defeated bubble team Cajon (San Bernardino), 37-19, on Friday in CIFSS D3 quarterfinals. The Seraphs are taking on top seed San Juan Hills in the semifinals.
St. Francis (Mountain View) 8-3
LOST 52-28 to Wilcox (Santa Clara) in CCS Open/D1 playoffs. Be it injuries or late season fatigue, it was a wild evening for the always wacky and wild West Catholic Athletic League. The Lancers were outpaced 35-7 after the halftime break and went from a favorite for the Central Coast Section Division 1 title to season over in one evening. Wilcox took the lead on a Elijah Walker 97-yard return in the third quarter and never relinquished its advantage.
Warren (Downey) 10-2
Defeated Oak Hills (Hesperia) 34-33 in overtime on Friday in CIFSS D3 playoffs. The number 34 may be a lucky number for the Bears, as Warren for the second straight week pull off a 34-33 victory. Madden Iamaleava converted a quarterback brotherly shove in overtime to pick up the win. The major college prospect had four passing touchdowns and will take on Chaminade (West Hills) next.
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