Sixty-Five Inland Teams Secure Playoff Berths as Bracket Shapes Shift
Chaparral and Chino Hills gained seeding advantages from an eight-team Division 1, while Centennial faces a recurring rival in the postseason.
By Mateo Thompson ·
The Central Valley of California football season concluded with 65 teams from the Inland area qualifying for the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The number of teams selected for each division created uneven competitive fields, giving some local schools major seeding advantages while others faced familiar, difficult matchups. The brackets were released recently, setting the stage for opening round games that begin this Friday.
The structure of the playoffs has fluctuated in recent years based on the number of teams selected for Division 1. This season, the Southern Section chose eight teams for that division. That decision directly impacted how the remaining teams were placed. Chaparral, which finished ninth in the hsratings.com rankings, secured the number one seed in Division 2. Chino Hills also benefited. The Huskies received the number one seed in Division 4. If the Division 1 bracket had been larger, Chino Hills would have likely held a double-digit seed in Division 3.
Centennial was the only Inland team placed in the eight-team Division 1 bracket. The Huskies enter the tournament as the number six seed. They will play Mater Dei, the number three seed, on Friday, Nov. 13, at Santa Ana Stadium. This is the sixth time these teams have met in three years and the 14th time since 2014. Centennial coach Matt Logan noted that the repetition is not ideal. "It’s definitely not ideal," Logan said. "But these things will keep happening as long as they don’t have 16 teams in Division 1. … It’s going to be the same teams almost every year."
Chaparral faces a formidable opponent in its opening game. The Pumas, who are 6-4, will host Orange at home on Friday, Nov. 6. Orange finished the regular season with a 10-0 record. Chaparral coach Andrew Ramer said the team prepared for various scenarios. "Division 2 is going to be a challenge," Ramer said. "There are no easy games there."
Rancho Cucamonga is the only other Inland team in Division 2. The Cougars, currently 7-3, will travel to play Crean Lutheran, which is 8-2, on Friday. Coach Alex Pierce described the division as tough from top to bottom. "Almost every single one of them (first-round games) is going to come down to one or two plays," Pierce said. He added that the preseason and Baseline League play prepared the team for this level of competition.
Other local teams received top seeds in their respective divisions. San Dimas, Notre Dame, Ontario, and Rialto all hold the number one seed in Divisions 7, 11, 12, and 13, respectively. San Dimas hosts Paramount on Friday night. Notre Dame plays at Ramona High. Ontario hosts Arcadia. Rialto hosts Arroyo. Chino Hills hosts Culver City in its opening game on Friday.
Eleven additional Inland teams earned top-four seeds. Four teams hold number two seeds: Norco, Colton, Banning, and Carter. Seven teams are number three seeds: Great Oak, Beaumont, Citrus Valley, Santiago, Moreno Valley, Montclair, and Rubidoux. The Southern Section also announced pairings for the 8-person football playoffs. Six Inland teams qualified for those brackets. Calvary Baptist, the only area team with a top-four seed in that category, will host Cornerstone Christian on Friday, Nov. 13.
The 65 qualifying teams earned their spots through two methods. Some secured automatic berths by winning their respective leagues. Others received at-large entries based on their overall performance. The first round of games begins Friday, with specific dates listed for each matchup. The brackets remain fixed for the upcoming postseason.
