There were few real surprises in the selection of teams for the Northern California Regional CIF Bowl Games, but there was still plenty of debate and will continue to be, as multiple worthy teams vied for just two spots in each division, and only one berth in the Open Division.
Open Division
The CIF committee acknowledged that there was “limited discussion” of selecting Folsom for the Open Division, but that ultimately De La Salle was the “clear choice.” The Spartans will face Centennial-Corona for the fourth time since California started the state bowl format; De La Salle has won two of the three meetings.
De La Salle's inclusion in this year's bowl games marks the ninth appearance in a state title game for the Spartans, the only team in the state to reach the title game every season since the inception of the format in 2006. De La Salle is 5-3 in state title games, including four straight victories from 2009-2012.
The Spartans boast a veteran offensive line, an explosive running game, athletic defense, and a resume that includes blowout victories over Trinity League power Servite and South Carolina AAAA semifinalist Byrnes. Their opponent, Centennial, spoiled what many thought would be a rematch between the Spartans and St. John Bosco, outscoring Bosco 48-41 in the Pac-5 championship game.
All season, however, De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh reiterated that any talk of a DLS-Bosco rematch was premature, and the job of the Spartans was simply to get prepared for the games on their schedule and get better each day. But his Spartans held up their end of the bargain.
Division I
There was little debate that Folsom and Grant were the two deserving teams in this division. The biggest development from the off-season decision to send the top team in each region directly to the state final in the open game was that the second-best team would also get to go to a state final. In this case, it will be two undefeated Sac-Joaquin Section powers battling for that right.
The other undefeated team in consideration for this division was Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton, which despite its enrollment of 600 students, captured the CCS Open Division title, making it eligible only for the Open or Division I game at the state level. The Gators, while disappointed not to be going on to the state playoffs, also made it clear that the lack of selection by the committee in no way diminished the amazing season they had.
“It was a most memorable year,” said SHP head coach Pete Lavorato, who led his team to consecutive CCS section titles. “We are so proud of our kids who are disciplined and willing to work so hard. We are just proud and humbled at the same time, to be the top team in the CCS, having beaten three outstanding teams in the playoffs. Those teams had outstanding players and coaching staffs, and were just so classy.”
The committee did make it clear that the Gators' season did warrant their consideration on the board in the meetings, but that Grant's case with strength of schedule and quality victories was just simply stronger. Folsom was the first team selected with no debate at all, not surprising considering the record-setting year that quarterback Jake Browning and the Bulldogs are experiencing.
Division II
This was one of the biggest debates entering Sunday: would the committee select Oakdale of the Sac-Joaquin Section or Enterprise of the Northern Section, both one-loss teams? Clayton Valley, the undefeated North Coast Section Division II champion, was a foregone conclusion as a selection for the regional game.
The Clayton Valley Eagles did, as expected, get the first slot and a home game as a result. They will face Oakdale, who eliminated the Eagles in a hard-fought 27-24 game two seasons ago. Clayton Valley head coach Tim Murphy seems particularly excited about the matchup.
“This will be high school football at its finest,” said Murphy. “Oakdale is very much like us, very physical and relentless. Two years ago, our kids had not played a team with the same kind of relentless style we play with, until that game. I think they will believe me this year when I tell them they better be ready.”
Clayton Valley rolled past league rival Concord 33-6 in the section title game, a surprisingly one-sided affair after the two teams had battled until the final seconds earlier in the season. Oakdale, meanwhile, overcame a 20-0 deficit against Inderkum in the SJS Division III title game to earn its bid with a 27-23 win.
Oakdale's selection left Enterprise, the Northern Section Division II champions who lost only to a strong Vacaville team, out of the regional game. The Hornets were the defending Northern California Division II representatives, having lost to Chaminade in last season's state title game. According to the committee, both teams were “highly qualified, and there was considerable discussion before selecting Oakdale.”
With the 2012 regional bowl champions traveling to the East Bay Area this Saturday night, Murphy is already imploring the Eagle faithful to get ready for the game.
“Their fans are as loud as Seahawk fans, so our crowd needs to bring its A-game as well,” said Murphy. “This will be a special game.”
Division III
Despite a victory in the CCS Division III title game by Aptos, there was little debate in the selection of Campolindo and Sutter to meet in this regional game.
The undefeated champions from the North Coast Section and Northern Section, respectively, have seemed on a collision course for weeks now, especially after it became clear that Sacred Heart Prep would be moved up to the Open division in the CCS.
Campolindo wrapped up an undefeated season with a 27-21 win over Marin Catholic, the same team that the Cougars defeated for their last section title, in 2011. Sutter, meanwhile, breezed past Lassen for the second time this season to win the Northern Section Division III title, returning to the regional game for the second time in three years. The Huskies lost to a Jared Goff-led Marin Catholic team, 21-7, in 2012.
“We're very humbled and proud to be selected, yet deserving at the same time,” said Sutter head coach Ryan Reynolds. “We've been there before, and have seniors who played in that game as sophomores.
The Huskies seemed to benefit in their strength of schedule by playing multiple teams from the North Coast Section in their non-league slate, including Marin County Athletic League champions Novato and Justin-Siena. Justin-Siena also won the NCS Division IV title. Sutter beat Novato 56-7 and Justin-Siena 49-0, the largest losses of the year for either program.
“Preparing for this opportunity was exactly why we scheduled those games against quality opponents in the non-league,” said Reynolds. “We wanted to play teams who would do well, and create common opponents with other top programs in our division.”
The experience of facing Sutter was one to be remembered by its non-league opponents, who speak highly of the 2014 version of the Huskies.
“They were the most explosive team we played all year,” said Novato head coach Jason Searle, whose team lost to Cardinal Newman in the NCS playoffs. “Most of their players only go one way, so they always seem be at top speed and have a tremendous offensive line.”
Campolindo, meanwhile, impressed its opponents all season long, leading one coaching staff from its early-season schedule to comment that the Cougars were the most complete team they had faced all season, despite this team playing in a Division I league.
Senior running back Nick Fadelli has 36 touchdowns on the season, and Duke-bound Tyler Petite has been making an impact on both sides of the ball, with key catches and a forced fumble against Marin Catholic.
The team left out in this division, Aptos, was a one-loss team which could hardly be penalized for that single setback. The Mariners fell to Sac-Joaquin power Granite Bay in a competitive game, and defeated St. Ignatius in the CCS Division III title game. The Wildcats were the only team prior to Grant that beat St. Mary's-Stockton.
Aptos also dominated the Santa Cruz County Athletic League, but its signature win was against Salinas, which lost to San Benito in the CCS playoffs and finished with five losses.
Division IV
Central Catholic-Modesto will have the opportunity to play for its third straight state title, after being selected along with Capital Christian-Sacramento, in a process that was the longest of any division.
The committee acknowledged three different rounds of voting for this division, discussing teams such as McClymonds and Salesian before settling on undefeated Capital Christian to face Central Catholic. Capital Christian gave Modesto Christian its only two losses of the season en route to a Sac-Joaquin title.
Central Catholic, meanwhile, played two divisions higher than Capital Christian in the post-season, eventually defeating Sonora in its title game. The Raiders also routed Natomas and Escalon along the way. They have defeated Bakersfield Christian and Santa Fe Christian in the last two Division IV state title games.