Game Night: CIF Playoffs-First Round

Marcus Higgs and Warren will host Corona del Mar in a Division 2 matchup. (Photo by Duane Barker).

All kickoffs are at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise indicated

Friday November 5

DIV 3

Downey (8-2, SGV #2) at Glendora (10-0, Citrus 4 #1) (Citrus College)

Maybe the best game of the weekend. Downey is coming off of a tough loss to an undefeated Division 2 Warren team while Glendora is basking in the glow of an unbeaten regular season. Both teams are physical and hard hitting. The Tartans’ Braydon Brus can pound it and wear down defenses while the Vikings are always a heartbeat away from a big play. It should be a defensive struggle with both teams beating up on each other. Downey makes a big play late and the Vikes come out on top.

Downey 24 Glendora 21

DIV 6

Norte Vista (9-0, River Valley #1) at Monrovia (10-0, Rio Hondo #1)

Nice matchup here with both teams coming in undefeated. We all know about Monrovia and what the Wildcats can do offensively. Carlos Hernandez and company are downright electric. They’ll need some electricity in this one. Norte Vista shut out six of its nine opponents. The Braves defense can bring it. Question is can they bring it enough to shut down the Cats? The answer is no. Monrovia advances.

Monrovia 31 Norte Vista 24

DIV 7

Thousand Oaks (6-4, Canyon #2) at Pasadena (7-2, Pacific #1T)

This is what Pasadena has been waiting for. The Bulldogs played a brutal non-league schedule to prepare for playoff games like this. Thousand Oaks finished second in the competitive Canyon League. Two of the Lancers losses were by four points combined. Thousand Oaks will need to play a nearly perfect game to knock off Pasadena. The Bulldogs defense however can force mistakes. Pasadena gets the W.

Pasadena 35 Thousand Oaks 21

Leuzinger (6-4, Ocean #2) at El Rancho (9-1, Del Rio #2)

This will be a test for El Rancho. Leuzinger finished second in the Ocean League behind Inglewood. You’ve heard of them right? The Olympians fell to Inglewood 31-0…at least it wasn’t 106-0. Leuzinger can play though, make no mistake about it. The Olympians scored over 45 points six times and 60 or more twice. But if El Rancho can establish a running game with Anthony Bonilla and get Elijah Mitchell going through the air the Dons should be fine. They’re in for a battle but ER survives.

El Rancho 28 Leuzinger 21

DIV 8

Highland (8-2, Golden #1) at Muir (7-1, Pacific #1T)

Highland went 7-0 to win the Golden League running over everybody in its path. The Bulldogs blew everybody out in league except Palmdale who they beat by six. Both of their losses were to tough non-league opponents. Muir played only one team all year with a winning record and St. Francis belted the Mustangs 42-6 in that one. Highland will be possibly the best team they’ve played all year. Can the Stangs prevail? Not this year. Highland moves on.

Highland 27 Muir 13

DIV 9

Claremont (5-5, San Antonio #2) at Arroyo (10-0, MVL #1)

Arroyo is undefeated and is at home in the first round. The Knights couldn’t ask for more. Claremont took second in the San Antonio and competed throughout the year. The Wolfpack beat a 7-3 Covina team 31-19 and lost to league champion West Covina by just three, 10-7. They’ll give Arroyo all it can handle but in the end the Knights will have too much.

Arroyo 27 Claremont 24

West Covina (6-4, San Antonio #1) at San Dimas (7-3, Valle Vista #1T)

West Covina surprised a lot of people this year. The Bulldogs, under head coach Mike Maggiore, weren’t supposed to be completely back until next year. West Covina not only made the playoffs but also won the San Antonio League title. San Dimas dropped a game to Northview late in the year and had to share the Valle Vista League crown. Both teams like to run the ball. The game may be over by 8:30. The Saints, if completely healthy should be able to run a little bit more. San Dimas…close.

San Dimas 20 West Covina 17

DIV 11

Poly Riverside (6-4, Inland Valley #2) at Baldwin Park (10-0, Mt. Baldy #1)

This will be the toughest game Baldwin Park has had this season. The Braves rolled from start to finish but the playoffs are a different animal. Poly Riverside was 6-4 overall but only lost one Inland Valley League game. The home field advantage and a potent offense should be enough for the Braves.

Baldwin Park 30 Poly Riverside 21

Quick Hits

DIV 2: Corona del Mar at Warren – Warren

DIV 4: St. Paul at Upland – Upland

DIV 4: La Serna at Orange – La Serna

DIV 7: Rio Hondo Prep at Charter Oak – Charter Oak

DIV 10: Schurr at St. Anthony – St. Anthony

DIV 10: Northview at Garden Grove – Northview

DIV 10: Laguna Hills at Covina – Covina

DIV 12: Rosemead at Rancho Alamitos – Rosemead

22 Comments to "Game Night: CIF Playoffs-First Round"

  1. Taps's Gravatar Taps
    November 5, 2021 - 11:54 pm | Permalink

    So Monrovia wins…
    Yeah nice prediction!

  2. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 5, 2021 - 11:39 pm | Permalink

    Guess ER didn’t step up

  3. Willig's Gravatar Willig
    November 5, 2021 - 9:39 pm | Permalink

    @LaRanch?

    I will be going down to SP on Monday and i will be speaking with the principal. The school needs changes and i will lead them. This weak preseason doesn’t do anything for playoffs. It’s obvious that we need to take over. Zepeda needs to be our ballboy. It’s time for him to go. SP needs to get back to prominence and start being a D1 program again. The only way we get there is for us to lead the way….

