Ratings Compiled By Ned Freeman
Story By Jason Hickman
Like a recent college graduate seeking a first job, high school football teams around the state will be breaking out the resumes this weekend, trying to impress the selection committee enough to earn a trip to the historic, 2006 CIF State Championship Bowl Games.
Some schools put the finishing touches on championship seasons last week, while others will make their final statements this weekend.
We will attempt to sort out each division, North and South, to give California high school football fans an idea of who may be making the trip to Carson's Home Depot Center Dec. 16.
North Division I
(Rating) Team (Record), Next Opponent
(1) De La Salle (12-0), Pleasanton Foothill, NCS 4A East Bay Championship
(2) Foothill Pleasanton (12-0), De La Salle, NCS 4A East Bay Championship
(3) Grant (13-0), Sac-Joaquin Division II Champion
(4) Vacaville (12-1), Merced, Sac-Joaquin Division I Championship
(5) Merced (12-1), Vacaville, Sac-Joaquin Division I Championship
(6) Hayward (12-1), Cardinal Newman, North Coast 3A Championship
(7) Manteca (13-0), Sac-Joaquin Division IV Champion
(8) Del Campo (11-2), Sac-Joaquin Division III Champion
(9) Milpitas (9-4), Central Coast Large Division Champion
(10) San Francisco Lincoln (10-3), San Francisco Champion
Scenarios: The North's Division I berth is in all likelihood down to three teams - De La Salle, Foothill, and Grant. One of those three will be knocked out of consideration this weekend when De La Salle meets Foothill for the North Coast Section 4A East Bay Championship. That leaves the winner of that game and Grant for the selection committee to decide between. If De La Salle prevails, it's hard to imagine the Spartans not being at the Home Depot Center Dec. 16. Sacramento's Pacers were one of the most dominant teams in the state this season, but have the misfortune of being in the same division as juggernaut De La Salle.
South Division I
(1) Canyon (10-2), Moorpark, SS Northern Division IV Championship
(2) Carlsbad (10-0-2), San Diego Section Division I Champion
(3) Clovis East (12-1), Central Section Division I Champion
(4) Riverside North (13-0), La Quinta, SS Eastern Division VIII Championship
(5) Chaparral (11-2), Norco, SS Inland Division II Championship
(6) Moorpark (11-2), Canyon, SS Northern Division IV Championship
(7) Norco (11-2), Chaparral, SS Inland Division II Championship
(8) Dominguez (12-1), Torrance West, SS Western Division III Championship
(9) Birmingham (10-3), San Pedro, Los Angeles City Section Championship
(10) San Pedro (12-1), Birmingham, Los Angeles City Section Championship
Scenarios: This one could get messy. Should Canyon and Riverside North prevail this weekend, four teams will have sterling resumes for the selection committee to consider. Canyon is as hot as any team in the state after starting the season 1-2. The Cowboys have impressive wins over Crespi, Hart, and Westlake. Carlsbad finished the season unbeaten - although they tied twice - and Riverside North could do the same. Clovis East made a strong statement last weekend by dismantling Clovis West in the Central Section Division I title game, 33-14. Moorpark isn't out of the question if they upset Canyon. The two teams met Aug. 31 with the Cowboys prevailing, 33-14.
North Division II
(1) Palo Alto (12-1), Central Coast Section Open Division Champions
(2) Paradise (11-1), Northern Section Division I Champion
(3) St. Ignatius (10-2-1), Central Coast Medium Division Champions
(4) Novato (11-1), Miramonte, NCS 2A Championship
(5) Seaside (12-1), Central Coast Small Division Champions
(6) Miramonte (10-3), Novato, NCS 2A Championship
(7) Lindhurst (7-5), Sac-Joaquin Division VI Champion
Scenarios: As reported by MaxPreps' Central Coast contributor Richard Paolinelli Tuesday, the North Division II berth will almost certainly go to Palo Alto. The Vikings earned it the hard way, defeating Aragon, Palma, and Oak Grove of San Jose by a combined seven points in the postseason. Palo Alto has won 10-straight games since a September loss to Oak Grove.
South Division II
(1) Orange Lutheran (12-1), Edison, SS Pac-5 Division I Championship
(2) Edison (11-2), Orange Lutheran, SS Pac-5 Division I Championship
(3) Oceanside (9-3-1), San Diego Section Division II Champion
(4) El Dorado (12-1), Charter Oak, SS Southwest Division VI Championship
(5) Torrance West (12-0-1), Dominguez, SS Western Division III Championship
(6) St. Augustine (10-3), San Diego Section Division III Champion
(7) Mt. Whitney (12-2), Central Section Division II Champion
(8) Oak Park (12-1), Oaks Christian, SS Northwest Division X Championship
(9) Colony (11-2), Elsinore, SS Central Division V Championship
(10) Charter Oak (10-3), El Dorado, SS Southwest Division VI Championship
Scenario: We could have stopped listing teams after Edison at No. 2. Orange Lutheran and Edison - No. 2 and 3 in the MaxPreps California rankings, respectively - play for the Pac-5 title Saturday, and it's unimaginable that the winner won't earn the South's Division II bid, particularly in light of the gauntlet both teams have run in recent weeks. Orange Lutheran reached the Pac-5 title game with wins over San Clemente, Compton, and Long Beach Poly, while Edison ousted Crespi, Servite, and Santa Margarita.
North Division III
(1) Cardinal Newman (12-1), Hayward, North Coast 3A Championship
(2) Modesto Central Catholic (12-1), Sac-Joaquin Division V Champion
(3) Anderson (10-2), Northern Section Division II Champion
(4) McClymonds (9-2-1), Oakland Champion
(5) St. Patrick/St. Vincent (11-2), NCS A Champion
(6) Mt. Shasta (9-1), Northern Section Division III Champion
(7) East Nicolaus (9-2), Northern Section Division IV Champion
(8) Calvary Temple (10-2), Sac-Joaquin Division VII Champion
(9) Mendocino (9-2), NCS B Champion
(10) Maxwell (12-1), Northern Section Division V Champion
Scenarios: Cardinal Newman controls its own destiny in the North Division III race. The Cardinals face Hayward for the North Coast 3A title Friday. Should they win that game, they will be the representative in this division at the Home Depot Center. Cardinal Newman opened the season with a 22-14 win over Central Catholic of Modesto, the only other serious challenger. Should the Cardinals stumble, Central Catholic will get the nod as they locked up the Sac-Joaquin Division V title with a 31-7 win over Modesto Christian Saturday.
South Division III
(1) Oaks Christian (13-0), Oak Park, SS Northwest Division X Championship
(2) Garces (11-2), Central Section Division III Champion
(3) Santa Fe Christian (11-2), San Diego Section Division IV Champion
(4) Big Bear (13-0), San Jacinto, SS East Valley Division XII Championship
(5) Dos Palos (10-3), Central Section Division IV Champion
(6) Verbum Dei (9-4), La Salle, SS Mid-Valley Division XI Championship
(7) La Salle (8-5), Verbum Dei, SS Mid-Valley Division XI Championship
(8) El Cajon Christian (8-3-1), Parker, San Diego Division V Championship
(9) Caruthers (11-2), Central Section Division V Champion
(10) Parker (9-3), El Cajon Christian, San Diego Division V Championship
Scenarios: The Division III South picture is simple. If Oaks Christian beats Oak Park in the Southern Section Northwest Division X title game this Friday, the Lions are going to Carson. The two teams already met once this season, with Oaks Christian scoring a 55-7 win in October. A loss by the Lions would open things up for Garces, Santa Fe Christian, and Big Bear, but that scenario would require Oak Park to record a monumental upset.
