Section playoff action begins in much of the state this week, including four Southern Section games featured below.
Video: Top 10 National Games of the Week Oaks Christian vs. Upland among the best games in all the nation.
Don't let all the blemished records fool you. There's some great California games slated this week, headlined by first-round action in the Southern Section.
The best of the day might be in a wide open Division 2 bracket, with unranked Oaks Christian and Upland. Both teams have lost a number of close games and two of Upland's defeats were by forfeit.
The only non-playoff game here is in the Central Coast Section, where Serra (San Mateo) and St. Ignatius (San Francisco) play for the coveted West Catholic Athletic League crown.
Jordan Jefferson, Rancho Verde
File photo by Vince Pugliese
7:30 p.m., Friday
Top Players
The
CIF Southern Section Division 2 bracket is wide open. Both these teams
check in at 5-5 but don't be surprised if the winner makes a run for the
section title. They're as talented as any other school in the field and
both have two of the top players in the state. Upland's 5-star
linebacker Justin Flowe checks in as the No. 1 player in California on
247sports composite rankings and Oaks Christian's Ethan Calvert is the
No. 10 rated player in the state for the Class of 2021.
7 p.m. Friday
In another Southern Section D2 first-round game, Chaminade (4-6) must find a way to slow down Illingworth, who has thrown for 2,816 yards, 37 touchdowns and two interceptions. His favorite target Ashley has hauled in 46 balls for 1,223 yards (26.8 average) and 17 touchdowns. Norco (8-2) can also run, especially Chairez, who has rushed for 872 yards and 18 touchdowns. The winner of this faces the winner of Oaks Christian-Upland. The two teams have never played.
7 p.m. Friday
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It's been an injury-plagued year for Serra (6-4), which is very balanced on offense with 1,822 passing yards and 1,694 on the ground. Duffy has had a brilliant sophomore season with 2,379 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, but Jefferson has been the workhorse, with 1,104 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. The two teams, which face off in another Southern Section D2 game, have never played.
1 p.m. Saturday
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The visiting Padres (9-0, 6-0) wrapped up at least a co-championship of the West Catholic Athletic League last week with a 10-0 victory over then No. 19 Valley Christian (San Jose). "We hung a banner in the gym today," Serra coach Patrick Walsh said after the game. "But we want it to be our own." If they don't take care of business against a very tough St. Ignatius squad (7-2, 5-1) it will be just a co-championship. St. Ignatius is led by one of the Bay Area's most unique players in Buchanan, who is equally effective as a quarterback and linebacker. The Wildcats have the luxury of two standout quarterbacks with Taylor-Smith as well. Serra has won 14 of the last 15 played between the teams.
7 p.m. Friday
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Top Players
In Southern Section D3 first-round play, La Habra (8-2) is the big favorite, but the Cougars have a big asset in Moussiax, who has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. Capistrano Valley hopes to repeat the team's only meeting with La Habra in 2014, a wild 44-42 victory. In nine games, Zanelli threw for 2,603 yards and 32 touchdowns. He's spread the ball around beautifully as three receivers have nine touchdowns each including Phillips and Koontz.
