Just 20 teams remain in the North Coast Section as we enter the section semifinals. And even though the quarterfinal round produced a number of surprisingly one-sided results, there were also some great finishes and individual performances, a trend that is certain to only increase as the proverbial cream rises to the top. In our first edition of the semifinal breakdowns, we focus on the two upper divisions in enrollment classifications.
DIVISION I
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
#1 De La Salle 47 #8 California 0
#2 Antioch 58 #7 Amador Valley 21
#3 Foothill 45 #6 Freedom 14
#5 Pittsburg 48 #4 Monte Vista 28
SEMIFINAL GAMES
#5 Pittsburg at #1 De La Salle
#3 Foothill at #2 Antioch
Welcome to the party . . . Antioch makes its first semifinal appearance since 1984, when the Panthers lost 17-16 to eventual 3A champion Kennedy. They are joined, however, by playoff veterans.
Pittsburg is making its ninth semifinal appearance in coach Vic Galli's 14 seasons at the helm, and its third consecutive appearance among the final four teams. It is the first time in Galli's tenure that the Pirates have reached three consecutive section semifinal games. Earlier this season, Galli became the school's all-time win leader among all head coaches.
Foothill is making back-to-back semifinal appearances for the first time since the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Last year snapped a six-year semifinal drought for the Falcons, who celebrated coach Matt Sweeney's 250th win at the helm last weekend with the victory over Freedom.
De La Salle, meanwhile, has reached the semifinals every season since 1984. Miramonte beat the Spartans in the 1983 2A quarterfinals, and they have been among the final four teams ever since.
Noticeable in its absence from the semifinals this season is California, which lost to De La Salle last weekend. The Grizzlies had reached three straight semifinals, and been among the final four teams in four of the last five seasons.
Rematch central . . . It seems inevitable this time of year that the teams facing each other have plenty of post-season history. And this season features two rematches from the 2013 playoffs.
For the second straight season, Antioch won its opening game in the playoffs by a wide margin, and for the second time in as many seasons, the Panthers' reward for that victory is a date with Foothill. This time, however, Antioch gets to host the Falcons.
Last season was a lopsided affair between an Antioch team that was still coming of age, and a Foothill program poised to regain its standing among the elite Division I programs. With both schools among those elite schools this year, this match-up promises to be dramatically more competitive.
Foothill led 27-0 after one quarter last year, and went on to win 54-8. Najee Harris had 140 yards and a touchdown on the ground that night for the Panthers, but Foothill's balanced attack was too much. Current Wake Forest quarterback Kyle Kearns threw for 225 yards and two scores last year, while Isaiah Floyd and Cash Connolly combined for 164 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Ruben Mercado led the Falcons' receivers with eight catches for 126 yards in last year's quarterfinal game.
Harris enters this year's game with 2,354 rushing yards and 33 total offensive touchdowns. Last week, Antioch displayed its multiple weapons, however, as senior Ryan Payne was the lone Panther to reach the end zone twice, and seven Antioch players scored in the rout over Amador Valley.
Three of Pittsburg's last four losses in the post-season, meanwhile, have come against De La Salle, the Pirates' opponent this week.
Keep an eye on those backs . . . One common trend among the final four teams in this division is their ability to effectively run the ball. De La Salle's Antoine Custer and Andrew Hernandez form the top backfield tandem in Northern California and arguably in the state. Pittsburg's Montaz Thompson has 1,651 yards and 18 touchdowns, and is complemented by senior Isaiah Turner, while the aforementioned Harris and Floyd provide a special match-up this weekend.
We'll be seeing you . . . Monte Vista may have lost to Pittsburg, ending their 2015 season, but they won't have to wait long in 2016 to get another shot at the Pirates. The Mustangs open next season at home against Pittsburg, with nine months to think about a shot at payback. That scenario worked out well for Division IV teams Moreau Catholic and Piedmont this season. Moreau lost to Saint Mary's in last year's playoffs, while Piedmont suffered the same fate against Justin-Siena in 2014. Both schools rebounded with season-opening wins this year over those same opponents.
Farewell to familiar faces . . . Amador Valley's Ronnie Jones and Freedom's Joe Sweeney both completed three-year tenures as the starting quarterbacks of their respective programs last weekend. Sweeney threw for over 5,000 yards in his career for the Falcons.
One of the best comeback stories this year, meanwhile, was Monte Vista receiver Noah Sol. Sol broke his forearm early last season, missing the final eight games. But he returned to the field in spectacular fashion this year, combining with Trae Banda to form one of the best receiving tandems in the state. Sol had 78 catches for 1,155 yards and 18 touchdowns this season as junior quarterback Jake Haener's top target.
DIVISION II
QUARTERINAL RESULTS
#1 Clayton Valley Charter 52 #9 Windsor 6
#2 Miramonte 47 #7 Casa Grande 29
#3 Concord 26 #6 Maria Carrillo 21
#4 Granada 64 #5 Tennyson 43
SEMIFINAL GAMES
#4 Granada at #1 Clayton Valley Charter
#3 Concord at #2 Miramonte
Welcome back, Granada . . . Diablo Valley Athletic League rivals Clayton Valley and Concord are no strangers to the section semifinals. The Ugly Eagles are making their fourth semifinal appearance in coach Tim Murphy's four seasons at the helm, while Concord is making its fifth appearance in the last six years. Miramonte is making its second semifinal appearance in the last three years.
Granada, meanwhile, is returning to the semifinals for the first time since 2010, when it was in Division I. Prior to that, Granada's previous semifinal appearance was 2005, when it lost in overtime to a Robert Turbin-led Irvington team.
More running backs to watch . . . In all four of Murphy's seasons, the Eagles have been known for their prolific running game. Ray Jackson III has yet to crack the 2,000-yard mark this season, but ranks third in the section for rushing yards. Each of Murphy's previous three featured backs all cracked the 2,000-yard barrier.
Concord's Harold Tidwell has now run for 1,818 yards and 28 touchdowns after a 257-yard performance against Maria Carrillo, while Miramonte's Clayton Stehr is a threat to reach the end zone on the ground, through the air, and defensively. Granada is powered by its Wing-T run game, led by powerful backs Ryan Silvas and Aaron Andrews. Andrews will also be tasked with stopping Clayton Valley's run game from his defensive line position.
Division II displays depth . . . All four teams remaining have shown an ability to battle through adversity this season. When former Clayton Valley quarterback Nate Keisel left in the summer for Utah, it left an unexpected void for the Eagles offensively. Luis Ramos moved from fullback, however, and the Eagles did not miss a beat. Similarly, when Ray Jackson III went down with an injury early last game, Akeal Lailand stepped in and ran for 211 yards, scoring four times. With the news now that Ramos is likely done for the season, we won't be surprised if Zia Rahmany more than capably takes the reins.
Concord was without quarterback Nick Nunez for a good portion of the season early on, but stayed strong with depth at the position, as Izaiah Austin kept the Minutemen rolling. Miramonte has had to deal with the loss of top receiver Sutter Lindberg, but has gotten strong play from senior Ryan Anderson and junior Nick Foster. Granada battled a tough EBAL schedule, and then used its depth to outlast Tennyson in the quarterfinals, outscoring the Lancers 22-0 in the fourth quarter.
