A month ago it looked like a California high school football season in spring was a no-go. That changed Feb. 19 with new state guidelines allowing most counties to participate in a shortened season. School scrambled to cobble four-to-six game schedules featuring mostly league opponents.
We won't get to see that national showdowns in years past that featured Mater Dei (Santa Ana) playing St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) or IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), but there are still big-time matchups led by an April 17 Trinity League showdown between the Monarchs and St. John Bosco (Bellflower).
They have played in the last four CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship games and the winner has gone on to beat De La Salle (Concord) in the CIF Open Division state championship in each of the last four years.
With there not being any playoffs this spring in the Golden State that regular season finale will feel a lot like a post-season matchup and most likely decide California's best team.
St. John Bosco and Mater Dei clash April 17 in a season-ending battle between the Trinity League powers.
File photo by Louis Lopez
When: March 19
Significance: Former Narbonne (Harbor City) head coach Manuel Douglas begins his first season at St. Bernard and has a talented roster led by Arizona State-bound
Larry Turner-Gooden. Sierra Canyon is loaded too, led by Virginia Tech-bound
DJ Harvey and four-star safety
Kamari Ramsey.
When: April 2
Significance: The Huskies have won 55 consecutive league games heading into the spring season and their biggest test this year will come against the Cougars. Even with five-star
Korey Foreman sitting out, expect Matt Logan's squad to be one of the best in California.
When: April 17
Significance: The Spartans close out the season against the defending CIF Division 2-AA state champs. De La Salle has not lost to an opponent from Northern California since 1991.
When: April 16
When: March 13
Significance: The Sierra Foothill League is one of the best leagues in California and opens up with a marquee matchup between the Bulldogs and Trojans. Both teams will be without their starting quarterbacks this spring.
Ari Patu is enrolling at Stanford later this month while
Justin Lamson is already enrolled at Syracuse.
When: April 16
Significance: Texas-bound quarterback
Maalik Murphy takes over as the full time starter for Serra and the five-star recruit checks in as the fourth-rated pro style quarterback in the Class of 2022. He faces a defense loaded with talent led by four-star linebacker
Niuafe Tuihalamaka, four-star cornerback
Ephesians Prysock and four-star safety
RJ Jones.
When: March 13
Significance: The defending national champs take the field in the biggest game of the opening weekend in California. Some of the best talent in the Golden State will be on display. The Braves are led by four-star offensive lineman
Earnest Greene III, four-star running back
Rayshon Luke and four-star defensive end
Nathan Burrell.
When: March 26
Significance: Mater Dei and St. John Bosco have dominated the Trinity League but this could be the year Servite kicks the door down. The Friars nearly knocked off the Braves in 2019 before falling 27-26. Troy Thomas retursn a lot of key players led by four-star quarterback
Noah Fifita, five-star wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan and USC-bound tight end
Keyan Burnett, who transferred from JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).
When: April 3
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) at Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
When: April 17
Significance: Easily the biggest game during the spring season. Among the premier programs in the country, the winner could be crowned as the state's best.
