By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Section championships will be decided in five CIF Sections this weekend with bowl berths hanging in the balance. No game is bigger, perhaps, then the matchup between Long Beach Poly and Crespi of Encino in the Pac-5 Division. The game will decide the fate of nearly every Division 1 and 2 bowl contender in the Southern California.
Long Beach Poly is one of three contenders for the Division 1 berth along with Centennial of Corona and Birmingham of Lake Balboa. Should all three teams wins, the committee will have to figure out whose resume it likes best. Will it be Long Beach Poly, which will have won the Pac-5 Division which included former national No. 1 Mater Dei? Or will it be Centennial, whose only loss is to Mater Dei, but has a win over Crespi? Or will it be Birmingham, which has a win over Long Beach Poly but a loss to Crespi.
Meanwhile Division 2 is Crespi's for the taking with a win over Long Beach Poly. No Southern California team will be able to match Crespi's credentials if it wins. If the Celts lose, the door opens for Oceanside and El Diamante of the Central Section, which won a section title last week.
The North bowl berths are also up for grabs with a fierce battle expected in Division 2 between St. Mary's of Stockton, Foothill of Palo Cedro and either Novato or Las Lomas.
Many of the questions will be answered on Friday and Saturday night when the games are played. The rest of the questions will be answered Sunday when the selection committee makes its picks.
Here's a preview of each section championship game:
Southern Section
San Diego and Los Angeles City Sections
Sac Joaquin and North Coast Sections