Cal-Hi Sports Insider Blog

Quick-hitting, behind-the-scenes news and notes from the CalHiSports.com staff, including previews of upcoming content and events.

CIF Champs in National Title Events?

The creation today of the State Champions Invitational, a boys and girls basketball tournament for selected championship teams, was announced by Skokie, Ill.-based Paragon Marketing Group. The inaugural event will take place April 7-9 in Florida. The event is a spin-off of GEICO Nationals, an end-of-season hoops tournament which combined both eligible state champions and highly-ranked independent programs (See full story from Ballislife.com HERE).
Read more…


More All-Time NBA Greats Updates

Many believe Jason Kidd is the best high school basketball player in California history. He is now head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Photo: Jay Stallman

Many believe Jason Kidd is the best high school basketball player in California history. He is now head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Photo: Jay Stallman

There is a section of categories in our state record book listing former California high school players who’ve gone on to win major honors in the NBA.
Read more…


FB: All-State Junior List for Patches

All-State Football Patches will again be handled this year by our friends at BillyTees.com. For more information about Cal-Hi Sports merchandise at BillyTees.com, CLICK HERE.


Congratulations to the following players listed in alphabetical order who have been selected to either first team, second team or third team on the 2021 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior Football Teams for the fall season. These players and their families can now order an official all-state football patch plus you’ll get a certificate through our partners at BillyTees.com. We also wanted to post the names on a list so we’re not collecting a subscription from a parent who is only interested in seeing if their son has been picked and then finds out the son wasn’t picked.

For ordering info to get 2021 all-state football patch, CLICK HERE.

To get a Gold Club subscription so you can see the complete presentation of the Cal-Hi Sports 2021 All-State Junior Football Teams (fall season), CLICK HERE.

Caleb Alvary (Simi Valley)
Daylen Austin (Long Beach Poly)
Tiger Bachmeier (Murrieta Valley)
Luke Baklenko (Oaks Christian)
Curron Borders (Antelope)
Cameron Brandt (Sierra Canyon)
Mathias Brown (Sunny Hills)
Deven Bryant (St. John Bosco)
Grant Buckey (Liberty, Bakersfield)
Pierce Clarkson (St. John Bosco
Imari Conley (Central, Fresno)
Lucas Conti (Centennial, Corona)
Maliki Crawford (Pacifica, Oxnard)
D’Angelo Davis (Serra, Gardena)
Jurion Dickey (Valley Christian, SJ)
Tashi Dorje (Liberty, Brentwood)
Tre Edwards (Mater Dei Catholic)
Wesley Ekpo (Muir)
Cooper Flanagan (De La Salle)
Aidan Flintoff (Oaks Christian)
Rico Flores Jr. (Folsom)
Major Givens (Steele Canyon)
Vaka Hansen (Servite)
Derek Houston (Rocklin)
Nicholas Iamaleava (Warren, Downey)
Victory Johnson (Cathedral Catholic)
B.J. Jones (St. John Bosco)
Jax Leatherwood (Scripps Ranch)
Makai Lemon (Los Alamitos)
Jalen Lewis (Oaks Christian)
Walker Lyons (Folsom)
Mikey Matthews (Mission Viejo)
DeAndre Moore (Los Alamitos)
Sean Na’a (Westlake)
Malachi Nelson (Los Alamitos)
Blake Nichelson (Manteca)
Jaedon Moore (Central Valley Chr.)
Wyatt Mosier (Yorba Linda)
Simione Pale (Elk Grove)
Christian Pierce (Rancho Cucamonga)
Raymond Pulido (Apple Valley)
Brandon Ramirez (San Joaquin Memorial)
Jaden Rashada (Pittsburg)
Dustin Reynolds (Apple Valley)
Rodrick Robinson (Lincoln, SD)
Jonah Rodriguez (Madison)
Tybo Rogers (Bakersfield)
Tyson Ruffins (Long Beach Poly)
Ashton Sanders (Cathedral, L.A.)
Kadin Semonza (Mission Viejo)
Jordan Shaw (St. Pius X-St. Matthias)
Chris Snyder (Mater Dei Catholic)
Leviticus Su’a (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Derek Thompson (De La Salle)
B.J. Tolo (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Greg Tripathi (Dos Pueblos)
Matayo Uigalelei (St. John Bosco)
Aitor Urionbarrenechea (Alemany)
Aaron Williams (Centennial, Corona)
Rashid Williams (Pittsburg)

