MaxPreps Staff Report
CARSON, Calif. --- The wait is over. After 79 years of anticipation, six teams will take the field at the Home Depot Center next Saturday in the first CIF State Championship Bowl Games.
CIF Executive Director Marie M. Ishida announced the participants Sunday, and after intense statewide debate in recent weeks, there were no real surprises. MaxPreps, among other media outlets, had all six teams pegged a week ago.
In Division I, North Coast Section juggernaut De La Salle (13-0) will face Canyon (11-2) of the Southern Section, one of the hottest teams in the state in recent weeks.
The Division II matchup will feature Palo Alto (12-1) of the Central Coast Section, and a battle-tested Orange Lutheran (13-1) squad, fresh off wins over San Clemente, Compton, Long Beach Poly, and Edison in the Southern Section Pac-5 playoffs.
Cardinal Newman (13-1), another North Coast Section school, and Oaks Christian (14-0), currently riding a 45-game win streak, will face off in the Division III game.
"I was impressed with the selection committee," Event Director Ken Gunn said in a press release Sunday. "They showed depth of knowledge, thorough evaluation of all potential entrants and worked exceptionally well together. We're going to have three great football games next week."
The committee considered all 47 section champions, pairing it down to six based on win-loss record, strength-of-schedule, head-to-head competition, and common opponents. The CIF was careful to note that margin of victory and anticipated fan support were not a factor.
All three games will be played Saturday at the Home Depot Center, with the Division III game at 11 a.m., Division II at 3 p.m., and Division I at 7:30 p.m. All games will be broadcast live on FSN Prime Ticket and FSN Bay Area.
MaxPreps will provide daily updates and in-depth looks at each team throughout the week.
For more information, visit www.cifstate.org.
2006 CIF State Championship Bowl Games Lineup
Division I
North - De La Salle (13-0)
South - Canyon (11-2)
Division II
North - Palo Alto (12-1)
South - Orange Lutheran (13-1)
Division III
North - Cardinal Newman (13-1)
South - Oaks Christian (14-0)