CIF-SS Football Playoffs Begin Friday

The CIF Southern Section football playoffs kick off Friday night. Teams in all divisions except Division 1 will play their first-round games that evening. A total of 27 schools from the Los Angeles Daily News coverage area have earned playoff berths. These teams will compete across 14 different divisional brackets for championship glory.

Sierra Canyon enters the tournament as the top seed in Division 1. The Trailblazers won the Mission League title by outscoring their conference opponents 259 to 13. Their defense, led by All-American Marcus Fakatou, Kasi Currie, and Brayden Tautolo, anchored the regular season effort. Senior quarterback Demarco Hernandez completed 12 of 16 passes for 297 yards in the league-clinching win over Bishop Amat. Sierra Canyon faces Mission Viejo in the quarterfinals on November 13.

Quartz Hill hosts Hart in a first-round matchup featuring two high-scoring offenses. Quartz Hill senior quarterback Deshawn Laporte threw for 331 yards and five touchdowns in a 62-14 victory over Lancaster. Hart relies on running back Matix Frithsmith and quarterback Camren Ketner to balance its attack. Hart dropped its last regular season game to Valencia but remains a dangerous playoff opponent. This game contrasts Quartz Hill’s fast-paced passing scheme with Hart’s balanced run game.

Crespi presents a formidable challenge for any opponent in the field. Junior quarterback Chase Curren leads an offense that includes sophomore wide receiver Harlem Bullock and junior running back Amir Morton. The defense is anchored by linebacker Noah Sanchez, who recorded 85 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and three interceptions during the season. Crespi tested its depth by playing Notre Dame, St. Francis, and Oak Park during the regular season.

Oaks Christian earned a playoff spot after a mid-season turnaround. The Lions started Marmonte League play with a 0-5 record and suffered blowout losses to Serra and Notre Dame. Freshman quarterback Cody Bird emerged as a leader, guiding the team to a 42-35 double-overtime victory over Simi Valley. If Oaks Christian defeats Temecula and Simi Valley beats El Dorado, the two schools could meet again in the Division 5 quarterfinals on November 13.

Viewpoint faces the longest travel distance in the first round. The team will drive 119 miles to play Hemet, a trip that takes approximately two and a half hours by bus. Viewpoint’s roster includes senior running back Ben Burkin, who has rushed for 694 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Magnus Merriman has passed for 1,593 yards and 25 touchdowns. The defense is led by senior Shane Anderson and sophomore Liam Stocker.

Valencia overcame the loss of star running back Brian Bonner to make the playoffs. Sophomore quarterback Evan McCalister stepped into the starting role and completed 99 of 138 passes for 2,033 yards and 24 touchdowns. Senior running back Nico Funez contributed 1,245 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Wide receiver Caysen Badawi caught 13 passes for 446 yards and six touchdowns.