MORE ALPHA NAMES
Santino Acevedo (Cardinal Newman)
Nick Afato (Yuba City)
Daniel Andrade (Bonita)
Garrett Bass-Sulpizo (LJ Country Day)
Dane Benedix (Capistrano Valley)
Robin Boyd (Pittsburg)
Colin Bray (Placer)
Beau Bruins (Ramona, Riverside)
Israel Carter (Centennial, Corona)
Hector Ceballos (Franklin, LA)
Adrien Chargualaf (Steele Canyon)
Isaiah Chisom (Chaminade)
Kanye Clark (Capital Christian)
Samuel Cooper (University City)
Darius Cowens (Pacifica, GG)
Connor Dasmann (Oak Ridge)
Ty Dieffenbach (Agoura)
Trey Dimes (Vanden)
Luke Duncan (Miramonte)
Matthew Erhardt (Oaks Christian)
Chris Fewell (Lincoln, SD)
Aidan Flynn (Salinas)
Roman Foumai (Central Catholic)
Delano Franklin (Bishop Amat)
Qu’Ron Gossett (Bishop Diego)
Grant Gray (Norco)
Charles Greer (De La Salle)
Dylan Hampsten (Saugus)
Sean Haney (St. John Bosco)
Jalen Hankins (Liberty, Bak.)
Damian Henderson (Jordan, LB)
Carlos Hernandez (Monrovia)
Kai Honda (Serra, Gardena)
Darren Hughes (Adelanto)
Jack Jacobs (St. Francis, LC)
Brandon Johnson (Highland, Palmdale)
Corey Johnson (Bishop Amat)
Trey Kukuk (Capistrano Valley)
Ty Lee (St. John Bosco)
Jayden Mandal (Buchanan)
Robbie Mascheroni (Campolindo)
Jeremiah McClure (Mater Dei Catholic)
Journey McCoy (De La Salle)
Gabe Morin (Lutheran, Orange)
Matthew Morrell (Cypress)
Devin Munoz (St. Paul)
Cade Musser (Chino Hills)
Dominic Nankil (Mater Dei Catholic)
Orion Null (Vanden)
Bryce Parker (Santiago, Corona)
Israel Polk (Pittsburg)
Jaxon Potter (Santa Margarita)
Jack Raney (Bellarmine)
David Rasor (Corona del Mar, Newport Beach)
Devon Rivers (Heritage, Brentwood)
Jeremiah Ruffin (Heritage, Brentwood)
Devin Samples (Long Beach Poly)
Ryan Silver (Serra, San Mateo)
Elijah Smiley-Flores (M.L. King)
E.J. Smith (Warren)
Izaiah Souriolle (Chaparral, Temecula)
Ryan Staub (West Ranch, Valencia)
Jack Susnjar (Loyola, Los Angeles)
Derek Taylor (Hilmar)
Delon Thompson (St. Bonaventure, Ventura)
Chad Tofaeono (De La Salle)
Jake Tremain (Folsom)
Blake Wilson (Santa Margarita)
Slade Wilson (Folsom)


FB: All-State Soph List For Patches

All-State Football Patches will again be handled this year by our friends at BillyTees.com. For more information about Cal-Hi Sports merchandise at BillyTees.com, CLICK HERE.


Congratulations to the following players listed in alphabetical order who have been selected to either first team or second team on the 2021 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore Football Teams for the fall season. These players and their families can now order an official all-state football patch plus you’ll get a certificate through our partners at BillyTees.com. We also wanted to post the names on a list so we’re not collecting a subscription from a parent who is only interested in seeing if their son has been picked and then finds out the son wasn’t picked.

For ordering info to get 2021 all-state football patch, CLICK HERE.

To get a Gold Club subscription so you can see the complete presentation of the Cal-Hi Sports 2021 All-State Sophomore Football Teams (fall season), CLICK HERE.

