Game Night: CIF Playoffs-2nd Round

Joshua Curtis and Rio Hondo Prep are on the road against King in Division 7. (Photo by Duane Barker).

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

Friday November 15

DIV 3

Edison (7-4) at Bonita (11-0)

Bonita again was impressive in a win over Cathedral. The Bearcats are working on a perfect season. That may come to an end this week. Edison hails from the powerful Alpha League that features teams like Mission Viejo, San Clemente and Los Alamitos. Edison beat Los Alamitos and fell to San Clemente by just four points. That’s the same San Clemente team that beat Damien 42-7 last week. Bonita’s Noah Mikhail left the game last week with a foot injury and could be a game time decision. Great run for the Bearcats but it could end in the second round. Edison gets it done.

Edison 24 Bonita 21

DIV 5

Rio Mesa (7-4) at La Serna (8-3)

Everybody knew La Serna would win the Del Rio. The question was how far the Lancers would go in the playoffs. La Serna didn’t miss a beat last week in a win over Troy by three touchdowns. Rio Mesa tied for second in the Conejo Coast League and won seven games overall. But this is a team that La Serna should handle. Lancers advance to Semis.

La Serna 35 Rio Mesa 20

DIV 6

Muir (9-2) at St. Francis (4-7)

Tough one to call here. You can make an argument for both sides. Muir beat St. Francis already this year and simply has too many athletes for the Golden Knights. Or on the other side of the coin, St. Francis wasn’t completely healthy in the loss to Muir in September and this will be a revenge game. Both teams are healthy now and ready to go. Both teams also have dual threat quarterbacks in Keyon Mills at Muir and John Sanders at St. Francis. The Golden Knights will be a tough out but the Mustangs haven’t lost since September 6th. The Stangs are on a roll.

Muir 31 St Francis 28

DIV 7

Rio Hondo Prep (9-1) at King (8-3)

I’m not picking against Rio Hondo Prep at this point. The Kares could line up against Oregon and I’d take Rio Hondo Prep and the points. The Kares played three straight road playoff games last season and won all of them to take the CIF Division 9 Championship. They played the State Bowl game on the road and fell short but then came back with another road game last week to open the playoffs and beat Ramona 35-0. By the way Ramona was 10-0 coming in. This week RHP gets King, a solid team that is 8-3 overall. And of course it’s on the road. The Kares don’t care where it is or who they play. They’ll get the win. Don’t they always?

Rio Hondo Prep 28 King 17

DIV 11

Baldwin Park (6-5) at Big Bear (8-2)

Baldwin Park looked good last week putting up 42 on Colton. The Braves did a good job to bounce back and make the playoffs after starting the season 0-3. They have gone 6-2 since. Big Bear has lost only two games all year and the Bears have won three straight including big wins over Maranatha, Arrowhead Christian and last week over Capistrano Valley to open the playoffs. Should be a close game as both teams are evenly matched. The long drive for Baldwin Park and the home field for Big Bear is the difference. It’s cold up there. The Bears grab the victory.

Big Bear 27 Baldwin Park 20

DIV 13

San Marino (6-5) at Pasadena (5-6)

Good local matchup between a fourth and a third-place team. San Marino finished fourth in the Rio Hondo but drew an at large spot in Division 13 and took advantage with a rout of Hawthorne last week. Pasadena took third place in the Pacific and beat Santa Rosa Academy to open the playoffs. The Bulldogs started slow losing their first three games but they got off the floor to win four league games and the playoff game. Quarterback Brady Beck can make things happen for San Marino and the Titans have a solid two-way lineman in Mitch Mooney. But can the San Marino defense stop Pasadena’s potent offense? Quarterback Dutch Burbidge can sling it and Christopher Solis-lumar is one of his main targets. San Marino will battle all night but Pasadena has just has a little too much. Bulldogs win.

Pasadena 31 San Marino 21

Lynwood (6-5) at El Monte (7-4) (Mountain View)

Lynwood is trying to knock off South El Monte and El Monte in consecutive weeks. Note to El Monte head coach Hector Spathias: Pound Felipe Taboada and Isaiah Standley until their legs fall off. And If they need a blow give the ball to Brandon Do. Lions will run right into the Semis.

El Monte 34 Lynwood 24

DIV 14

Nordhoff (8-3) at Duarte (10-1)

Duarte has a high-powered offense. The Falcons blew out Sierra Vista 42-0 last week and are averaging over 38 points per game. Duarte has lost only one game all year and the Falcons still scored 31 points in that one – a 34-31 loss to Ganesha. Nordhoff went 8-3 overall and finished second in the Citrus Coast League with a 2-1 record. The Rangers will play Duarte tough. It could come down to a kick in the fourth quarter. The Falcons dream season continues.