  4. LaRanchero81's Gravatar LaRanchero81
    November 5, 2021 - 3:22 pm | Permalink

    St. Paul will never be D1 again … and with that kind of staff and schedule I don’t know why parents (especially alumni parents) send their kids to that school when it still looks the same as when they went there in the 80’s… Pride? Tradition? That ship sailed years ago.. when was the last time they beat Amat? The ultimate rivalry game they never schedule anymore…

  5. Willig's Gravatar Willig
    November 5, 2021 - 8:43 am | Permalink

    @not Willig?

    Why do you say I’m fake? I’m a real Willig. Too bad you don’t know which one.. I can do as i wish and write as i wish as well. SP is not the storied program it’s just a storied problem now. We need a coach with a winning desire. Not one who agrees with mediocrity. Let a Willig run this program and you will see true excellence like before. We are here to win the D1 title on a yearly basis….

  6. Not willig's Gravatar Not willig
    November 5, 2021 - 8:10 am | Permalink

    Fake Willig knock it off. And it’s been 40 years since they were D1

  7. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 4, 2021 - 8:15 pm | Permalink

    DELETED, El rancho lives rent free in your dome.

  8. Willig's Gravatar Willig
    November 4, 2021 - 3:38 pm | Permalink

    I hope St Paul plays with some heart on Friday. Zepeda needs to realize that we were once a storied program. We need to get back to those days. With this cupcake schedule that he had I’m not so sure if we can beat a down Upland. They usually have solid D1 talent. My brothers and myself watched film and they seem just average. Hopefully we won’t be disappointed. Otherwise maybe me or one of my brothers can step in and Coach at SP

  9. ER's Gravatar ER
    November 4, 2021 - 2:23 pm | Permalink

    Hold the f up, if we lose we lose that’s a tough fast and big team regardless. In the last 3 playoff appearances ER has a Quarterfinal, a semifinal, and another quarterfinal in 2019, Cal Hi hasn’t sniffed a playoff spot in almost a decade, last I checked you still came in 3rd in the Del Rio in the year you were supposed to beat ER and LS. Take a seat….

  10. The Trailmix's Gravatar The Trailmix
    November 4, 2021 - 2:02 pm | Permalink

    Go Downey, Noah Paez can win this game with his arm.

  11. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 4, 2021 - 12:15 pm | Permalink

    Can wait to hear the excuses when the Ranch loses. Medrano was supposed to have the boys ready for la serna and we all saw that score. they will not go far like always. Cal will be the only team to make a deep run.

  12. Moorman90's Gravatar Moorman90
    November 4, 2021 - 11:31 am | Permalink

    I was reading that cif playoff tickets are only being sold online ? Is this true ? That would be odd not everyone has a smart phone I mean most do nowadays but still .

  13. LSFAN's Gravatar LSFAN
    November 4, 2021 - 5:48 am | Permalink

    Good luck to you guys !! Hopefully you guys are healthy and can take home the W.

  14. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    November 3, 2021 - 8:49 pm | Permalink

    @ Cal Preps Picks: I’m sure that all of those predictions are for entertainment purposes only!

  15. November 3, 2021 - 4:34 pm | Permalink

    I’m predicting the MVL will have a first round clean sweep.
    I see El Monte pulling out a close one vs Pomona. EM still has players that won state that experience will help.
    Rosemead will win the easiest IMO. After that smack down on SEM I believe they are clicking.
    Arroyo oddly enough think has the toughest challenge ahead. Both teams love to play defense. I’m taking the under on this one. Arroyo in a slugfest beats Claremont 17-14

  16. TheRanch18's Gravatar TheRanch18
    November 3, 2021 - 3:56 pm | Permalink

    Medrano will have the boys ready, LETS GO DONS!

  17. Alexander Bonilla's Gravatar Alexander Bonilla
    November 3, 2021 - 2:59 pm | Permalink

    El Rancho stepping up !

  18. ER's Gravatar ER
    November 3, 2021 - 1:43 pm | Permalink

    Hater

  19. ?'s Gravatar ?
    November 3, 2021 - 12:17 pm | Permalink

    When the spread on Cal Preps is less than 10 points their winning percentage shrinks to no better than a coin flip. Half of these picks will go the other way. In other words, meaningless.

  20. Cal Preps Picks's Gravatar Cal Preps Picks
    November 3, 2021 - 10:11 am | Permalink

    The software system that placed teams in their various divisions has projected the following results:
    Downey 22
    Glendora 21

    Monrovia 28
    Norte Vista 27

    Pasadena 34
    1000 Oaks 27

    El Rancho 31
    Leuzinger 26

    Highland 20
    Muir 14

    Claremont 19
    Arroyo 17

    San Dimas 21
    W. Covina 19

    Baldwin Pk 28
    P. Riverside 21

    Warren 28
    C. Del Mar 24

    Alhambra 38
    S.R. Academy 20

    Orange 31
    La Serna 24

    Upland 21
    St. Paul 20

    Charter Oak 31
    R.H. Prep 26

    Palm Springs 27
    Cal 26

    Best of luck to everyone!

  21. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 3, 2021 - 8:28 am | Permalink

    Go Leuzinger

  22. Cal's Gravatar Cal
    November 3, 2021 - 6:52 am | Permalink

    No prediction on Cal?

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