The number of games and teams remaining this season continue to dwindle as the post-season marches forward. In the North Coast Section, the title games are set for the Open Division and Division 1, while the other four divisions will hold semifinal rounds this week.
Let’s take our whirlwind tour around the weekend that was in the NCS.
- Not since 2005 had Pittsburg lost twice in the same season to a team not named De La Salle. San Leandro pulled the trick that year.
This year, it was Freedom’s turn, as the Falcons improved to 11-0, showing everyone that its 41-38 regular-season win over Pittsburg was not only for real, but that the Falcons were even better than that. Ronnie Rivers, meanwhile, scored six times in the win, meaning he accounted for 10 touchdowns in the two games between the league rivals.
Now, Freedom will face De La Salle for the second time in a section title game. The two schools met for the baseball title in 2009, a game in which Freedom emerged victorious.
- With both Freedom and Antioch reaching section championship games, the Bay Valley Athletic League has illustrated its strength in the post-season. Third-place Antioch downed the second-place team from the EBAL, California, behind 265 yards and three touchdowns from Najee Harris, plus a huge 87-yard catch-and-run by Antione Tanner. Fourth-place Heritage also reached the section semifinals before losing to EBAL champion Monte Vista on Friday.
- It was a great year for the Kennedy’s, but both seasons are now complete after a pair of 10-win seasons. Kennedy-Fremont lost in the first round, while Kennedy-Richmond dropped a hard-fought game with Piedmont on Saturday night.
The Eagles defense looked like it would once again provide the necessary tools to advance, blanking the Highlanders’ offense for the first three quarters, but a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns from Piedmont’s Willy Matsuno lifted the Highlanders to the victory and a berth in the Division 4 semifinals opposite Cardinal Newman.
- The Division 5 quarterfinals featured a pair of shutout victories for Fort Bragg and St. Patrick-St. Vincent, but the biggest defensive performance arguably came in the second half for Kelseyville.
The Knights trailed 12-0 in the second quarter to Middletown, a team which had beaten them 40-8 early in the season. But Kelseyville’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half, and senior back Dwayne Yiggins ran wild, carrying the ball 35 times for 193 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter, as the Knights prevailed 14-12 to advance to the semifinals.
Kelseyville will now face Fort Bragg, while SPSV takes on Berean Christian, which cruised past California School for the Deaf behind three touchdowns each from Isaiah Hodgins and Nick Gaitan.
- Three of the four games in the Division 3 quarterfinals were tightly contested, none more so than Marin Catholic’s 20-18 win over Miramonte. Miramonte led 12-7 entering the fourth quarter, and extended the lead to 18-7 in the final period.
Marin Catholic set the stage for a wild finish, though, when Hunter Juarez intercepted Tim Tague with under two minutes remaining, and returned the ball 31 yards to the Miramonte 19-yard line. Matthew DeDonatis plowed in from two yards out, with 10 seconds remaining, seemingly clinching the win.
Miramonte was not done, however, as Nick Foster returned the ensuing kickoff to the MC 26-yard line, knocked out of bounds by Juarez, the MCAL 100-meter dash record-holder. The Matadors lined up for a 43-yard field goal, but the kick was low and not close, enabling the Wildcats to advance to the semifinals, where they will face top-seed Analy.
Rancho Cotate and Analy each staged comebacks of their own to advance, while Bishop O’Dowd stifled Encinal’s offense on its way to a 28-0 victory.
Rancho Cotate will travel to Bishop O’Dowd in the other Division 3 semifinal.
- Granada’s defense shutout Concord, while Jason Frost threw for two second-half touchdown passes in a 17-0 victory. The Matadors will now face Windsor in the Division 2 semifinals. The Jaguars escaped with an overtime win over Santa Rosa.
The other Division 2 semifinal will feature Campolindo and Ukiah, after Ukiah ended the best season for Livermore in 17 years. Campolindo is seeking its third straight section title, after winning the past two seasons at the Division 3 level.
- Rock Strong has become a theme this post-season. Salesian is in the Division 4 semifinals, SPSV is alive in the Division 5 semifinals, El Cerrito put a huge scare into Analy in the Division 3 quarterfinals, Saint Mary’s nearly knocked off Rancho Cotate in the first round of the Division 3 bracket, and Swett dropped a seven-point game to Del Norte. All those teams played in the TCAL-Rock Division.
- With the Open Division and Division 1 taking a week off, the spotlight will shine elsewhere for the coming weekend. But it’s not to imagine the match-ups in two weeks. Freedom and De La Salle will not only play for the Open Division title, but have also likely extended their seasons into the state bowl series.
And the Division 1 game might have the biggest star-power attraction. On one side, you will have Alabama commit Najee Harris and Isaiah Dunn, who has offers from 10 different programs, while Monte Vista boasts Jake Haener (Washington), Nate Landman (Colorado), and Erik Krommenhoek (USC), plus players such as Peyton Henry, Corey Luciano, Shane Perry, and Isaiah Randle, who could all find themselves on top college rosters next year.