Marley Alapati (De La Salle, Concord)
Jordan Anderson (Warren, Downey)
Brandon Baker (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Ratumna Bulabalavu (Army-Navy, Carlsbad)
Joseph Bey (Serra, San Mateo)
Kobe Boykin (Orange)
Ajon Bryant (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Elijah Brown (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Samuel Brown (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista)
Zabien Brown (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Isiaih Buxton (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista)
Asante Carter (St. Mary’s, Stockton)
DeAndre Carter (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Michael Cherry (Rosemont, Sacramento)
David Clifford (Poway)
Christopher Cooper (Beaumont)
Kodi Cornelius (Casa Grande, Petaluma)
Jonah Dawson (Rancho Cucamonga)
Reid Farrell (Valencia)
Dakoda Fields (Serra, Gardena)
Dylan Fingersh (Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo)
Travis Ford (Helix, La Mesa)
Marquis Gallegos (Chaminade, West Hills)
Devin Green (Sheldon, Sacramento)
Chance Harrison (Rio Mesa, Oxnard)
Benny Hatch (Sacred Heart Cathedral, S.F.)
Javonnie Haymon (Edison, Stockton)
J.T. Houston (Warren, Downey)
Dylan Johnson (Bakersfield Christian)
Josh Joyner (Pacifica, Garden Grove)
Jabari Mann (Serra, San Mateo)
Junior Mayo (Valley Christian, San Jose)
Tyler Nofts (Estancia, Costa Mesa)
Phillip Ocon (St. Francis, La Canada)
Viliami Ohai (Mt. Eden, Hayward)
Tyler Patrick (Clovis West, Fresno)
Ryan Pellum (Millikan, Long Beach)
David Perez (Downey)
Andrew Poyer (Vista Murrieta, Murrieta)
Cincere Rhaney (Serra, Gardena)
Lamar Radcliffe (Sacramento)
Jason Robinson (Long Beach Poly)
Jordan Ross (Pacifica, Garden Grove)
Marshel Sanders (Clovis West, Fresno)
Ryon Sayeri (Chaminade, West Hills)
Julian Sayin (Carlsbad)
Jackson Sievers (Capistrano Valley)
Jeremiah Singleton (Stagg, Stockton)
Tye Smith (Loyola, L.A.)
Tanu Sosa (Serra, Gardena)
James Tivao (Madison, San Diego)
Zac Torres (Roosevelt, Eastvale)
Herschel Turner (Freedom, Oakley)
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
Charles Williams (Marin Catholic, Kentfield)
Marcelles Williams (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Tanner Williams (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
Bryan Wilson (Ayala, Chino Hills)
Peyton Woodyard (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)


MLB World Series Favorites 2022

The MLB World Series is the most popular postseason playoff championship in the United States and Canada, attracting huge betting actions. Here’s what to look for as the 2022 season (pending labor issues) begins to take shape.

The 2021 edition of the MLB World Series wrapped up in November, with the Atlanta Braves winning the championship for the first time since 1995. The team defeated the Houston Astros in six games. Soon after the end of the 2021 World Series, bookies have started to post odds for the 2022 edition of the series that will open on 31st March. The odds will change daily depending on the most recent events.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expired on December 1st of 2021, and the odds did not move significantly since then. For the uninitiated, the CBA is an agreement between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball that arranges employment conditions. In this article, we will discuss which teams will open as the 2022 MLB World Series favorites. Should you choose to place moneyline bets, be advised to check this moneyline bets in MLB explained guide.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are the favorites to win the 2022 MLB World Series. They were the favorites in the 2021 edition of the championship as well. However, the Atlanta Braves eliminated the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS. In November last year, media agencies reported that the Dodgers lost two of their best players, Corey Seager and Max Scherzer, to free agency.

But even without Seager and Scherzer, the Dodgers remain one of the teams with the best rotations in baseball. Furthermore, Andrew Heaney and Daniel Hudson are the most recent additions to the Dodgers. That is why sportsbooks have the Dodgers first on the board at +600.

