For the first time in the seven-year history of the CIF Bowl Games, regional playoffs will be held in both the north and the south to determine the contestants for the final five bowl games.
Between 2006 and 2011, the CIF Selection Committee chose the teams for the Bowl Games based on a number of factors, including overall record and strength of schedule. The choices have not been easy and some have come with criticism from fans who felt that their team had been overlooked.
But what if the CIF had held regional playoffs from the very start? Here's a look at 10 Regional Bowl matchups we would like to have seen during the first six years of the CIF Bowl Championships.
Top 10 Regional Bowl matchups we'd have liked to see10. Sutter vs. Central Catholic (Modesto), 2007
Mike Glines got one final chance to coach Central Catholic in his storied career when the Bowl Selection Committee chose his team over Sutter in 2007.
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
Sutter went undefeated in 2007 (12-0), led by junior quarterback Jon Garcia who earned first team All-Northern Section honors. Sutter's junior group had never lost a game at any level and the undefeated team was the latest in a line of talented teams for coach Scott Turner, who ranks as one of the winningest coaches in Northern Section history. Central Catholic, under legendary coach Mike Glines, actually had a loss (St. Mary's) and a tie (Cardinal Newman) on its record, but its overall strength of schedule won out over Sutter's unblemished record.
Central Catholic lost to St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 35-21 in the Bowl Game. To ensure there was no difficult decision for the committee to make in 2008, Sutter and Central Catholic scheduled a game in Sutter, which Central Catholic won 30-28 on a late field goal. That win was the first in Roger Canepa's career as head coach at Central Catholic. The loss was the last in Turner's career as his team won its remaining games and claimed the Northern Section championship. Turner retired at the conclusion of the season.
