No more speculation. Talk doesn't matter anymore, it's all about results. The Southern and City sections are having their championship games this weekend. There are some dandies, but nowhere is there a game more attractive than unbeaten Mission Viejo and Servite (Anaheim) fighting each other for the Pac-5 title.
These are two physical teams who aren't afraid of each other. If they manage a repeat of last season's semifinal – a 19-18 victory by Servite – then we'll be talking instant classic.
It's Mission Viejo's offense against Servite's defense and special teams.
MaxPreps' California football playoff brackets
IN THE PAC-5 DIVISION
Top-seeded Mission Viejo (13-0) and second-seeded Servite (13-0) play Saturday at Angels Stadium. The game pits the two teams that have spent the season atop the rankings; Mission has been No. 1 in the Southern Section ranking, Servite has been No. 1 in the Orange County Sportswriters Poll. The teams also get some love from MaxPreps; in the Xcellent 25, Mission Viejo is No. 9 and Servite is 20; in the Freeman Rating, Mission Viejo is 5, Servite 12.
Servite is the defending Pac-5 and State Division II Bowl champion and carries a 24-game winning streak and a defense that has allowed just 11.4 points per game, and that includes the points allowed with their nonstarters in the game. The Friars defeated Mission Viejo in last year's semifinal, 19-18, when they turned back a 2-point conversion in the final minute.
Since the formation of the Trinity League in 2006, Mission Viejo had been 0-4 against Trinity League opponents, 0-3 in the playoffs; but after beating Santa Margarita 31-28 and Mater Dei 42-21, the Diablos have a chance to sweep the Trinity gauntlet. It won't be easy because the consensus opinion is that Servite has the best defense in the Southland, and if the Friars don't have the best special teams, they are darn close; in 13 games, they have scored at least one touchdown on defense or special teams, and they have blocked kicks in three playoff games.
Kicker Connor Loftus has range to 50 yards and that might be the difference in the outcome. Along with Corona Centennial, Mission Viejo has arguably the best offense around with quarterback Alex Bridgford and Wildcat threat Tre Madden, tailback Dallas Kessman, fullback Jahleel Pinner and a cadre of capable receivers.
Madden also anchors the defense which will try to hold Servite below its 30.5 average, but that could be tricky if there are any holes for Malik Felton to bolt through. The running back has proven himself to be one of Orange County's top offensive players after injuries necessitated his move from receiver to tailback. The offense doesn't have to light up the scoreboard to be successful as Servite has not allowed more than 21 points this season; this should be a tough, low-scoring game.
Video of Tre Madden
FROM THE INLAND DIVISION
Top-seeded Centennial (Corona) (13-0) plays host to Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) (12-1) on Friday. Centennial is ranked No. 5 in the Xcellent 25 and No. 9 in the Freeman ratings. Although Centennial is a heavy favorite, Vista Murrieta is in the section finals for the second year in a row. The Broncos were beaten 13-7 a year ago by Chaparral. It will be a shocker if the game is that low scoring, but it would almost certainly benefit Vista Murrieta if it was. The Broncos are ranked No. 15 in the state, Centennial is No. 2. Centennial's 42-23 victory over Chino Hills last week was its closest game of the season. Quarterback Michael Eubank and tailback Barrinton Collins seem to score at will, although they took a while to get rolling against Chino Hills; down 10-7, the Huskies trailed in the second quarter for the first time this season, and early in the fourth quarter held a tenuous 28-23 lead. They are going to the finals for the seventh time overall, the sixth in Coach Matt Logan's 14 seasons; they are 6-0 in the finals with Logan on the sidelines.
Vista Murrieta advanced after their 35-28 double-overtime victory over Rancho Cucamonga when Xavier Stevenson stopped Sateki Finau short of the end zone on fourth-and-1. Derrick Brown scored twice in overtime for Vista Murrieta.
FROM THE NORTHERN DIVISION
Westlake (Westlake Village) (12-1) plays about two blocks from its campus at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) (11-2) on Friday in a game that is dripping with neighborhood rivalry. Not only are the schools close in proximity, but it's a public school vs. a private school. After going undefeated a year ago and having such dynamic players as quarterback Nick Isham and receiver Nelson Spruce returning, Westlake was supposed to be here all along – the only difference from reality and expectation being that the Warriors have actually lost a game. They avenged that loss last week with a solid 42-33 victory over St. Bonaventure. It sets up a second game with Oaks Christian, which Westlake defeated 31-12 on Oct. 1. Oaks Christian was just getting players back in the lineup after injuries and weren't nearly as in sync as they are now behind quarterback Richie Harrington, USC-bound receiver Jordan Payton and running back Ishmael Adams. Oaks Christian is the top-seeded team in the division and Westlake was the third-seeded team, but only because the two tied with St. Bonny for the Marmonte League title and that's the way the coin flipped. It should be high-scoring.