Duarte 31 Nordhoff 24

Quick Hits

Thursday November 14

DIV 11

El Rancho at Los Amigos (Garden Grove) – Los Amigos

Friday November 15

DIV 5

Mayfair at Palos Verdes – Mayfair

DIV 6

Glendora at Rancho Verde – Rancho Verde

Dana Hills at San Dimas – San Dimas

DIV 7

Golden Valley at Warren – Warren

DIV 9

Highland at Burbank – Highland

Wilson LB at Village Christian (Glendale College) – Wilson LB

DIV 10

South Pasadena at Valley View – South Pasadena

Silverado at Chino – Chino

DIV 12

Estancia at Wilson HH – Wilson HH

DIV 14

San Gabriel at Costa Mesa – San Gabriel

Pioneer at La Quinta – Pioneer

15 Comments to "Game Night: CIF Playoffs-2nd Round"

  1. D O's Gravatar D O
    November 17, 2024 - 5:22 am | Permalink

    I didn’t claim that all transfers are eligible after sit out period , just described what happens if they do have to sit out , a la Pasadena

  2. Sports Man's Gravatar Sports Man
    November 16, 2024 - 4:42 am | Permalink

    Detached Obserr
    November 13, 2024 – 1:01 pm | Permalink ? why do you claim all of the transfer players do not get to play until mid season? I suggest most of the transfers are legal and do they have to sit that long when they played on the varsity team at the school they transferred from

  3. Sports Man's Gravatar Sports Man
    November 16, 2024 - 4:38 am | Permalink

    3 and out = does La Serna play Huntington Beach in the Semis/? Huntington Beach I think is not a bad team, and possibly give LS a battle

  4. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 15, 2024 - 9:10 am | Permalink

    Lookout, El Rancho starting to play some good ball, needed that war vs BG, ER showed some flashes all year, D11 could be prime for the taking.

  5. ER Fan's Gravatar ER Fan
    November 15, 2024 - 1:33 am | Permalink

    How about those Dons!!!

  6. Low Profile's Gravatar Low Profile
    November 14, 2024 - 10:42 am | Permalink

    They are Football U and have been from Day 1. All the respect in the world to the Kares , having competed against them as player and coach . They do it the right way . They know how to rise to the occasion. When you gain a win vs Rio, you’ve accomplished something ! Good luck vs King .

  7. November 14, 2024 - 10:28 am | Permalink

    Del Rio, CO did play a pretty tough schedule that included Muir, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, and Bonita. Problem was they didn’t get better during the season. They got worse. Same plays, same mistakes, same coaching blunders. A real shame.
    Then they subjected their faithful fans to blaring rap crap from some disc jockey student between each play. TORTURE!!

  8. Stat Man's Gravatar Stat Man
    November 13, 2024 - 6:21 pm | Permalink

    @26: Keppel has 2300 students and is one of the worst teams in California so……All you need is 3o or so players especially if they come there because of football to be a very good team. Rio Hondo says it has 180 students serving grades 7-12 boys and girls. At 30 kids per grade that makes grades 10-12 anout 90 students. assuming half are girls that makes 45 boys. Their football team is 44 listed on the Roster. They are Football U according to the numbers. I am shocked that they are not D5 or better.

  9. LP's Gravatar LP
    November 13, 2024 - 2:39 pm | Permalink

    I was surprised by the projected margin on CalPreps

  10. Del Rio Watcher's Gravatar Del Rio Watcher
    November 13, 2024 - 1:04 pm | Permalink

    Teams that have played tough schedules are faring well. Look at what Apple Valley did to Charter Oak. Anyway Rio Mesa played a rough schedule all season and played in a tough league. Everyone making La Serna a 3 touchdown favorite including Cal Preps computer. With La Serna settling on Long as their QB they are on a roll and Rio has to make at least a two hour commute. La Serna at home has the advantage but I think this could be a trap game fot La Serna.

  11. Detached Obserr's Gravatar Detached Obserr
    November 13, 2024 - 1:01 pm | Permalink

    The team CPR is calculated from a full 10 game schedule . So when a team visibly and markedly improves from game 6 and beyond because of transfers , they will be “underrated “ because of poor early season performance like Pasadena or La Serna last year . They are trying to beat the transfer game by rating this seasons performance, but it’s not always appropriate, not to mention subtly punishing the home grown local squads . Nothing is perfect , and many things not to like with current system. However, Pasadena would be D14 based on last year.

  12. BeachGirl26's Gravatar BeachGirl26
    November 13, 2024 - 12:36 pm | Permalink

    Rio Hondo Prep 130 students, Div 7

    Pasadena HS 1600 students, Div 13

    ???????
    Whatever

  13. 3 and out's Gravatar 3 and out
    November 13, 2024 - 10:05 am | Permalink

    La Serna getting the red-carpet treatment to the finals, Mayfair is my favorite in that division. (finals)
    Would love to see ER pull it off
    cant forget the mighty TITANS OF PIONEER!
    Bonita losses by a lot
    BP strikes gold at the right time.. hope MADDMAXIEE has a run game up in big bear
    the “SPACES” must be between the ears for the regulars on X

    What time does Damien , charter oak and Amat play?

  14. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 12, 2024 - 11:13 pm | Permalink

    So Pasadena gets rewarded with D13 playoffs run, got it.

  15. Grim Reaper's Gravatar Grim Reaper
    November 12, 2024 - 7:37 pm | Permalink

    RE Pasadena starting slow.. I was told that Pasadena had transfers that were barred from playing until later in the season.
    Rather than starting slow, it was a function of CIF rules that require transfers to sit on the sidelines for weeks.

    Question- Was what I was told correct?
    Question which players that are now starting, were transfers who had to sit?
    From T. Peterson: Correct. They had some transfers that had to go through the sit out period.

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