Division 1: Rancho Cucamonga vs. Mater Dei
We’ve been waiting for this one for quite a while. Mater Dei has rolled through the regular season, looking like the best team in California and one of the best in the United States, with its greatest challenge coming in a heart-stopping win over rival St. John Bosco. Rancho Cucamonga, meanwhile, has slowly but steadily improved throughout the season, making it through 12 games without a loss. The two squads present quite a contrast offensively, with Mater Dei relying on the spectacular arm of quarterback JT Daniels and wide receiving brothers Amon-ra and Osiris St. Brown. Rancho Cucamonga keeps it on the ground effectively with running bacl/cornerback Jaylon Redd getting the lion’s share of the carries, rushing 205 times for 1,801 yards and 27 touchdowns through 12 games. Plenty of points are expected in this contest, with the winner earning a bid to the Division 1 final.
St. John Bosco vs. Centennial
Centennial boasts one of the highest-scoring offenses in the Southern Section (54.3 points per game), and the Huskies haven’t lost since Week 2 against IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). Centennial quarterback Tanner McKee has completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,290 yards and 33 touchdowns, and when paired with running back Miles Reed (240 carries, 1,967 yards, 31 touchdowns), the duo forms a potent attack that can outscore any opponent the Huskies face. Centennial will meet a buzzsaw in state power St. John Bosco, which lost just twice in the regular season to Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and Mater Dei. Dual threat quarterback Re-al Mitchell leads a Bosco offense that will attempt to keep pace with Centennial, with a date in the Division 1 final on the line.
Division 2: La Habra vs. Murrieta Valley
In another tale of a program with an incredible offense matching up with an upstart squad, Murrieta Valley meets La Habra in the semifinals of Division 2. The Nighthawks are powered by quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who has completed 202 of 269 passes for 3,240 yards for 38 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Running back Olita Palmer keeps it going on the ground, rushing for 1,987 yards and 24 touchdowns for Murrieta Valley. They’ll meet a Highlanders defense that has allowed just 21.83 points per game and edged Redlands East Valley in the quarterfinals to reach their matchup with the Nighthawks.
Division 4: Sierra Canyon vs. Charter Oak
Led by a stingy defense, the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers put their undefeated mark on the line against Charter Oak, which has lost just once in 2016. Sierra Canyon is led offensively by running back Joshua Cole, who has rushed 197 times for 1,683 yards and 24 touchdowns. Trevor Howarth leads the Trailblazers’ defense with 123 tackles, including six tackles for loss that is tied for the team’s best. They’ll meet a Charter Oak offense that excels through the air, thanks to wide receivers Jermaine Braddock (58 catches, 1,028 yards, 12 total touchdowns) and Brian Casteel (46 receptions, 708 yards, 628 rushing yards, 23 total touchdowns). Sierra Canyon will attempt to slow down Charter Oak’s offense, which averages 36.6 points per game, with a defense that has allowed an average of just 15.5 points per game.
