From the Open Division battle between national No. 1 Mater Dei and Serra (San Mateo) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo to the tiny mountain town of MacArthur for the 7-AA finals between Fall River and Morro Bay, the high school football season comes to a conclusion over the weekend with 15 title contests.
All eyeballs are likely on Mater Dei and its quest for an unbeaten season, third CIF crown and second MaxPreps National Championship. The Padres, home to famous alumni like Tom Brady, Barry Bonds and Lynn Swann, know they've got a tall task, but coach Patrick Walsh is ready for the challenge: "I just know I have to get our guys prepared for the best team in the country. We'll give it our best shot."
In the 1-AA championship game, Folsom battles Cathedral Catholic with the Bulldogs looking for their fifth CIF title, while the Dons counter with Southern California Regional Bowl standout Lucky Sutton, who ran for 431 yards and scored seven times.
The top five divisions — Open, 1-AA, 1-A, 2-AA, 2-A — will be played Friday and Saturday at Saddleback with the other games spread out throughout Northern California.
The 4-A game between Northview (Covina) and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco) will be played at 6 p.m. in historic Kezar Stadium, original home of the San Francisco 49ers, while the aforementioned 7-AA game between Fall River and Morro Bay promised true football weather with temperatures in MacArthur at the 6 p.m. kickoff expected to hover near the low-20s/high-teens.
And to confuse things a little, there will be two Mater Deis and two Serras in action. In addition to the Open Division opponents, Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) takes on Central Catholic (Modesto) in the 1-AA game while Serra (Gardena) battles Liberty (Bakersfield0 in the 1-A title match.
Follow all the CIF finals action on the MaxPreps championship scoreboard below.
California high school football championship scoreboard
