Damien placed in Division 2 for CIF-SS playoffs

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Joseph Lara, center, and undefeated Sierra League champion Bonita will be on the road to start the CIF-SS playoffs. Photo by Raul Romero Jr

Image

By Fred Robledo

frobledo@scng.com

The CIF Southern Section football playoff pairings were announced Sunday, and Baseline League champion Damien headlined the group of San Gabriel Valley teams that will compete in the playoffs by being the only area team placed in Division 2.

All first-round playoff games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., but times and dates might change during the week.

Damien (8-2), which defeated Ranch Cucamonga 34-31 Friday to win the outright league title, will start at home against San Clemente (5-5), an Alpha League at-large selection. The winner of that game could take on No. 2 seed Newbury Park (10-0) in the second round.

In Division 3, Epsilon League champion La Habra (9-1) drew Mira Costa (5-5), a Bay League at-large, in the first round with the winner possibly taking on top seed Simi Valley in the second round.

Bonita (10-0) won the Sierra League and went undefeated in the regular season, but did not get the reward it was hoping for: a home game in the first round. Instead, the Bearcats have to travel in the first round in Division 3 playoffs. Bonita will be at Angelus League champion Cathedral (9-1).

“That happened to Charter Oak a couple years ago,” Bonita coach Steve Bogan said, referring to the 2022 season when undefeated Charter Oak had to travel to face undefeated Yorba Linda in the first round.

“You play who they tell you to play,” Bogan said. “I don’t really have a thought. I have adjusted to the way of today. Our goal is to play who we play on Friday night and try to win. I know they (CIF-SS) came up with a system, and this is what it is. So, I gave up trying to figure it out. We’re having a great year and we’ll go try and get a win. That’s it.”

Northview (10-0), which went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2018, received a tough draw as well. The Vikings will start out on the road against Long Beach Poly (5-5), the Moore League runner-up which traditionally is one of the best teams in the Southern Section.

“We knew were going to get a road game,” Northview coach Marcel Perez said. “You know to be the best you have to play the best, let’s go get it. We’re not going to dodge it or hide it. Long Beach Poly is who it is, so let’s go get it.”

Also in Division 3, Sierra League second-place finisher Charter Oak (8-2) is at home against Apple Valley (8-3). St. Paul (6-4), which finished second to Cathedral in the Angelus League, will home against Thousand Oaks (6-4).

Del Rio League champion La Serna (7-3), which won the Division 4 title last season, is the No. 4 seed in Division 5 and will host Troy (9-1) in the first round.

Pacific League champion Muir (7-2) was awarded the top seed in Division 6 and will take on Almont League champion Schurr (9-1) in a first-round game between two area teams having stellar seasons.

St. Francis (3-7), which started the season 0-6 but finished third in the Angelus League, is also in the Division 6 playoffs. It will be on the road against Calabasas (6-4) on Friday.

If St. Francis wins, it will take on the Muir-Schurr winner. Muir beat St. Francis earlier in the season.

“The first part of the season anything that could go wrong, went wrong, and we played a tough schedule,” St. Francis coach Dean Herrington said. “After the nonleague season, we knew we needed three wins in league to get in and we worked hard. Our kids went after it and we thought good things would happen and we like our chances. We’re playing pretty good right now.”

Also in Division 6, Glendora (6-4) is at Agoura (9-1) and Valle Vista League runner-up San Dimas (8-2) will host Aliso Niguel (7-3).

Gold Coast League champion Rio Hondo Prep (8-1), which won the Division 8 title last season, is the lone area team in Division 7 and drew a tough assignment. Rio Hondo Prep will be on the road against River Valley League champion Ramona (10-0) in the first round.

Rio Hondo League runner-up Monrovia (8-2) will be home against Pacific League runner-up Burbank (8-2) in the first round in Division 9. Also in Division 9, Hacienda League co-champion Covina (8-2) will be home against Village Christian (4-6) and Sonora (5-5) will be home against Alemany (5-4).

South Hills (5-5) finished third in the Hacienda League and will be on the road against Division 10 top seed Long Beach St. Anthony (5-5).

Also in Division 10, La Canada (8-2) is at Garden Grove Pacifica (5-5) and Rio Hondo League champion South Pasadena (8-2) is home against Patriot (5-5).

In Division 11, Santa Fe (7-3) is the No. 2 seed and will be home against Grand Terrance (4-6).

Baldwin Park (5-5) has a home game against Colton (9-1). El Rancho (6-4) will be home vs. Bell Gardens (6-4).

Montview League champion Wilson (9-1) is the lone area team in Division 12 and will be home against Yucca Valley (4-6) in the first round.

Division 13 features several area teams. Miramonte League co-champion La Puente (9-1) is on the road against Division 13 top seed Gahr (5-5). Montview League runner-up Nogales (6-4) makes the long road trip to Arrowhead Christian (4-6).

Mission Valley League champion South El Monte (6-4) is on the road against Lynwood (6-4). El Monte (6-4) is at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (4-6).

Pasadena (4-6) played well late in the season and should be a team to watch in Division 13. The Bulldogs will be at Santa Rosa Academy (8-2) in the first round. San Marino (5-5) will be home against Hawthorne.

In Division 14, Miramonte League co champion Duarte (9-1) will host Sierra Vista (4-5-1) in the first round.

San Gabriel (4-6) will host Desert Christian Academy (9-1). Arroyo (5-5) will host Century (5-5) and Ganesha (5-5) will be at Bolsa Grande (5-5). Pioneer (5-5) will host Vasquez (6-4).