Houston Astros

The Astros are the team that comes second on the board at +950. In the 2021 MLB World Series, the Braves defeated the Astros in Game 6. But the Astros have good chances of winning the 2022 MLB World Series. Talented players Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, and Kyle Tucker are expected to return to the Astros.

Shortstop Carlos Correa is said to migrate from the Astros to another baseball team in free agency. But in November 2021, the longtime ace pitcher Justin Verlander signed with the Astros. If the team manages to keep Correa for the 2022 season, the Astros have a good shot to win the MLB World Series title.

New York Yankees

With a 6-2 win, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Yankees in the Wild Card Game last season. But bookmakers believe that the team has good chances to win the 2022 MLB World Series, placing them third on the board at +1,000.

Although it became clear that the Yankees will miss out on Los Angeles Dodgers free agent Corey Seager, the team still has players such as Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge and Gio Stanton (all from California). Since December last year, there have been rumors that the team will add either Trevor Story or Carlos Correa to its lineup but nothing major had happened before the lockout.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are fourth on the board at +1,200. In the 2021 MLB playoffs, the White Sox lost to the Astros in the ALDS. But the baseball team has a fearsome lineup. Furthermore, it features a brilliant rotation led by Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Dylan Cease. If Michael Kopech replaces Carlos Rodon, who suffered several injuries, the team will further improve its chance of winning the championship. Last year, relief pitcher Kendall Graveman joined the White Sox and was a beast.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays could not secure the title in the 2021 MLB World Series, but the betting odds (+1,300) show it is a fearsome title contender. The betting lines moved from +1,800 to +1,300 after the team penned a five-year contract with former San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Kevin Gausman. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays also had to say goodbye to Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien, who joined other teams. However, the Toronto lineup is full of hard-hitting young players, and that is why the team is fifth on the sportsbooks’ boards.


Public can now make CA FB Hall of Fame nominations

PASADENA, Calif. (January 6, 2022) – The public can now nominate candidates for consideration to the inaugural California High School Football Hall of Fame class to be enshrined at the Rose Bowl Stadium upon project completion in late-2022.

Nominations, and criteria, can be viewed at www.CAhighschoolfootballHOF.com and must be submitted by January 30, 2022 for consideration by the committee.

The project was announced last month as the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation secured two major pledges to establish the California High School Football Hall of Fame. The pledges on the project are funded by prominent philanthropists and business leaders in the Los Angeles area, Brian Panish and Mickey Segal.

The Hall will be located at the Rose Bowl Stadium with plans to open in 2022. The opening will include the induction of the inaugural class during the venue’s centennial year in late-2022 upon completion of the project space. With the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and National Football Foundation (NFF) playing a role, along with Cal-Hi Sports in conjunction with the Rose Bowl Stadium, a selection committee has been formed representing Southern and Northern California to begin consideration of the inaugural class. It is anticipated that the inaugural class will be announced in Summer 2022.

A full California High School Football Hall of Fame website is currently in development and will launch in early 2022.

Note from Cal-Hi Sports: There is a 10-year wait period for anyone being considered, so folks submitting a nomination should keep that in mind. Class of 2011 would be okay, Class of 2012 would not. We’re actually pretty sure no one from after 2010 is going in yet, but those players technically would be eligible. Also, those on the committee (including Cal-Hi Sports) are not going to need nominations or info on those very obvious people who are going to go in with the first class (such as a certain QB from Granada Hills or a certain LB from Oceanside or a certain head coach from Concord). The biggest help is going to be getting high school accomplishments and high school career details on players prior to 1975. That’s when the bulk of the info collected by Cal-Hi Sports really got going. All of our material is going to be available and presented to all of those voting on the committee. Knowing and finding out where someone went to high school who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or College Football Hall of Fame is easy. Finding out what they did as players in high school is often not (especially for those who played in high school before 1975).


State Defensive POY: David Bailey

In the last three games of its mythical national title season, the defensive unit at Mater Dei of Santa Ana was even more impressive than the offense so it only makes sense that the leading player off of that unit is the statewide winner. This also is the second straight season the Monarchs have had the honoree in this category.
Read more…


LeDuc reaches 1,000 hoop wins

Mike LeDuc from Damien of La Verne becomes only the second boys basketball coach in state history to achieve 1,000 career wins and he did it on a night when his current team played at the school he had coached previously for 21 seasons.

