Football playoffs pushed back one week

The CIF announced Tuesday that its Northern California and state football championship games will be pushed back a week because of the poor air quality caused by the Camp Fire in Butte County.

Because almost all North Coast and Central Coast section football championship games had been postponed last weekend, the CIF had to make adjustments.

The state’s 10 section commissioners met in an emergency meeting Tuesday morning and announced the changes to football and water-polo championships.

“We reviewed the schedules with the 10 CIF Sections and came to a unanimous agreement that the best course of action is to cause as least disruption as possible for all those participating in our Regional and State Championship events,” said CIF Executive Director Roger L. Blake in a statement. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during a time where schedules need to be fluid due to unfortunate events beyond our control.”

The Northern California football championship games will be played Dec. 7-8, with the winners advancing to the Dec. 14-15 state-title games. The Southern California title games will take place as planned Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, giving those champions two weeks to prepare for the state games.

Also pushed back were the Northern California boys and girls water-polo title matches, which had been scheduled for Wednesday and now will be played Friday and Saturday.

The CIF said that it could make more changes because of air conditions.

The San Francisco Section still is planning to play its semifinal football games Thursday to set up its annual Turkey Day Game at Kezar Stadium on Thanksgiving. The Oakland Section has Friday scheduled for semifinal games. With now three weekends until Northern California regionals, there shouldn’t be a problem in those sections.