CIF Section Title Football
Sections: North Coast, Southern, San Diego, Sac-Joaquin and Central
Where: From San Diego to Santa Rosa
At stake: Section titles and possible CIF State Bowl berths. See story.
More: Look for game coverage (De La Salle-Pittsburg, Whitney-Placer, Poly-Tesoro, St. Mary's-Pleasant Grove, Tustin-La Habra) and write-ups on all other games throughout the weekend.
State Bowl recommendations: Sunday morning.
State Bowl announcements: Saturday afternoon.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
It’s not a common sports number but today around the state of California it’s significant.
Eric Dickerson wore it proudly.
It’s No. 29.
That’s how many games will finish off the season before a group of CIF Section commissioners will convene to decide the 10 State Bowl Game participants next week.
All 29 will decide Section crowns and all are significant, but the meatiest comes right at the top.
Three games pit six of the state’s top 17 teams, four of the nation's top 20 and will have a major influence on who is picked to play in the state’s top two Bowl Games, the Open Division and Division I. See story.
Tenth-ranked Pittsburg (11-1) will try to dethrone 16-time defending North Coast Section champion, six-time mythical national champion and No. 5 De La Salle (11-1) in a Division I final at 7 p.m. Friday at Dublin High.
In a pair of Southern Section finals, No. 3 Centennial-Corona (13-0) travels to Temecula to take on No. 17 Chaparral (12-1) Friday at 7:30 p.m. for the Inland Division title, and top-ranked Tesoro-Rancho Santa Margarita (13-0) takes on No. 2 Long Beach Poly (13-0) in the Pac-5 final Saturday at Angels Stadium at 8 p.m.
Pittsburg vs. De La Salle
Since a last-second 32-29 Week 2 loss to talented Monte Vista (Danville), Pittsburg has rattled off 10 straight wins and is led by a rugged, hard-hitting defense and a balanced offense that features two outstanding backs, Erick Dargan and Bryce Flowers, who last week combined for 392 yards rushing and five touchdowns against San Ramon Valley.
De La Salle also has a pair of breakaway backs in Arizona-bound Kylan Butler and Terron Williams-Ward, but the key is poised and relentless quarterback Blake Wayne, a dual threat. The Spartans haven’t lost to a Northern California opponent since 1991 – to Pittsburg 35-27 at the Oakland Coliseum – and since then have won 16 straight NCS crowns and 22 straight games over the Pirates.
Though De La Salle’s famed 151-game win streak ended in 2002, the Spartans have another similar streak against NCS opponents. It’s reached with 153 with one tie. See Dan Dibley story in San Francisco Examiner.
San Ramon Valley coach Dave Kravitz lost to both teams and was particularly impressed with Pittsburg’s hard-running backs.
“Pittsburg definitely has the speed and talent but then so does De La Salle – and its December,” Kravitz said. “It’s kind of De La Salle’s time. I know both teams are human but I’ll go out on a limb and pick De La Salle.”
Centennial vs. Chaparral
Centennial opened its season with a 26-16 win over Chaparral, which played without starting quarterback Mitch Glassmann. He was back the following week and Chaparral hasn’t lost since. It will have to contend with the potent Centennial attack that features the awesome three-headed monster of QB Taylor Martinez (2,601 yards passing, 675 yards rushing, 36 total touchdowns), RB Arthur Burns (1,647 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns) and USC-bound receiver Ricky Marvray (56 catches, 1,018 yards, 12 TDs).
Chaparral no doubt recalls how it season ended last year with a 68-14 semifinal loss to Centennial. The Pumas returned 17 starters from that team and are led by one of the Section’s top running backs Jonathan Diaz (1,932 yards, 31 touchdowns) to compliment Glassmann (1,595 yards passing, 16 touchdowns) and a robust offensive line led by Oregon bound Trevor Fox.
The Los Angeles Times did a moving story of the two head coaches Matt Logan (Centennial) and Chaparral (Tom Leach).
Long Beach Poly vs. Tesoro
One of the state’s top stories and turnarounds is Tesoro, led by second-year head coach Brian Barnes, a 29-year-old with a lot of fire. The Titans were 7-4 last year and even started the season 1-3 but have made monumental leaps to the top ranking in the state and No. 8 in the country. They have a chance to rattle off the most impressive postseason run in state history with wins already against Mission Viejo, Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran. If they knock of Poly and either De La Salle, Bellarmine or Grant in the state finals, it would be monumental.
Tesoro is led offensively by senior QB Robbie Picazo (181 of 281, 2,634 yards, 32 touchdowns), RB Zach Mitchell (1,168 yards, 8 TDs) and WR/DB Preston King (78 catches, 1,134 yards, 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions). Los Angeles Times columnist Eric Sondheimer did a terrific story on King.
Poly counters with one of the most stout and impressive defenses in the country. The Jackrabbits rely on that defense plus the ball control attack with superb backs in Melvin Richardson (1,306 yards, 21 touchdowns) and Daveon Barner (1,127 yards, 7 TDs). They’ve won 25 straight over the last two seasons though it’s not always been pretty.