FOR THE STATE COACHING RECORD LIST AS IT LOOKED WHEN SEASON BEGAN (GOLD CLUB), CLICK HERE.

One of the best ways to judge the coaching accomplishments of someone like Mike LeDuc from Damien of La Verne is to look at how many others are in the same “clubs” that he is in.

Coach LeDuc’s team also improved to 14-0 this week and will stay that way until playing in its own The Classic at Damien next week. Photo: @DamienSports / Twitter.com.


On Wednesday night in a game played at Glendora High, LeDuc earned the 1,000th win of his boys basketball career when the Spartans topped the Tartans, 82-47. That put him in a very exclusive group of just two who have gotten to the total. He joins all-time state leader Gary McKnight from Mater Dei of Santa Ana, who is actually now only three wins shy of winning his 1,200th game. McKnight also is near the top of the all-time national list.

LeDuc also is one of just four in the state to have won 900 games. He’s been No. 2 on the all-time Cal-Hi Sports state list behind McKnight for several years. The next two are retired Ed Azzam of Los Angeles Westchester (932) and still active Don Lippi from St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda (907 not including a game on Wednesday night). There may be a fifth at 900 as early as next week as head coach Harvey Kitani’s team at Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro) has started out 10-0 this season to give him 896 career wins. The Huskies are in a 16-team tournament so if they win it that would do the job.

LeDuc began his coaching career at Damien in 1980 and was at Glendora from 1987 to 1992 and then after one year off he was at Glendora from 1994 to 2015. He’s been back at Damien since 2016. During his own playing days, LeDuc went to Ramona of Riverside.

Senior guard Spivey Word, who has taken over as the top shooting guard for Damien this season after three-time all-state selection Malik Thomas graduated, led the way against Glendora with 32 points.


State Football Hall of Fame coming to the Rose Bowl

New Hall of Fame to be built at world-famous stadium and will debut during the venue’s 100-year celebration later next year. We are humbled and honored at Cal-Hi Sports to be part of the selection process for the 100-member inaugural class, creating lists for everyone on the selection committee and providing historical context for the exhibit once it is finished and the first class is announced. Full release about the project is below.

PASADENA, Calif. (December 9, 2021) — The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation announced two major pledges to establish the California High School Football Hall of Fame. Funded due to lead foundational gifts from prominent philanthropists and business leaders in the Los Angeles area, Brian Panish and Mickey Segal, the Hall of Fame will be located at the Rose Bowl Stadium with plans to open in late 2022. The opening will include the induction of the inaugural class during the venue’s centennial year.

The Legacy project will be planned and founded to honor the history, quality, and overall impact of players, coaches, and integral moments that have shaped the landscape of high school football in the state.

Panish and Segal, who have regularly supported Legacy’s efforts to preserve, protect, and enhance the Rose Bowl Stadium’s future over the years, both consider their time on the gridiron as value-shaping experiences that have crafted very successful careers.

Panish, a former football student-athlete at St. John Bosco in Bellflower and Fresno State, has been involved in football for his entire life. Bosco’s football stadium in Bellflower bears the Panish family’s name. Panish is an Advisory Board member for the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation as part of a volunteer philanthropist group continuing to preserve, protect, and enhance the future of the venue. His competitive passion under the helmet has led to his leadership as the Founding Partner at Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP where he has become a national leader in his own right by obtaining some of the most significant jury verdicts and settlements in U.S. history on behalf of plaintiffs.

Segal is a former football student-athlete at local Pasadena High School and played under legendary coach Tom Hamilton for which tunnel 4 at the Rose Bowl is named. The PHS Bulldogs compete annually on the hallowed Rose Bowl turf as part of the Turkey Tussle against rivals John Muir High School, the alma mater of the great Jackie Robinson. Segal is currently the President of the Legacy Foundation’s Board of Directors and is the Chair of its ongoing fundraising campaign in honor of the venue’s centennial. He has been involved with the Foundation since its inception in 2010 and has heavily committed to the Stadium’s heritage including a 2017 major gift to renovate and open one of the Rose Bowl’s original locker rooms as a museum and supporting the venue’s new videoboard that was erected in 2020. Mickey is a Founder and Managing Partner of NKSFB, building a firm that started in 1981 into the largest business management firm in the United States.