IN THE WESTERN DIVISION
Serra (Gardena) (13-0) is riding a 28-game winning streak as it returns to its third consecutive championship game to face visiting Arroyo Grande (11-2), which beat second-seeded Dominguez and then third-seeded Chaminade, 52-19. It's the first title game since 2000 for Arroyo Grande, which tied for second place in the Pac-7 League, behind junior quarterback Brent Vanderveen. Mission League champion Serra, which won last year's State Division III Bowl Championship, is a heavy favorite with such senior standouts as quarterback Conner Preston and wide receiver George Farmer, who have paced the team to a 42-point scoring average. If Serra wins, it's a lock to be return to a Bowl game. The Cavaliers are currently ranked No. 10 in the state and Arroyo Grande is No. 24. Although it's easy to assume Serra in a blowout, the Cavaliers' closest game of the season, 35-21, came Nov. 5 against Chaminade – the team Arroyo Grande beat by 33 points last week.
IN THE CENTRAL DIVISION
Top-seeded Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) (13-0) will play host to Colton (10-3) on Friday. The visiting Yellowjackets have won six championships but none since 1978; they also won in 1941, so they're due. Colton hasn't had to face a seeded team in the playoffs; the Yellowjackets avenged a San Andreas League loss with a 42-41 overtime victory over Cajon (San Bernardino) in the semifinals. The third-place team from that league, Colton has averaged 44 points in the playoffs and 33.3 on the season behind quarterback Jordan Mixon. Rancho Verde is is in the finals for the second year in a row and is looking for its first victory. As impressive as the numbers are that Colton has put up, Rancho Verde has been even more impressive: the Mustangs average 48.6 points and their average margin of victory is 37.5 points, but their strength of schedule hasn't been very impressive. The offense, which hasn't been held to less than 28 points this season, has been led by wide receiver Junior Pomee.
IN THE SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Another one of those apparently destined collision courses between top-seeded Tustin (12-1) and third-seeded La Habra (10-3), and it will be played Saturday, 2 p.m., at Angel Stadium prior to the pre-ordained Mission-Servite showdown. All of La Habra's losses were to Trinity League teams from the Pac-5 Division, including Orange Lutheran, a team that Tustin defeated, 46-29. La Habra is led by quarterback Cody Clements, who has 31 touchdowns and only one interception, while Tustin counters with a big offensive line and Tyler Siudzinski (2,000 yards, 24 touchdowns).
IN THE SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Top-seeded West Covina (12-1) faces Bonita (La Verne) (12-1) at Walnut High on Friday in the Hacienda League championship. The teams finished first and second in league play, with West Covina scoring a 55-21 victory on Oct. 29. West Covina has won 12 in a row since losing its opener to Covina, 27-21; since then it hasn't scored fewer than 28 points behind running back Chris Solomon.
IN THE EASTERN DIVISION
Fourth-seeded Elsinore (Wildomar) (11-2) plays host to Summit (Fontana) (10-2-1) on Saturday after both teams posted victories over higher seeded opponents. Summit, led by junior quarterback Bernard Porter, has beaten the second- and third-seeded teams in the division and is looking for its first title. Elsinore is also looking for its first title, in four appearances, after beating top-seeded Kaiser, 20-12.
IN THE SOUTHERN DIVISION
Top-seeded Garden Grove (12-1) plays against at-large entry Beckman (Irvine) (8-5) on Friday at Orange Coast College. GG reached the finals last season for the first time since 1945 and had a two-touchdown lead over La Mirada when quarterback Sean Young got hurt, and there went the Argos' chances of winning a title in memory of fallen teammate Kevin Telles. This season the team still plays in Telles' memory and it has a game-changer in runner, receiver and passer Josh Webb. Beckman is a worthy adversary. Although predicted to win the Pacific Coast League, things didn't work out and the Patriots finished fourth; since getting slotted into the playoffs as an at-large team, they have played like the preseason expectation, scoring victories of 56-22, 59-42 and last week 24-3 over second-seeded Corona del Mar.
IN OTHER CIF-SS GAMES
Northwest Division: No. 2 South (Torrance) (12-1) at Lompoc (10-3), Friday, 7 pm.
Mid-Valley Division: Whittier Christian (La Habra) (12-1) vs. No. 2 Monrovia (11-2) at Arcadia, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
East Valley Division: No. 1 Paraclete (Lancaster) (12-1) vs. No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) (12-1) at Granada Hills, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Northeast Division: Boron (12-1) at No. 1 Bishop (12-1), Saturday, 6 p.m.
IN THE CITY SECTION
Top-seeded Carson (11-2) takes on second-seeded Crenshaw (Los Angeles) (11-2) at the Coliseum on Saturday, 1 p.m. Led by De'anthony Thomas, Crenshaw has won 11 in a row, but unlike a year ago, there won't be a Bowl berth waiting even if the Cougars win. They do seem unstoppable, though; since scoring 12 and 21 points in consecutive losses to open the season against North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) and Norco, Crenshaw has not scored fewer than 43 points, and last week it beat third-seeded Venice, 63-12. The defense is allowing only 7.4 points per game. Carson, playing under first-year coach Elijah Assante, might not be as explosive as Crenshaw but are just as balanced, if not more so, with quarterback Justin Alo and running back Dion Willis. It's a big stage – don't be surprised if Thomas claims it.
IN THE OTHER CITY GAME
Division II: No. 9 Fairfax (Los Angeles) (9-3-1) vs. No. 6 Chatsworth (11-2) at East L.A. College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Martin Henderson is a reporter for Patch.com. He began covering Southland preps in 1993 for the Los Angeles Times, and has written for several papers including the Orange County Register and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. He offers up motorsports opinions at racescribe.wordpress.com. You can reach him at southlandpreps@yahoo.com.
