Bracket:
Moving onto the Southern Section Division three playoff bracket. We have a lot of teams with big home field advantage with teams having to make a long road in the first round. Here are predictions for every first round game.
(16)Valencia (Foothill #1) @ (1) La Serna Gateway #1
Valencia has fallen in the first round in four straight seasons while La Serna lost in the Division 5 championship game last season. La Serna coach Andy George has over 100 career wins and always performs in November. Valencia sophomore QB Evan McCalister is a star and this will be his breakout performance. Larry Muir puts his postseason blunders behind. La Serna falls in a shocking upset.
Valencia 27 La Serna 24
(9) St.Bonaventura (7-3) 2nd Marmonte @ (8) San Jacinto (9-1) 1st Mountain Pass League
St.Bonnie QB Jaxson Copper is the best passer in this bracket. The 2028 QB has a chance to climb up the recruiting boards with a deep playoff run. San Jacinto running back Elijah Robinson (110 yards per game) will control the clock and keep the Seraphs explosive offense off the field. A three hour drive is a brutal task for Bonnie. The Seraphs have a strong run defense and better QB play. They get the win on the road.
St.Bonaventure 31 San Jacinto 24
Joe Caffaro VC Star
Ton Dragan breaks run against Newbury Park
(13) Apple Valley (9-1) (5-0) First Mojave River League @ (4) Villa Park (7-3) (2-3) Bravo League At large
Both programs are looking to build off deep playoff runs from last season. Apple Valley lost in the Division 7 championship game last season while Villa Park lost to San Jacinto in the Division 4 quarterfinals. Both teams want to run the ball. Villa Park All-CIF linebacker Ethan Hedrick is the difference maker on defense. Villa Park wins close in a tough physical battle.
Final Villa Park 22 Apple Valley 14
(12)El Modena (9-1) (4-1) #2 Delta League @ (5) Newport Harbor (8-2) (5-0) #1 Epsilon League
The Newport Harbor Sailors won their first outright league title since 2004. Matt Burns turned the Sailors around in his 3rd season after finishing 3-7 last year. Both Orange County teams have one common opponent in Trabuco Hills. El Modena beat the Mustangs 20-17 while Newport dominated Trabuco 37-7 to secure a league title. El Modena is more highly ranked in Maxpreps rating system, but I will take the home team here.
Final Score Newport Harbor 27 El Modena 24
(14) Bonita (10-0) (5-0) #1 Sierra League @ Great Oak (8-2) (4-1) Big West League
Bonita is the only unbeaten team in the division yet they are rewarded with a first round road playoff game. Head coach Steve Bogan has done a fantastic job but they are simply outclassed Great Oak dual threat QB Trent Lux has accounted for 35 total touchdowns this season. The Wolfpack will roll in this matchup.
(11) Crespi (9-1) (5-0) 1st in Del Rey League @ (6) Murrieta Valley (4-6) 3rd Big West
Crespi is looking like the Crespi of old. Junior QB Chase Curren broke a 17-year-old school record for career touchdown passes (previously held by his offensive coordinator, Bryan Bennett). Murrieta Valley has played tougher competition but they have been inconsistent. Crespi’s defense holds opponents to 8.4 points per game. Curren should find success against Murrieta Valley’s secondary. Give me Crespi to win on the road and make a deep run in this bracket.
Prediction. Crespi 27 Murrieta Valley 13.
(10) Edison (Huntington Beach) (3-7) (1-4) 4th Alpha League @ (7) Oak Hills (7-3) (4-1) #2 Mojave River:
The Chargers play tougher competition in the Alpha League but it’s still hard to argue for the position of a 3-7 team. A one hour and 45 minute drive to play a physical Oak Hills team shouldn’t brew excitement. Edison has turned the ball over 17 times this season and they are 0-4 in one possession games. That stat foreshadows what will happen. Oak Hills wins at home.
Final Oak Hills 21 Edison 10.
#15 Long Beach Poly (6-4) (4-0) 1st Moore League @ #2 Norco (7-3) (3-2) #3 Big West League
The Jackrabbits have been a different team since sophomore QB Trevor Scott (1129 yards 16 TD 1 interception) has been eligible. Norco plays in one of the tougher leagues in the country but they were not competitive when they stepped up in class against Chaparral, Centennial, or Santa Margarita. On the flip side, Poly played close games against Tustin and City Section number one seed Carson. Poly has 21 takeaways on the season. Norco has had turnover issues giving away the ball 19 times. Despite being the lower seed, Poly has more talent. I will take the Jackrabbits to pull off the upset.
Final Long Beach Poly 27 Norco 17
Semifinal prediction:
St.Bonaventure vs Villa Park, Crespi vs Oak Hills.
Final prediction: Oak Hills over St.Bonaventure