“This project will appropriately recognize the players, coaches, administrators, and so many contributors that have positively shaped the lives of so many on the football field during the formative high school years,” Panish and Segal said in a joint statement about the project. “Understanding the Rose Bowl Stadium’s rich history and experience with generational moments rooted in football, there is no better place in the State of California to house the high school football hall of fame.”

With the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and National Football Foundation (NFF) playing a role, along with Cal-Hi Sports in conjunction with the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, a selection committee has been formed representing the entire state to begin consideration of the inaugural class. The class will be inducted during the Rose Bowl Stadium’s centennial year in late 2022 upon completion of the project space.

“The National Football Foundation is honored to play a role with the California High School Football Hall of Fame,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “California has such a rich history of high school football, and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Rose Bowl Stadium are the perfect stewards to showcase the state’s gridiron greats.”

“The CIF is privileged to participate in the selection process for the California High School Football Hall of Fame,” said Ron Nocetti, CIF Executive Director. “We thank the Rose Bowl Stadium, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the National Football Foundation for honoring the long and storied history of high school football in California and look forward to the induction of its inaugural class.”

The project will be designed by Forty Nine Degrees, who has a successful history highlighting experiential elements at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium. They have overseen key design and interactive elements for some of the venue’s most popular heritage projects to date, including the 1922 Locker Room Museum, the Legacy Foundation offices, historical statues, inside of the Terry Donahue Pavilion, and around the Stadium’s public concourse areas. Forty Nine Degrees is an industry leader for creating sharable experiences, often amplifying elements for some of the nation’s most prominent intercollegiate athletic programs.

“We are excited to create another engaging, shareable experience at the Rose Bowl Stadium. To have the opportunity to profile California’s rich High School Football history in perhaps the most storied venue in all of sports, is a creative teams’ dream,” said Michael McClurg, President of Forty Nine Degrees.

A formal California High School Football Hall of Fame website is currently in development and will allow the public to nominate players and coaches for consideration. The website is expected to be ready for public viewing by the end of the year.

The generous gifts by Panish and Segal to this project continue momentum in the Legacy Foundation’s centennial campaign efforts to raise $40 million in support of the Stadium’s future by the end of its centennial birthday. The campaign is over 80 percent complete with a growing national donor base.

“The ongoing generosity of Brian and Mickey to this project is humbling, thoughtful, and will provide a transformational result to recognize the great history of high school football in the State of California. We are incredibly grateful,” said Dedan Brozino, Chief Development Officer. “The Rose Bowl is the most appropriate home for this Hall of Fame and we are looking forward to delivering an exciting project in the midst of the venue’s centennial and for years to come.”


FINAL NorCal CIF Bowl Picks

These were done after all games of Saturday, Nov. 27 but before the CIF is meeting on Sunday. Once those come out, compare and contrast in good fun to see which ones you like best. Note that we don’t know while doing this about any schools that may opt out.

We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To join our Gold Club to get all new state rankings, state record updates and all of the all-state team announcements, CLICK HERE.

OPEN DIVISION
De La Salle (Concord) 10-2
Most difficult choice for all spots on both sides of the board is the one between DLS & Serra (San Mateo) about which one plays Mater Dei in two weeks. Serra has the edge for having avenged its only loss with a win over the St. Francis of Mountain View team that got an early-season win over De La Salle. But the Spartans not only have a big win over Folsom (team they’d play in D1-AA) but also have a big win over Cathedral Catholic (team that is also will/should be in D1-AA in south). It’s not like St. Francis won easily, either. It took an amazing play at the end. De La Salle’s experience playing in the Open Division is a factor as well. If St. Francis had beaten Serra, no question which team is in the Open. Serra won, so it’s not easy at all.