Poly always seems to do just enough to win. Taking its last two games last year 2-0 and 13-3 over Orange Lutheran and Crespi, respectively. This year the Jackrabbits playoff margins have been 4, 7 and 10 points. But they’ve beaten some juggernauts and allowed 10 points or less nine times and just 108 for the season.
Other top games or storylines throughout the state include:
Southern Section, St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 12-1 at Moorpark 12-1, Friday, 7:30 p.m. — Major state Division III Bowl berths are at stake in this Northern Division title game. Since opening the season with a three-point loss to nationally-ranked Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Moorpark has won 11 straight. St. Bonaventure coach Todd Therrien told the Los Angeles Times it’s his team’s greatest challenge since a 12-7 loss to Long Beach Poly. “It’s a lot like playing ourselves,” he told the Times.
Southern Section, Serra (Gardena) 13-0 at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 13-0, Friday, 7:30 p.m. — A pair of undefeated squads battle for the Northwest Division crown with more bowl implications. Don’t expect another blowout win for Oaks Christian, which won its last three title games by a combined 133 points. Oaks Christian goes for a record sixth straight title.
Sac-Joaquin Section, Whitney (Rocklin) 12-0 vs. Placer (Auburn) 8-4 at Folsom High, Friday, 7:30 p.m. — Placer wasn’t invited to the playoffs, then was ruled in by a judge. Now it’s a win away from its first SJS title since 1981 in this Division IV title game. Whitney, led by SJS leading rusher Zach Graves, appears unbeatable especially after it rolled Placer 34-12 last month. But nobody can count out the Hillmen after their remarkable ride through the courts and gridiron, including a pair of back-to-back upset playoff victories.
North Coast Section, Clayton Valley (Concord) 12-0 vs. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) at Santa Rosa Junior College, Saturday, 7 p.m. — A win for heavily favored Cardinal Newman likely places it back in the state Div. III Bowl game where it was in 2006, but Clayton Valley can’t be count out behind coach Herc Pardi, who is the last Northern California coach to beat De La Salle but he also tied the Spartans in 2004 with Clayton Valley. Pardi enters with a heavy heart having lost his brother John to a heart attack last Friday. On the field, the Eagles allow only 7.3 points per game but will face one of Northern California’s top one-two punches in QB Randy Wright and RB Jeff Badger, who help the Cardinals average 43.9 per game.
MORE FRIDAY GAMES
Central Section
* D2, El Diamante (Visalia) 11-1 at Tulare Union 12-0, 7 p.m.
* D3, Tehachapi 9-4 at Hanford 11-1, 7 p.m.
* D4, Kingsburg 11-1 at Chowchilla 11-1, 7 p.m.
* D5, Bakersfield Christian 11-1 at Corcoran 12-0, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles City Section
Invitational, Arleta 13-0 vs. Franklin (Los Angeles) 11-2 at East Los Angeles College, 7 p.m.
Southern Section
* Western III, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) 10-3 at Quartz Hill 12-1, 7:30 p.m.
* Central V, Rancho Cucamonga 12-0-1 vs. Upland 11-2 at Chaffey College, 7:30 p.m.
* Southeast VII, Charter Oak (Covina) 12-0-1 vs. Diamond Ranch (Pomona) 7-6 at Mt. San Antonio College, 7:30 p.m.
* Southern IX, Mayfair (Lakewood) 9-4 vs. Laguna Hills 12-0 at Cerritos College, 7:30 p.m.
San Diego Section at Qualcomm Stadium
* D1, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 10-2 vs. Escondido 10-2, 8 p.m.
* D2, Helix (La Mesa) 10-1-1 vs. Oceanside 11-0-1, 4:30 p.m.
* D3, Cathedral 12-0 vs. Valhalla (El Cajon) 11-1, 1 p.m.
* D4, Valley Center 11-2 vs. Madison (San Diego), 10 a.m.
MORE SATURDAY GAMES
North Coast Section
* D3, Encinal (Alameda) 12-0 vs. Novato 10-2 at Dublin HS, 7 p.m.
Sac-Joaquin Section
* D1, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 11-2 vs. St. Mary’s (Stockton) 11-2 at UOP, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles City
* Narbonne (Harbor City) 12-1 vs. San Pedro 12-1 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 1 p.m.
Southern Section
* Southwest VI, Tustin 9-4 vs. La Habra 11-2 at Angel Stadium, 2 p.m.
* Mid-Valley XI, Rosemead 11-2 vs. Paraclete (Lancaster) 10-3 at Knight, 7 p.m.
* East Valley XII, Twentynine Palms 10-3 at St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano) 13-0, 7:30 p.m.
* Eastern XIII, Citrus Hill (Perris) 13-0 at Barstow 10-3, 7:30 p.m.
* Northeast XIII, Riverside Christian 12-1 at Rio Hondo Prep (Arcadia) 9-3, 7 p.m.
San Diego Section
* D5, Bishop’s (La Jolla) 7-6 vs. Parker 11-1 at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.