Games of the week
FRIDAY
Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (8-2) vs. Encinal-Alameda (11-0) at Santa Rosa JC, 7 p.m.: In this North Coast Section D3 quarterfinal, it’s the first look on the big stage for Encinal and quarterback Theori Oliver (3,444 total yards, 47 TDs).
Clayton Valley-Concord (8-2) at De La Salle-Concord (9-1), 7 p.m.: Sloppy field and turnovers give Clayton Valley hope in this NCS Open Division semifinal.
Fremont-Oakland (8-2) at Oakland Tech (6-2), 7:15 p.m.: Fremont, which lost 28-20 at Tech on Oct. 21, is looking for redemption in this Oakland Section semifinal.
Heritage-Brentwood (7-4) at Liberty-Brentwood (8-2), 7 p.m.: A rivalry game plus NCS D1 quarterfinal equals high intensity.
Live Oak-Morgan Hill (6-4) vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (6-4) at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m.: In a Central Coast Section D3 quarterfinal, SHC figures to utilize its speed, led by Anthony Heard (seven TDs past two games), against the Acorns, who average 186 yards rushing and 182 yards passing per game.
SATURDAY
Acalanes-Lafayette (9-1) at Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (8-2), 1 p.m.: Terrific NCS D3 matchup pitting Acalanes’ strong passing (292 yards per game) against the balance of Bishop O’Dowd (387 total yards per game, 212 on ground).
Miramonte-Orinda (8-3) at Marin Catholic-Kentfield (9-0), 1 p.m.: Marin Catholic eliminated Miramonte 20-18 in D3 quarterfinals last season as well.
Mission (6-3, 5-0 AAA) at Lincoln (7-2, 4-1), 1 p.m.: This will decide the Academic Athletic League regular-season champion and top seed heading into next week’s playoffs. If there’s a three-way tie with Galileo (6-2, 4-1), which travels to winless Balboa, then Mission gets the No. 1 seed based on a preseason coin flip. If Lincoln wins and Galileo loses, Lincoln gets top seed.
Eureka (11-0) at Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park (9-1), 7 p.m.: In another fantastic NCS D3 game, Cotate must contain Eureka QB Cruz Montana. Eureka must contend with Cotate QB Jake Simmons (3,575 total yards, 52 TDs). San Ramon Valley-Danville (9-1) at Pittsburg (7-1), 7 p.m.: Perfectly even NCS Open matchup with a state tournament bid on the line.