Julian Lopez is all smiles on the Central Catholic of Modesto sidelines after a tackle-breaking run set up one of his team’s touchdowns in win vs. Manteca. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.


DIVISION 1AA
Serra of San Mateo (CCS D1) 11-1 vs. Folsom (SJS D1) 10-3
Comment: Once you actually put down Serra vs Folsom on paper (which have never played) the excitement builds.

DIVISION 1A
Pittsburg (NCS D1) 9-2 vs. Liberty of Bakersfield (Central Sec D1) 10-2
Comment: We would like to see the CIF put the top two teams from the Central Section in the north with the other four in the south. Liberty’s run to its title included wins over Buchanan and Central teams that were in the top 25 of the state. This is not too high after doing that.

DIVISION 2AA
Central Catholic of Modesto (SJS D2) 12-1 vs. Bullard of Fresno (Central Sec D2) 9-4
Comment: We’ve been going back and forth about Central Catholic’s possible opponent. Bullard’s wins the last two weeks plus the preferred travel between the two cities proved to tilt it that way.

DIVISION 2A
McClymonds of Oakland (Oak Sec) 10-1 vs. Vanden of Fairfield (SJS D4) 11-2
Comment: We would still place Vanden as the D4 champ from the SJS higher than D3 Manteca since Kimball of Tracy was in D4 and beat Manteca. Vanden also had a win against NCS D2 finalist Foothill of Pleasanton and had a big win Saturday vs. Merced.

DIVISION 3AA
Manteca (SJS D3) 10-3 vs. Marin Catholic of Kentfield (NCS D4) 12-1
Comment: After avenging loss to Oakdale on Friday, Manteca would seem to be clear to be next in line. MC going up is based on local evaluations plus beating Cardinal Newman 42-7.

DIVISION 3A
Wilcox of Santa Clara (CCS D1) 10-2 vs. Windsor (NCS D3) 11-1
Comment: To us, Campolindo winning in NCS D2 caused some changes since the Cougars have been much lower in the computer rankings compared to Windsor and Marin Catholic. It’s not known if the NCS will recommend that or what the CIF might do.

DIVISION 4AA
Escalon (SJS D5) vs. Campolindo of Moraga (NCS D2) 10-3
Comment: This would be Cougars vs Cougars and the two were close to each other in the computer. It’s the same division Ripon won state in two years ago, but not sure Ripon played anyone like Campo.

DIVISION 4A
Chico (Northern Sec D2) 9-3 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco (CCS D3) 5-7
Comment: Chico won its section title on Saturday by beating Foothill (Palo Cedro) for the third time. SHC is from the WCAL and had a win in regular season over Bellarmine.

DIVISION 5AA
San Marin of Novato (NCS D5) 12-1 vs. Sutter (Northern Sec D3) 11-1
Comment: Sutter won an incredible OT game, 34-31, on Saturday over Paradise. San Marin rolled in its section final vs Del Norte.

DIVISION 5A
University Prep of Redding (Northern Sec D4) 13-0 vs. St. Vincent de Paul of Petaluma (NCS D7) 11-1
Comment: Have been eyeing this one for two weeks and still like it a lot.

DIVISION 6AA
Argonaut of Jackson (SJS D6) 10-3 vs. Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton (CCS D4) 6-7
Comment: Gators of SHP have a lot of experience in CIF games and could be in a good spot here.

DIVISION 6A
Salesian of Richmond (NCS D6) 9-2 vs. Aragon of San Mateo (CCS D5) 9-4
Comment: Solid wins for both teams in their section finals.

DIVISION 7AA
Fall River of McArthur (Northern Sec D5) 11-0 vs. LeGrand (SJS D7) 8-5
Comment: Upset of unbeaten Woodland Christian puts LeGrand onto the board. The CIF probably already knows if Fall River is opting out again since it played on Wednesday night.

DIVISION 7A
Balboa of San Francisco (SF AAA) 8-4
Comment: Bal won its first city title in many years on Turkey Day at Kezar Stadium over Lincoln. Again, these are all qualifying teams. We don’t know of any schools that will opt out, but would assume there will be one.


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