California high school football: Southern Section playoff brackets

Division 1 gets going Nov. 10 but plenty of action begins Friday in Southland.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Aaron Williams
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Nov 1, 2023, 3:00pm
The CIF Southern Section Division 1 high school football playoff bracket has been among the toughest to win anywhere in the country for the past several years running and this year expects to be no different.

The eight-team field that was announced Sunday includes four teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 as well as two others that spent time in the rankings this season.

Below are the Southern Section brackets for all 16 divisions:


Topping the Division 1 bracket is national No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), which won the Trinity League this season thank in part to a 28-0 dismantling of rival Mater Dei (Santa Ana). The Braves draw No. 8 San Clemente in the opening round on Nov. 10 and would play the winner of Centennial (Corona)-Orange Lutheran (Orange). 

Centennial (8-2) has been in the national rankings all season and its two losses are to Mater Dei and national No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

On the other side of the bracket is second-seeded Mater Dei Mater Dei (Santa Ana). The Monarchs open the postseason against JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) with a potential semifinal meeting of the winner of Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) and unbeaten Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth).
Senior quarterback Caleb Sanchez leads St. John Bosco into the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs staring Nov. 10. The D1 bracket is annually among the toughest in high school football. (Photo: Louis Lopez)
Senior quarterback Caleb Sanchez leads St. John Bosco into the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs staring Nov. 10. The D1 bracket is annually among the toughest in high school football. (Photo: Louis Lopez)

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