Section titles on line this weekend
Every year, the objective is to practice on Thanksgiving. That’s the message relayed from high school football coaches to their charges. These 26 teams achieved that goal, and in the next two days play for section championships.
The winners will take home banners and advance to the CIF State Bowl championships, with those pairings announced on Sunday. The winners of first-round games next week advance to the state finals to face Southern California champs the second week of December.
Here are quick breakdowns of the 13 section final games scheduled Friday and Saturday:
Oakland Section No. 1 McClymonds (10-1) vs. No. 3 Castlemont (6-5) at Fremont HS, 6 p.m. Saturday:
The topseeded Warriors haven’t lost to an OAL opponent since 2009, a span of 11 seasons and 88 games. With RB Jaivian Thomas (1,919 yards, 23 TDs, nine games) there’s no reason to think that streak ends now. Castlemont pulled off a stunning 20-8 semifinal win at Oakland Tech, but McClymonds won its regular-season game against Castlemont 60-6.
Central Coast Section Division 1 No. 1 Serra (12-0) vs. No. 6 Mitty (9-3) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. Friday:
A matchup pitting one of the most dominating teams in CCS history (Serra won two playoff games 57-7 and 57-21) against a great comeback story. Mitty was 1-9 last season (and 1-12 over two), but won playoff games against higher seeds 29-28 and 42-41, both in OT.
Division 2 No. 2 St. Ignatius (6-6) vs. No. 5 Bellarmine (6-6) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. Saturday:
Two alsorans in the West Catholic Athletic League found their footing in the playoffs. St. Ignatius, aided by sophomores in QB Soren Hummel and RB Jarious Hogan, hope to turn the tables after losing to the Bells 34-14 on Sept. 23.
Division 3 No. 3 Menlo SchoolAtherton (7-5) vs. No. 5 Hollister (7-5) at Rabobank Stadium-Salinas, 7 p.m. Saturday:
Menlo hopes to end a streak of five CCS finals defeats but will need to contain speedy Hollister QB Isaiah Molina. Last week his 11 carries for 216 yards and four TDs led the Balers to a 42-28 win over top-seeded Soquel.
Division 4 No. 3 Branham-San Jose (11-1) vs. No. 4 Santa Teresa-San Jose (7-5) at San Jose City College, 1 p.m. Saturday:
Branham QB William Augenstein is a one-man show; in a 68-45 semifinal win over Mountain View he accounted for 454 yards and six touchdowns. For the season, he has thrown for 2,010 yards (22 TDs) and rushed for 2,017 (29).
Division 5 No. 2 Palo Alto (6-6) vs. No. 5 Monterey (8-4) at Sequoia-Redwood City HS, 7 p.m. Friday:
The Vikings go for their fourth NCS title but first since 2010, when they won a state title with Davante Adams. That CCS title was in the highest classification (Open) but the competitive equity model has knocked them to the lowest.
North Coast Section Division 1 No. 2 Pittsburg (10-2) vs. No. 3 Clayton ValleyConcord (8-4) at Heritage-Brentwood HS, 7 p.m. Friday:
Clayton Valley senior QB Christian Aguilar (3,097 passing yards, 25 TDs) transferred from Pittsburg following his junior season. The Pirates feature four-star QB and Florida commit Jaden Rashada and a host of future college receivers in Rashid Williams (Washington), Zachary Card (Oregon State) and Khai Taylor (Boise State). Pittsburg played De La Salle-Concord tougher than it has in decades but lost a 30-23 Open title game last week. The physicality of that game could take a toll Friday. This could also be the last game for 21-year Pittsburg coach Vic Galli, who announced two weeks ago this will be his last season.
Division 2 No. 1 San Ramon Valley-Danville (10-2) vs. No. 2 Campolindo-Moraga (12-0) at Dublin HS, 7 p.m. Friday:
Campolindo beat San Ramon Valley 17-14 in last year’s Division 2 final and returned its two main weapons in QB Dashiell Weaver (3,542 yards yards total offense, 41 touchdowns) and WR Robbie Mascheroni (61 catches, 1,108 yards, 18 TDs). San Ramon Valley QB Luke Baker (3,310 yards passing, 40 TDs) has had a stellar season.
Division 3 No. 1 El Cerrito (12-0) vs. No. 2 Windsor (10-2) at Benicia HS, 7 p.m. Friday:
Windsor eliminated El Cerrito last season 33-32 in the semis. El Cerrito might have the Metro’s best defense (just 62 points allowed) but Windsor has the talented Anderson brothers, junior QB Judson and sophomore WR Hayden. Division 4
No. 1 Marin CatholicKentfield (12-0) vs. No. 3
Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (8-4) at San Rafael HS, 7 p.m. Saturday:
The top-seeded Wildcats haven’t been challenged all season, with their closest margin a 20-7 semifinal win last week over Del Norte-Crescent City. QB Joey Cook and RB Charles Williams lead a potent offense that rested in many second halves. Cardinal Newman ousted second-seeded Acalanes-Lafayette 17-14 last week.
Division 5 No. 1 San Marin-Novato (10-2) vs. No. 2 Miramonte-Orinda (8-4) at Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park HS, 7 p.m. Friday:
Great QB matchup in UCLA-bound Luke Duncan (3,123 yards, 39 TDs) of Miramonte and San Marin junior Dominic Ingrassia (2,258 yards, 31 TDs). Miramonte is chasing its 10th NCS title, but first since 2013.
Division 6 No. 3 Justin-Siena-Napa (7-5) vs. No. 4 Pinole Valley (7-4) at Memorial Stadium-Napa, 7 p.m. Friday:
Pinole Valley pursues its fifth NCS title (but first since 1979) after the Spartans topped previously unbeaten St. Mary’s-Albany in the semis 20-7. Justin-Siena is coming off its sixth shutout, a 15-0 victory over Salesian-Richmond.
Division 7 No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul-Petaluma (12-0) vs. No. 2 Clear Lake (11-1) at Rancho Cotate, 7 p.m. Saturday:
St. Vincent ended Clear Lake’s season in the semis last year en route to its eighth NCS title. St. Vincent is led by its career rushing leader, Kai Hall (5,518 yards, 71 TDs).